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

The first step is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this year. The second is water will be held again in Lake Powell itself, as an alternative of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin actions will enhance Lake Powell by nearly 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, according to the bureau, though its full capability is around 25 million acre-feet.

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

The company said in a press release Tuesday's determination was intended to guard "hydropower generation, 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 buy the federal authorities 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"We've never taken this step earlier than, but the potential risk on the horizon demands prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We have to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a larger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, basic supervisor of the public energy utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the state of affairs to judgment day.

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

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

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

Lake Mead's water degree is now low enough to reveal one of the reservoir's authentic, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can now not draw water, in keeping with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company liable for managing water resources for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

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

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's likely that we are going to find extra bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water stage drops more.