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

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water can be held again in Lake Powell itself, instead of being despatched 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, according to the bureau, though its full capability is round 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a few 25% chance 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 said in a press release Tuesday's resolution was meant to protect "hydropower technology, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water provide for the city 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 got by no means taken this step before, but the potential risk on the horizon calls for prompt action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a bigger disaster."

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

Bryan Hill, normal manager of the public energy utility in Page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill beforehand instructed CNN. "Judgment day being when we have no water to provide 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 many who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's resolution may result in additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water stage is now low enough to reveal one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can no longer draw water, based on the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company liable for managing water sources for two.2 million people in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

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

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is possible that we are going to find extra bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" because the water degree drops more.