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

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water shall be held again in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent to downstream states.

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

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% likelihood 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 agency stated in an announcement Tuesday's decision was intended to protect "hydropower technology, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the town of Web page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We have by no means taken this step before, however the potential danger on the horizon calls for immediate action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo instructed reporters. "We have to work together to stabilize the reservoir before we face a larger crisis."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 ft within the final three years because the West has been besieged by drought. As the water stage has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capacity to generate power.

Bryan Hill, basic 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 informed CNN. "Judgment day being when we haven't any water to give anyone."

The selections made for Lake Powell also 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 decision may result in further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to show one of many reservoir's original, 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 chargeable for managing water resources for two.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 degree: a physique in a barrel police say is a probable homicide victim from the Eighties.

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