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 yr. The second is water will probably 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 increase Lake Powell by practically 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, in response to the bureau, though its full capacity is round 25 million acre-feet.

With out the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% likelihood the Glen Canyon Dam might 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 supposed 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 purchase the federal government 12 months because it considers longer-term measures.

"We have by no means taken this step earlier than, however the potential risk on the horizon demands immediate action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo informed reporters. "We need to work collectively to stabilize the reservoir before we face a bigger crisis."

Lake Powell has dropped around 100 toes within the final three years as the West has been besieged by drought. Because the water stage has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16% of its capacity 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 instructed 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 within the nation.

Water cuts for those who rely on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's choice could result in additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water level is now low enough to show one of the reservoir's original, 1971 water consumption valves for the first time. The valve can not draw water, in keeping with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company answerable for managing water resources for 2.2 million folks in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officials over the weekend made another disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water degree: a physique in a barrel police say is a possible murder sufferer from the Nineteen Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically during the last 15 years," mentioned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It is likely that we will discover further our bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops extra.