WSP09389

• File Number: 8111
• Description: Arkansas River Compact Administration
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 9/21/2001
• Author: Corps of Engineers
• Title: Finding-No Significant Impact - Final EIS - John Martin Dam-Reservoir Project - Lease Agreement-Transfer Management of Recreation Areas-Surface Water - Corps of Engineers to CO State Parks
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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their habitat as discussed below. The CDOW has also constructed a boat launching ramp that is
located about 6 miles west of the dam and on the north shore of the reservoir. The CDOW boat
ramp is accessible via U.S. Highway 50 and/or Bent County Roads JJ and 19 (Figure 2 and see
the Corps' John Martin Map, Appendix F). CDOW's wildlife management includes law
enforcement of Colorado's wildlife regulations, education, boating safety, and public activities-
such as small and large game and waterfowl hunting and fishing, boating and water skiing,
hiking, wildlife observation, and photography.

Reservoir storage of conservation water at John Martin Reservoir supplies water to
irrigated lands as far downstream as Garden City, Kansas. Current reservoir operations follow
the plan adopted by the Arkansas River Compact Administration in 1980, as amended. Releases
for irrigation and downstream delivery nonnally are made between April I and October 31 of
each year. Inflow is stored from November through March except for releases required for flood
control. Releases to pass inflow begin when John Martin Reservoir storage exceeds the
maximum allowable conservation storage pool. The defined channel capacity of the Arkansas
River below the dam is 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) as measured by the Coolidge, Kansas,
nver gage.

1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED

Colorado State Parks has proposed assuming the recreational management of portions of
the Corps' John Martin Dam and Reservoir Project. The Corps is considering entering into a
lease arrangement with CSP for this purpose. With the proposed assumption of recreational
management of portions of the John Martin Project, Colorado State Parks is offering to construct
new facilities and rehabilitate existing infrastructure. In contrast, the annual Federal funding for
the Project is dedicated primarily for the operation and maintenance of the dam, and while
funding for operation and maintenance of the recreation areas is adequate, no new facility
construction or major improvements are foreseeable.

1.3 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

This Environmental Assessment was prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Albuquerque District, in compliance with all applicable Federal statutes, regulations, and
Executive Orders, including the following:

American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 1996)
Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U .S.C. 470)
Clean Air Act of 1972, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7401 el seq)
Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended (33 U.S.c. 1251 el seq)
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531)
Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice m Minority
Populations and Low Income Populations, 1994.
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 el seq)
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470)

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