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

Step one is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this year. The second is water will 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 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, in response to the bureau, although its full capability is around 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a few 25% likelihood 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 agency stated in a statement Tuesday's resolution was meant to protect "hydropower technology, the facility'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 buy the federal government 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"We have now never taken this step earlier than, however the potential danger on the horizon demands immediate motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir before we face a bigger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, common manager of the public energy utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

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

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

Water cuts for individuals who depend on Lake Mead started in January, and Tuesday's determination might lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low sufficient to reveal one of the reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can not draw water, in keeping with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company responsible for managing water resources 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 level: a body in a barrel police say is a likely homicide victim from the Nineteen Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's possible that we will find extra bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water stage drops extra.