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 year. The second is water might be held again in Lake Powell itself, as an alternative of being despatched to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will boost Lake Powell by almost 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, in line with the bureau, although its full capacity is round 25 million acre-feet.

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

The agency stated in an announcement Tuesday's determination was intended to protect "hydropower era, the ability'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 purchase the federal authorities 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

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

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

Bryan Hill, general manager of the public power utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the state of affairs to judgment day.

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill beforehand instructed CNN. "Judgment day being when we haven't any water to offer anybody."

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

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

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to expose one of the reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can now not draw water, in line with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company liable for managing water resources for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

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

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's probably that we'll find extra bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" as the water stage drops extra.