WSP09530

• File Number: 8111.600
• Description: ARCA Annual Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 12/11/1973
• Author: ARCA
• Title: Twenty-Fifth Annual Report Arkansas River Compact Administration for the Year 1973
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

Colorado (60%) ............. .$5,022.00
Kan.a. (40%) ................ 3,348.00

$8,370.00

(9) Pursuant to provisions of the Compact (Article VI II-E(3))
and of the By-Laws of the Administration (Article VII (5)),
the receipts and disbursements of the Administration
during the compact year have been audited. and the report
of the audit is hereto attached as Appendix "A."

6. Facts about John Martin Project

The John Martin Reservoir Project was built by the Corps of
Engineers, United States Army. The project was authorized by congress.
in. the Flood Control Act of June 22. 1936. when the federal
responsibility for floOd control throughout the country was assigned to
the Corps of Engineers. It is located on the Arkansas River, 58 miles
upstream from the Colorado-Kansas statetine and 18 miles upstream
from the city of Lamar, Colorado. Construction of the project began in
the fall of 1939, but work was suspended by World War" from the
spnng of 1943 to the spring of 1946. The project was completed in
October 1948 at a cost of about $15 million. TheWar Department Civil
Appropriation Act of June 24, 1940, changed the name of the project
from Caddoa Reservoir Project to John Martin ReserVOir ProJect, in
honor of the late Congressman John A. Martin of Colorado. It is
operated by the United States Army Engineer District. Albuquerque,
New Mexico. Mr. William L. Lindsey has been the resident
superintendent of the project since April I, 1968.
The John Martin Reservoir Project is part of the comprehensive
plan for the control of floods and the development of the water
resources of the entire Arkansas River basin. The reservoir prOVides
261.000 acre-feet of storage capacity for flood control. It protects the
fertile Arkansas River valley below the dam from floods originating in
the 18,915 square miles of the Arkansas River basin above the dam. It
provides 360,100 acre-feet of storage space for conservation and
recreation. John Martin Reservoir supplies water to the irrigated lands
below the dam as far as Garden City, Kansas. The top of the
conservation pool is 3,851 feet above mean sea level, which provides
350,100. acre.feet of storage for irrigation. The release of stored flood
waters in excess of the conservation and recreation pools and above
elevation 3,851 feet is planned so that, when combined with flows
originating downstream from the dam, the capacity of the channel will
not be exceeded. Upon request of the Arkansa.s River Compact
Administration, irrigation water for downstream water users is released
through the outlet works in the base of the dam. Downstream flood
damages prevented by John Martin Dam already exceed the cost of the
project. Benefits have already passed the $92 million mark.
Recreation and favorable fish and WIldlife habitats are derived
from this. project. With reservoir lands open to al" there are many
attractive public use areas for outdoor recreation, water sports, fishing
and boating, or just relaxed livmg. During construction some
embankment. material was obtained from a 75-acre tract of land
immediately downstream of the dam. This excavated area, averaging 12
feet deep, filled with water and formed Lake Hasty, the center of
year-round recreation.
John Martin Dam consists of a concrete gravity structure 1,644
feet long and '120 feet high, and an earthfi/l structure 2,600 feet long.
The concrete gravity s.tructure contains a gated spillway provided With
sixteen 30. feet by 64 feet tainter gate.s with their operating machinery.

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