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

Step one is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water will likely be held back in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being despatched 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 keeping with the bureau, though its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a few 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam may 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 stated in a statement Tuesday's decision was meant to protect "hydropower generation, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water provide for the 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.

"Now we have by no means taken this step before, but the potential threat on the horizon calls for immediate motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We have to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a larger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, normal manager of the public power utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the state of affairs to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously informed CNN. "Judgment day being when we haven't any water to offer anyone."

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

Water cuts for those who rely on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's determination may result in further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water stage is now low sufficient to show one of the reservoir's authentic, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can now not draw water, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company accountable for managing water assets for 2.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water degree: a physique in a barrel police say is a probable murder victim from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's doubtless that we are going to find extra our bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water stage drops extra.