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

The first step is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this yr. The second is water shall be held again in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute of being sent 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, based on the bureau, although its full capability is around 25 million acre-feet.

Without 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 businesses in seven states.

The agency stated in a press release Tuesday's determination was intended to guard "hydropower technology, the facility'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 buy the federal authorities 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"We have never taken this step earlier than, however the potential risk on the horizon demands prompt action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo advised reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a bigger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 ft within 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 capability to generate energy.

Bryan Hill, general 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 advised CNN. "Judgment day being when we don't have any water to provide anybody."

The decisions made for Lake Powell additionally affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the biggest reservoir in the nation.

Water cuts for many who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's choice might result in additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water stage is now low enough to reveal one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can now not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency accountable for managing water resources for 2.2 million folks in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

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

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's doubtless that we are going to discover additional our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" because the water degree drops extra.