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

The first step is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this 12 months. The second is water can be held back in Lake Powell itself, instead of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the twin actions will increase Lake Powell by almost 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 round 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% probability the Glen Canyon Dam could have stopped producing hydropower by January. The dam generates power for as many as 5.8 million houses and companies in seven states.

The company mentioned in a press release Tuesday's decision was meant to protect "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 because it considers longer-term measures.

"We've by no means taken this step earlier than, however the potential threat on the horizon demands immediate motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo advised reporters. "We have to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a larger crisis."

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

Bryan Hill, general supervisor of the public energy utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the situation 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 provide anyone."

The choices made for Lake Powell additionally affect its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the largest reservoir in the country.

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

Lake Mead's water degree is now low enough to show 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 agency answerable for managing water sources for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water level: a physique in a barrel police say is a probable homicide sufferer from the 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's doubtless that we will discover further our bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" because the water stage drops extra.