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

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water can be held back in Lake Powell itself, instead of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin actions will enhance Lake Powell by practically 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, in keeping with the bureau, though its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was about a 25% probability the Glen Canyon Dam could have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates power for as many as 5.8 million homes and businesses in seven states.

The company mentioned in an announcement Tuesday's choice was meant to guard "hydropower technology, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the city of Page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We have never taken this step earlier than, but the potential risk on the horizon calls for prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a bigger disaster."

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

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

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

The selections made for Lake Powell additionally affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the largest reservoir within the nation.

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

Lake Mead's water stage is now low sufficient to show one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can no longer draw water, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency responsible for managing water resources for 2.2 million folks in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made one other 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 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's likely that we are going to find extra bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" because the water degree drops more.