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

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water will 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 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 accordance with the bureau, although its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% probability the Glen Canyon Dam might have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates power for as many as 5.8 million homes and companies in seven states.

The agency mentioned in a press release Tuesday's determination was meant to guard "hydropower generation, the facility'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 government 12 months because it considers longer-term measures.

"We have now never taken this step earlier than, however the potential risk on the horizon calls for prompt action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We need to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir before we face a larger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 feet within 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 capability to generate energy.

Bryan Hill, common supervisor of the public energy utility in Page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

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

The choices made for Lake Powell also affect 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 choice could lead to further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low enough to show one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can not draw water, in line with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency liable for managing water resources for 2.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

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

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is likely that we'll find additional bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" because the water degree drops more.