Lake Powell officials take emergency steps to preserve 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 likely be held again in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual 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.

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

The company said in a statement Tuesday's resolution was meant to guard "hydropower era, the power'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 because it considers longer-term measures.

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

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 feet within the final three years because the West has been besieged by drought. Because the water degree has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has misplaced about 16% of its capability to generate energy.

Bryan Hill, basic supervisor of the general public energy utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously told CNN. "Judgment day being when we have no water to give anyone."

The decisions made for Lake Powell additionally have an effect on its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the largest reservoir within the country.

Water cuts for individuals who depend on Lake Mead started in January, and Tuesday's resolution could lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low sufficient to show one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, in line with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company chargeable for managing water assets for two.2 million folks in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made another disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water stage: a body in a barrel police say is a probable homicide victim from the 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's doubtless that we will find additional our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" because the water level drops more.