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

Step one is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water will probably 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 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 line 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% chance the Glen Canyon Dam could 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 mentioned in an announcement Tuesday's decision was intended to protect "hydropower era, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water supply for town of 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.

"Now we have never taken this step earlier than, but the potential risk on the horizon demands immediate action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo instructed reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir before we face a bigger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, basic manager of the public energy utility in Page, Arizona, likened the state of affairs to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously informed CNN. "Judgment day being when we haven't any water to provide anyone."

The selections made for Lake Powell also have an effect on its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir in the nation.

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

Lake Mead's water stage is now low enough to expose one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the first time. The valve can no longer draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency 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 degree: a body in a barrel police say is a possible homicide victim from the 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the last 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is likely that we will discover extra our bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" because the water degree drops extra.