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Bob Martin, Glen Canyon Dam’s deputy power manager pointed to what’s known the “bathtub Ring” on the canyon walls. This is the problem of this region.
Martin explained to CNN that this is where the water has bleached the rock. That’s how high it was at one time.
Hydropower production declines with declining water levels. The dam harnesses power from the Colorado River’s gravitational force to power up to 5.8 Million homes and businesses across seven states, including Nevada.
Bryan Hill is the head of the Page, Arizona public power utility. He likens the situation as a day of judgment.
“We’re knocking at the door of judgment — judgment day is when we don’t have any water for anyone.”
The Glen Canyon Dam is responsible for forty percent of Page’s electricity. They’ll have to replace that electricity with fossil fuels such as natural gas. This emits greenhouse gases and will worsen the West’s water crisis.
A loss of power at the dam could also lead to higher energy costs for customers, as the price of fossil-fuels rockets.
Hill stated to CNN that if nothing changes, or in other words, if Page doesn’t get some moisture, in particular, then we will be looking at an additional 25-30% in power costs.”
CNN’s Arash Moalemi, deputy general manager for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, stated that a loss of power at Glen Canyon Dam could be catastrophic for the Navajo community.
Moalemi stated, “We have 40% unemployment, but our per capita income of a little more than 10 thousand dollars.” “Higher energy costs could lead to some people not being able heat or cool their homes.”
The federal government, which technically owns hydropower flowing through federally managed Dams, sells electricity to states at a price that is often much lower than the commercial market. In the worst-case scenario, it is possible for the dam to stop producing power by January according to the Interior Department.
The agency is currently considering an emergency action to buy more time for the dam.
This year, more than 110 billion gallons have been kept back.
This impossible choice is made as new images reveal that Lake Mead, Powell’s downstream neighbor, and the country’s largest reservoir, has fallen to historic low levels. One of the original 1971 water intake valves for the lake is now visible above the water line.
The current water level at Glen Canyon Dam is still producing electricity.
Eight generators are located at the dam’s power station. The water pressure traveling through 15-foot diameter pipes spins turbines, which then generate power. If Lake Powell’s water levels drop by 32 feet, the generators will stop spinning.
Both federal and state governments are being forced to make difficult decisions and take drastic measures to ensure that power and water continue to flow to the Southwest.
The Interior Department will make a decision about how to deal with the situation at the dam by May 1.
