WSP11744

• File Number: 8111.805
• Description: Arkansas River Compact Administration - Keesee Ditch
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 1/1/1986
• Author: HRS Engineering
• Title: Keesee Ditch Change of Water Rights Vol 2 - Proposed Pan of Operation for Storage in John Martin Reservoir
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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KEESEE DITCH HISTORICAL OPERATIONS

Volume 1 of this report, entitled "Historical Operation of the Keesee Ditch",
included a detailed analysis of stream depletions due to Keesee Ditch operation
during a 20-year period from 1964 to 1983. In order to accomodate the change
in use and location of the water right, and the operating procedures for John
Martin Reservoir, further analysis of the historical results was required. In
addition, a change was made from a calender year, as incorporated into Volume
1, to the water year of November 1st to October 31st as used for John Martin
Reservoir operations. For a detailed summary of the historical analysis, refer
to Volume 1 of this report.

An initial examination of the pattern of diversions for the Keesee Ditch
revealed an uninterrupted supply for the growing season months of April to
October. Annual diversions have ranged from 2,451 to 6,610 acre-feet during
the 20-year study period. As a means of identifying any relationship between
annual ditch diversions and wet and dry years for the Arkansas River, a comparison
was made against the inflows to John Martin Reservoir. Reservoir inflows were
selected because these best represent the availability of water to District 67
ditches. Table I lists total water year diversions for the Keesee Ditch and total
John Martin Reservoir inflows as reported in the Arkansas River Compact
Administration annual reports (1964 - 1983). Both reservoir inflows and ditch
diversions were ranked and then plotted on a scatter diagram in Figure 1. An
examination of the plotted rankings does not reveal any apparent correlation
between Keesee Ditch annual diversions and Arkansas River flows. This
independent relationship is primarily due to the senior priority of the Keesee
Ditch water rights.

Because of the independent nature of the Keesee Ditch water rights, the
future operating plan will be based primarily on aVeraQ"e patterns of diversions,
consumptive use, return flows and depletions as determined from the study period,
rather than separate wet year and dry year conditions. These average patterns
are incorporated into the operating plan by the use of Return Flow Factors, the
derivation of which are described below.

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