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 12 months. The second is water shall be held again in Lake Powell itself, as an alternative of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will boost Lake Powell by almost 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, according to 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% likelihood the Glen Canyon Dam could have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates energy for as many as 5.8 million properties and companies in seven states.

The agency stated in a statement Tuesday's choice was supposed to protect "hydropower technology, the power's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the town of 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've got 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 before we face a bigger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 ft within the final 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 capability to generate power.

Bryan Hill, normal supervisor of the public power utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the situation to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill beforehand advised 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 in the nation.

Water cuts for individuals who rely on Lake Mead started in January, and Tuesday's choice might lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low sufficient to expose one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can now not draw water, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company accountable for managing water assets for two.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 body in a barrel police say is a possible homicide victim from the 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is likely that we are going to discover additional bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" because the water level drops extra.