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

Step one is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this 12 months. The second is water will probably 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, though its full capacity 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 energy for as many as 5.8 million homes and companies in seven states.

The agency stated in an announcement Tuesday's decision was intended to guard "hydropower era, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water provide for the 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.

"Now we have by no means taken this step earlier than, however the potential threat on the horizon calls for prompt action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo instructed reporters. "We need to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a bigger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, common manager of the general public energy 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 have no water to present anyone."

The decisions made for Lake Powell also affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the biggest reservoir within the nation.

Water cuts for many who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's determination might lead to further 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 now not draw water, in line with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company liable for managing water assets for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

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

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's probably that we'll discover extra our bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops extra.