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

The first step is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this year. The second is water can be held again in Lake Powell itself, as an alternative of being sent to downstream states.

The US Bureau of Reclamation expects the dual actions will boost Lake Powell by practically 1 million acre-feet of water. The reservoir contained about 5.8 million acre-feet of water as of Tuesday, according to the bureau, although its full capability is round 25 million acre-feet.

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

The company mentioned in an announcement Tuesday's determination was meant to protect "hydropower generation, the ability's key infrastructure, and the water provide for town of Page, Arizona, and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation."

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

"We now have never taken this step earlier than, however the potential danger on the horizon demands immediate motion," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We need to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a larger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 ft within the last three years because the West has been besieged by drought. As the water stage has fallen, Glen Canyon Dam has misplaced about 16% of its capacity to generate energy.

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

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

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 many who rely on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's determination could lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low sufficient to show one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water intake valves for the first time. The valve can now not draw water, in keeping with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency answerable for managing water resources for two.2 million people in southern Nevada, together with Las Vegas.

Officials 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 possible homicide sufferer from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's seemingly that we will discover extra bodies which have been dumped in Lake Mead" because the water level drops extra.