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

The first step is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this 12 months. The second is water can be held back in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being despatched to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin 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 accordance with the bureau, although its full capability is around 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a few 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam might have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates energy for as many as 5.8 million houses and companies in seven states.

The company mentioned in an announcement Tuesday's choice was supposed to guard "hydropower technology, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the town 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.

"We have now by no means taken this step earlier than, but the potential risk on the horizon demands prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo advised reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir before we face a larger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, general 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 provide anyone."

The decisions made for Lake Powell additionally affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir in the country.

Water cuts for individuals who rely on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's determination could result in further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to reveal one of the reservoir's original, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can now not draw water, in keeping with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company chargeable for managing water assets for 2.2 million folks in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made another disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a body in a barrel police say is a probable murder victim from the Nineteen Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is possible that we are going to discover extra our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water level drops extra.