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

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

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin 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, according to the bureau, although its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam could have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates energy for as many as 5.8 million houses and companies in seven states.

The agency stated in a statement Tuesday's decision was meant to guard "hydropower generation, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water supply for the city of Web 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 now never taken this step earlier than, but the potential danger on the horizon calls for prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo instructed reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir before we face a larger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, normal supervisor of the general public energy utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the scenario to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously told CNN. "Judgment day being when we haven't any water to present anyone."

The selections made for Lake Powell additionally affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the most important reservoir in the nation.

Water cuts for many who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's resolution may lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low sufficient to expose one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water intake valves for the first time. The valve can no longer draw water, based on the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency answerable for managing water assets for 2.2 million people in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

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

"The lake has drained dramatically over the last 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's doubtless that we are going to find extra bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" as the water level drops more.