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

The first step is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water might be held again in Lake Powell itself, instead of being despatched to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual 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 keeping with the bureau, although its full capability is around 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 company mentioned in a press release Tuesday's decision was supposed to guard "hydropower technology, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the city of 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.

"We've by no means taken this step earlier than, but the potential risk on the horizon calls for prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a larger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 toes in the final three years as the West has been besieged by drought. As the water stage has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capability to generate power.

Bryan Hill, basic manager of the public power utility in 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 anybody."

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

Water cuts for individuals who rely on Lake Mead started in January, and Tuesday's choice could result in further restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low enough to expose one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company liable for managing water sources for two.2 million people in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

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

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