… Turbine A8, the eighth turbine on the Arizona side, is one of only five wide-head turbines at the dam that are primed for drought, able to function with water levels below 1,035 feet elevation at Lake Mead without guaranteed risk of permanent damage. A8 has been out of commission awaiting repairs for months. The dam has 17 turbines in all. Now, Lake Mead’s projected decline could spell crisis for rural utilities across Nevada, Arizona and California that have counted on Hoover Dam hydropower for decades. The federal government intends to see how far it can push the dam’s infrastructure. Bureau of Reclamation spokesman Peter Soeth said the agency will, for the first time in history, test whether those older turbines can operate at lower water levels, with strict limits on operating hours as well as monitoring and frequent inspections to ensure safety.

Other Colorado River management news:

• KJZZ (Phoenix): Arizona water agency steps back from project to boost Colorado River snow with cloud seeding
• KSL (Salt Lake City): 5 states in Colorado River Basin elect new governors. Will it impact negotiations?
• KSNV (Las Vegas): Lake Mead rises after storms, but winter snowpack will be key to more relief