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

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this year. The second is water will probably be held back in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will increase 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 keeping with the bureau, although its full capability is round 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% probability 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 agency mentioned in an announcement Tuesday's resolution was intended to guard "hydropower technology, the facility'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 authorities 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"We now have never taken this step before, however the potential danger 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 larger disaster."

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

Bryan Hill, basic manager of the general public energy utility in Page, Arizona, likened the situation to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously instructed 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 biggest reservoir in the nation.

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

Lake Mead's water stage is now low sufficient to expose one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can no longer draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency accountable for managing water assets for 2.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made another disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a body in a barrel police say is a possible murder sufferer from the Eighties.

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