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

Step one is releasing extra water from upstream on the Colorado River this year. The second is water can be held back 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 nearly 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, though its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a couple of 25% chance 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 stated in a press release Tuesday's determination was meant to guard "hydropower era, the power's key infrastructure, and the water provide for town of 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 have never taken this step earlier than, but the potential risk on the horizon calls for prompt action," Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo told reporters. "We have to work together to stabilize the reservoir earlier than we face a larger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 feet in the final three years as 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 energy.

Bryan Hill, general manager of the general public energy utility in Web page, Arizona, likened the state of affairs 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 provide anyone."

The choices made for Lake Powell additionally have an effect on its downstream neighbor, Lake Mead, which is the largest reservoir in the nation.

Water cuts for many who depend on Lake Mead began in January, and Tuesday's resolution could lead to additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water stage is now low sufficient to expose one of many reservoir's authentic, 1971 water intake valves for the first time. The valve can now not draw water, in response to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the agency chargeable for managing water resources for 2.2 million people in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officers over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery introduced on by Lake Mead's plummeting water degree: a body in a barrel police say is a probable murder sufferer from the Eighties.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the last 15 years," stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's possible that we'll discover extra our bodies that have been dumped in Lake Mead" as the water level drops more.