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 be held again in Lake Powell itself, instead of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin actions will enhance 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 response to the bureau, although 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 might have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates power for as many as 5.8 million houses and businesses in seven states.

The agency said in an announcement Tuesday's decision was meant to protect "hydropower generation, the ability'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 government 12 months because it considers longer-term measures.

"We've by no means taken this step earlier than, however the potential threat on the horizon calls for immediate motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir before 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. Because the water stage has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capacity to generate power.

Bryan Hill, general manager of the 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 haven't any water to present anyone."

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

Water cuts for many who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's decision might lead to further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low enough to reveal one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, based on the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company liable for managing water assets for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officers over the weekend made another disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a physique in a barrel police say is a likely homicide sufferer from the Eighties.

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