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

The first step is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water might be held back in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will enhance Lake Powell by almost 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, based on the bureau, though its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

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

The company said in an announcement Tuesday's decision was intended to protect "hydropower technology, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water provide for the city of 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 have now never taken this step earlier than, but the potential threat on the horizon calls for immediate action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo informed reporters. "We have to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a bigger crisis."

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

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

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

The choices made for Lake Powell also affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the largest reservoir in the nation.

Water cuts for many who rely on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's resolution could lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low enough to show one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can now not draw water, based on the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company responsible for managing water sources for 2.2 million people in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made another disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water degree: a physique in a barrel police say is a possible murder sufferer from the 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is likely that we'll discover additional our bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" because the water level drops extra.