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 will likely be held again in Lake Powell itself, as a substitute 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, based on the bureau, although its full capacity is around 25 million acre-feet.

Without the emergency steps, the bureau estimated there was a few 25% probability 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 said in a statement Tuesday's resolution was meant to protect "hydropower technology, the ability'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 buy the federal authorities 12 months as it considers longer-term measures.

"We've got by no means taken this step earlier than, however the potential threat on the horizon demands immediate 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 bigger disaster."

Lake Powell has dropped round 100 toes within the last 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 capability to generate energy.

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

"We're knocking on the door of judgment day," Hill previously informed CNN. "Judgment day being when we don't have any water to provide anyone."

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

Water cuts for many who rely on Lake Mead started in January, and Tuesday's resolution might result in additional restrictions.

Lake Mead's water degree is now low enough to expose one of many reservoir's unique, 1971 water consumption valves for the primary time. The valve can no longer draw water, in line with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the company liable for managing water assets for two.2 million individuals in southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Officers over the weekend made one other disturbing discovery brought on by Lake Mead's plummeting water degree: a physique in a barrel police say is a likely homicide sufferer from the 1980s.

"The lake has drained dramatically over the past 15 years," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Murder Lieutenant Ray Spencer. "It's possible that we will find further our bodies which were dumped in Lake Mead" as the water degree drops more.