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

The first step is releasing extra 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 boost Lake Powell by practically 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 round 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a few 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam might have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates energy for as many as 5.8 million houses and businesses in seven states.

The company said in an announcement Tuesday's determination was intended to protect "hydropower generation, the power's key infrastructure, and the water supply for town of Page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

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

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 feet within the last three years because 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 energy.

Bryan Hill, basic supervisor of the general public power utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the situation 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 present anybody."

The decisions made for Lake Powell additionally affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the largest reservoir in the country.

Water cuts for those who rely 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 unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can no longer draw water, in line with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency accountable for managing water sources for 2.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

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

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is possible that we will find additional bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops extra.