WSP11431

• File Number: 8143.700
• Description: John Martin Reservoir - Annual Operating Plans and Reports
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 12/1/2002
• Title: Annual Report of the Operations Secretary - Concerning the Operation of John Martin Reservoir - 2002
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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ARKANSAS RIVER COMPACT ADMINISTRATION
307 South Fifth Street, Lamar, Colorado 81052
719-336-9696
For Colorado Chairman and Federal Representative For Kansas
Robin Jennison

Healy, Kansas

.,. , Rodney Kuharich, Denver

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David l. Pope, Topeka

James G. Rogers, Lamar

David A. Brenn, Garden City

.... Thomas R. Pointon, Las Animas
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Randy Hayzletl, Lakin

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December I, 2002

Mr, James Rogers, Chairman
Arkansas River Compact Administration - Operations Committee, 2001-2002

Mr, David Brenn, Member
Arkansas River Compact Administration - Operations Committee, 200 I -2002 ,

Gentlemen,

The purposes of this letter report is to provide you with an accounting summary of the operation
of John Martin Reservoir for the 2001-2002 compact year which is incorporated and made a part
hereof,

Summary of Operations
November 1,2001 to October 31, 2002

The 2002 compact year started under the worst drought conditions on record in the Arkansas
River basin with a balance for all accounts totaling 49,461-acre feet. In comparison to the
previous two compact years, this starting balance is down by 276,749-acre feet (November 1999)
and 61,532 (November 2000) acre-feet, respectively. Figure 1 illustrates the severity of the
drought by examining 112 years of stream flow record on the Arkansas River at Canon City,
Colorado, Figure 2 utilizes the Canon City gage and compares the current drought on a monthly
basis to average flow conditions and other similar droughts occurring in years 1934 and 1977,
Figure 3 provides for precipitation comparisons at weather stations in southeastern Colorado and
Garden City, Kansas. The severe drought significantly effected operations at John Martin
Reservoir not only in the low storage content, but also in efforts to deliver water in a timely and
beneficial manner,

In accordance with the 1980 Operating Plan, the 2002 compact year began at 00:00 hours on
November 1, 2001 with a period of "winter storage" in which all inflow into John Martin
Reservoir accrued to conservation storage.