Lake Powell officers take emergency steps to protect hydropower from Glen Canyon Dam

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water will be held back in Lake Powell itself, as an alternative of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin actions will increase Lake Powell by almost 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, in keeping with the bureau, though its full capability is round 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% probability the Glen Canyon Dam might have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates power for as many as 5.8 million properties and companies in seven states.

The company mentioned in a statement Tuesday's determination was intended to guard "hydropower era, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the city of Page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

The emergency actions will buy the federal government 12 months because it considers longer-term measures.

"Now we have by no means taken this step before, however the potential threat on the horizon calls for immediate motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a bigger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 ft within the final three years as the West has been besieged by drought. Because the water stage has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has misplaced about 16% of its capacity to generate power.

Bryan Hill, common supervisor of the public power utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill beforehand told CNN. "Judgment day being when we haven't any water to present anyone."

The selections made for Lake Powell also have an effect on its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir in the country.

Water cuts for those who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's resolution might lead to further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to expose one of many reservoir's original, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can no longer draw water, based on the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company accountable for managing water sources for 2.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made another disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water stage: a physique in a barrel police say is a likely homicide victim from the Nineteen Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's doubtless that we will discover extra our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water level drops more.