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 shall be held again in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being despatched 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, based on 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% probability the Glen Canyon Dam may have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates energy for as many as 5.8 million properties and businesses in seven states.

The agency mentioned in an announcement Tuesday's decision was meant to protect "hydropower era, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water supply for town of Web page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We have now by no means taken this step earlier than, however the potential risk on the horizon demands immediate motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo advised reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a larger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 feet in the last three years because the West has been besieged by drought. Because the water level has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has misplaced about 16% of its capacity to generate power.

Bryan Hill, basic manager of the general public power utility in 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 haven't any water to provide anyone."

The decisions 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 those who rely on Lake Mead started in January, and Tuesday's decision might lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low sufficient to show one of the reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can no longer draw water, based on the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company chargeable for managing water sources for 2.2 million people 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 probable homicide victim from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is probably that we will find extra bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops more.