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 12 months. 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 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 response to the bureau, although its full capacity is round 25 million acre-feet.

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

The company stated in an announcement Tuesday's choice was meant to protect "hydropower era, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water provide for town of Page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We have now never taken this step earlier than, however the potential danger on the horizon demands prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo advised 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 because the West has been besieged by drought. As the water level has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capability to generate power.

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

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

The choices made for Lake Powell also affect 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 choice might result in additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low sufficient to expose one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company responsible for managing water resources 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 possible murder sufferer from the Nineteen Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is possible that we'll discover extra our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops extra.