Laserfiche WebLink
<br />:~\~~;!~i~~) <br /> <br />0. <br /> <br />N <br />(C <br />(C <br />~ <br /> <br />LOWER ARKANSAS RIVER COMMISSION <br />IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR <br />WATER RESOORCES AND STATE PARK DEVELOPMENT <br /> <br />b..p4t')' <br /> <br />NOVEMBER 15, 1992 <br /> <br />********OCTOBER 7, 1992 DRAFT******** <br /> <br />:rYi:ly~!t~~~D.~'~~~,9~~t'.... . <br />A. Background <br /> <br />.............. .. <br />..-...:..:.:..::.:-::... <br /> <br /> <br />zo......;..:".,...... <br />........:..:..... <br />.. -.. .. <br />.....::.::-::...:..:::.. <br /> <br />Local and state officials, water users, recreation interests and <br />others have discussed the creation of a state park in <br />southeastern Colorado for more than a decade. Studies have been <br />done, designs prepared and public meetings held. Despite this <br />effort, little progress has been made to generate the funds and <br />identify the sources of water needed to support state park <br />construction and operation. <br /> <br />On May 11, 1992, Governor Romer signed an Executive Order <br />creating the Lower Arkansas River Commission. The order directed <br />the commission to organize and lead efforts to obtain water for <br />John Martin and the Great Plains reservoirs and to accelerate the <br />process of establishing a state park in Southeastern Colorado. <br />See Appendix A for a copy of the Executive Order. <br /> <br />Based on direction from the Executive Order and on the interests <br />of southeastern Colorado, the Lower Arkansas River commission <br />defined its goals to be: <br /> <br />o Provide water for the permanent recreation pool at John <br />Martin Reservoir. <br /> <br />o Provide water for a state park, fishery and wildlife at the <br />Great Plains Reservoirs. <br /> <br />o Establish a state park at the Great Plains Reservoirs on an <br />accelerated schedule. <br /> <br />o Maintain water for viable agriculture and avoid injury to <br />vested water interests; protect and enhance the quality of <br />life for people in the Lower Arkansas Valley. <br /> <br />The Lower Arkansas River Commission has prepared this plan to <br />identity, describe and justify specific actions that can be taken <br />to: (1) create a water-based state park at the Great Plains <br />Reservoirs; and (2) establish a permanent recreation pool in John <br />Martin Reservoir. <br /> <br />The commission has recommended actions considered necessary to <br />secure project funding, identify and obtain water, and build <br /> <br />n <br />