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

Step one is releasing more water from upstream on the Colorado River this 12 months. The second is water will be held back 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 nearly 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, in accordance with the bureau, though its full capacity is round 25 million acre-feet.

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

The company said in a press release Tuesday's choice was meant to protect "hydropower era, the facility's key infrastructure, and the water provide for the town of Web page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

The emergency actions will purchase the federal government 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"We've got never taken this step before, however the potential threat on the horizon demands prompt motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo informed reporters. "We have to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a bigger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 feet 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 power.

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

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill beforehand informed CNN. "Judgment day being when we have no water to present anybody."

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

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

Lake Mead's water level is now low sufficient to reveal one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the primary time. The valve can not draw water, in line with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency answerable for managing water sources for two.2 million folks in southern Nevada, including 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 murder victim from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is seemingly that we will discover additional bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water stage drops extra.