WSP10971

• File Number: 8127.600
• Description: Lower Arkansas River Commission - LARC
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 11/15/1992
• Author: LARC
• Title: Lower Arkansas River Commission Implementation Plan for Water Resources and State Park Development - Draft
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The state park will attract visitors from the front range of ~
Colorado as well as from western Kansas and Oklahoma. A
combination of excellent warm water fishing, diverse boating
opportunities and state-of-the-art campground facilities would
make this the premier recreational attraction in southeastern
Colorado.

The nature and volume of park use will create opportunities for
co~unities to realize economic benefits. While not a part of
this implementation plan, community success in identifying and
taking advantage of these opportunities will be an important
factor in determining the long-term economic impact of the state
park on southeastern Colorado.

The multiple benefits of carrying out this project -- boating,
fishing, hunting, habitat enhancement, species protection,
irrigation releases and economic opportunity -- ensure support
for and participation in the project by a wide range of
government agencies, organizations and interests.

c. project Justification

with the exception of metropolitan area parks, there are no state
parks in Colorado south of I-70 and east of I-25. The State
Parks Board, encouraged by local governments and others in
southeastern Colorado, has long viewed creation of a state park
in the lower Arkansas region as necessary to meet rising demand
for water-based recreation and to geographically round out the
state park system.

A successful state park must rely on water-based recreation such
as fishing and boating. Therefore, the acquisition of an
adequate and stable water supply is an essential first step in
building a park in southeastern Colorado.

The Division of wildlife considers the Great Plains Reservoirs to
be a high quality warm water fishery and the lands around the
reservoirs to provide excellent habitat for migratory waterfowl
and other animal species. Unless a means is found to move water
into the Great Plains Reservoirs on a regular basis, these
aquatic and terrestrial wildlife values will be lost through the
ultimate dry-up of the reservoirs or the excessive accumulation
in them of dissolved solids.

The Lower Arkansas River Commission has committed to pursue the
Great Plains option because it best meets the recreation,
wildlife and economic needs of the region and the state. If this
option cannot be achieved for legal, financial or institutional
reasons, the commission would support a more intensive evaluation
of other options such as creation of a state park at John Martin
Reservoir.

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