WSP10499

• File Number: 8111.600
• Description: ARCA Annual Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 12/10/1974
• Author: ARCA
• Title: Twenty-Sixth Annual Report Arkansas River Compact Administration for the Year 1974
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

Colorlldo (60%)
Kllnslls (40%)

.$;.034.00
3.356.00

$8.390.00

(g) Pursullnt to provISions of the Compact (Article VIII-E(3))
and of the By-Laws of ttle Administration (Article VII (5)),
the receipts and disbursements of the Administration
dUring the compact year have been audited, and the report
of the Judit IS heleto attached ilS Apoendix "A."

6. Facts .Jbout 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
re5ponsibilJiy far flood control throughout the country was assigned to
the COlpS of Engineers. It IS located on the Arkansas River, 58 miles
upstream from the Colorado-Kansas slateline and 18 miles upstream
from the city of Lamar, Colorado. Construction of the project began in
the fJ11 of 1939, but work was suspended by World War II from the
spling at 1943 to the spring of 1946. The project was completed In
October 1948 at a cost of about $15 million. The War Department Civil
Appropllation Act of June 24, 1940, changed the name of the project
from Caddoll Reservoir PloJect to John Martin Reservoir Project, in
IlOnaI' 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 1, 1968.
The John Martin ReserVOir Project is part of the comprehensive
pion fOI the control of floods and the development of the water
resources of the entire Arkansas River basin. The reservoir provides
270,375 acre-feet of storage capacity for flood control. It protects the
fertile Arkilnsas River valley below the dam from floods originating in
the 18,915 square miles of the Arkansas River basin above the dam. It
prOVides 350,951 aCle.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
350,951 acre. feet of storage for Irrigation. The release of stored flood
waters in exce~s 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 wilt
not be exceeded. Upon request of the Arkansas 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.
Recleatlon and favorable fish and Wildlife habitats are derived
from this project. With reservoir lands open to all, there are many
attractive PUblic use areas for outdoor recreation, water sports, fishing
and boating, or just relaxed liVing. 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 earthfill structure 2,600 feet long.
The concret.e gravity structure contains a gated spillway provided with
sixteen 30 feet by 64 feet tujnter gutes WIth their operating machinery.

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