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

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this year. The second is water can 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, in accordance with the bureau, though its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a few 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 businesses in seven states.

The agency mentioned in a press release Tuesday's decision 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 purchase the federal authorities 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"We have never taken this step before, but the potential risk on the horizon calls for immediate motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo instructed reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir before we face a bigger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, normal manager of the general public power utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

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

The choices made for Lake Powell additionally affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir within the nation.

Water cuts for individuals who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's resolution could result in additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low sufficient to reveal one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water intake valves for the first time. The valve can now not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency responsible for managing water sources for two.2 million folks in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officers over the weekend made another disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a physique in a barrel police say is a likely homicide sufferer from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is doubtless that we are going to find additional bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" because the water level drops extra.