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

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this 12 months. The second is water will likely be held again in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin actions will increase 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 response to the bureau, although its full capability is around 25 million acre-feet.

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

The company mentioned in a statement Tuesday's resolution was supposed to guard "hydropower generation, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water provide for town of Web page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We've got by no means taken this step earlier than, however the potential risk on the horizon demands 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 larger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, basic manager 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 instructed CNN. "Judgment day being when we have no water to offer anybody."

The selections made for Lake Powell also have an effect on 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 resolution might result in additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low sufficient to expose one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency responsible for managing water assets for 2.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water degree: a body in a barrel police say is a possible homicide sufferer from the Nineteen Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is possible that we'll discover further our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water level drops more.