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

Step one is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this 12 months. The second is water will be held again in Lake Powell itself, instead of being despatched to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual 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, though its full capability is round 25 million acre-feet.

With out 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 energy for as many as 5.8 million properties and companies in seven states.

The agency said in a press release Tuesday's choice was supposed to protect "hydropower generation, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the 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 now have by no means taken this step before, however the potential danger on the horizon demands prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir before we face a bigger crisis."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 feet within the final three years because the West has been besieged by drought. As the water degree has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has misplaced about 16% of its capability to generate power.

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

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

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

Water cuts for those who rely on Lake Mead started in January, and Tuesday's choice could result in additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to expose one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can not draw water, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company answerable for managing water assets for 2.2 million people in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made another disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a body in a barrel police say is a possible murder victim from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is doubtless that we are going to find additional our bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" as the water stage drops more.