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

The first step is releasing more 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 boost Lake Powell by nearly 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, in accordance with the bureau, though its full capability is round 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was about a 25% likelihood the Glen Canyon Dam may 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 press release Tuesday's resolution was meant to protect "hydropower era, 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 purchase the federal authorities 12 months because it considers longer-term measures.

"We have never taken this step before, however the potential threat on the horizon demands immediate action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo instructed reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir before we face a bigger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 ft in the final three years as the West has been besieged by drought. Because the water degree has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has misplaced about 16% of its capacity to generate energy.

Bryan Hill, common 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 informed CNN. "Judgment day being when we don't have any water to give anyone."

The choices 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 many who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's decision might lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to reveal one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can no longer draw water, in accordance with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company responsible for managing water assets for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials 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 possible murder victim from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is doubtless that we'll discover additional bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" because the water level drops extra.