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

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this 12 months. The second is water might be held again in Lake Powell itself, as an alternative of being despatched to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will boost Lake Powell by practically 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 capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was about a 25% likelihood the Glen Canyon Dam could have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates energy for as many as 5.8 million homes and businesses in seven states.

The agency said in a press release Tuesday's determination was supposed to guard "hydropower generation, the power's key infrastructure, and the water supply for town of Web page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We now have never taken this step before, however the potential risk on the horizon demands prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo instructed reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir before we face a bigger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 ft within the final three years because the West has been besieged by drought. Because the water level has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capacity to generate energy.

Bryan Hill, normal manager of the public power utility in Page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

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

The selections made for Lake Powell additionally have an effect on its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the biggest reservoir within the nation.

Water cuts for many who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's decision could result in further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low sufficient to show one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can now not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company responsible for managing water resources for 2.2 million folks in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

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

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is seemingly that we'll find further bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" because the water stage drops extra.