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

Step one is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water will be held back in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will boost Lake Powell by nearly 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, although its full capability is round 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam might have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates power for as many as 5.8 million properties and companies in seven states.

The agency mentioned in a statement Tuesday's resolution was meant to guard "hydropower era, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water provide for the city of Web 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've got by no means taken this step before, however the potential risk on the horizon calls for prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo advised reporters. "We have to work together to stabilize the reservoir before we face a bigger disaster."

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

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

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill beforehand instructed CNN. "Judgment day being when we haven't any water to present anybody."

The decisions made for Lake Powell additionally have an effect on its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir in the country.

Water cuts for individuals who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's decision might lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level 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, in accordance with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency liable for managing water resources for two.2 million people in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officers over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water degree: a body in a barrel police say is a probable murder victim from the 1980s.

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