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 shall be held back 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 almost 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, according to the bureau, although its full capability is round 25 million acre-feet.

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

The agency said in a statement Tuesday's determination was intended to protect "hydropower technology, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water provide for town of Web page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

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

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 toes in the last three years because 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, basic manager of the general public energy utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the state of affairs to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill beforehand advised CNN. "Judgment day being when we have no water to give anybody."

The selections made for Lake Powell also affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir within the country.

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

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to reveal one of the reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, in line with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company chargeable for managing water assets for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a physique in a barrel police say is a likely homicide victim from the 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the last 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's possible that we are going to discover additional bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water level drops more.