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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B. This compact is not concerned with the rights, if any,
of the state of New Mexico or its citizens in and to the use in
New Mexico of waters of Trinchera creek or other tributaries of the
Purgatoire river, a tributary of the Arkansas river.

C. (I) John Martin dam will be operated by the corps of
engineers to store and release the waters of the Arkansas river in
and from John Martin reservoir for its authorized purposes.

(2) The bottom of the flood control storage is presently
fixed by the chief of engineers, U. S. Army, at elevation 3,851
feet above mean sea level. . The flood .control storage will be operated
for flood control purposes and to those ends will impound or regulate
the streamflow volumes that are in excess of the then available
storage capacity of the conservation pool. Releases from the flood
control storage may be made at tlmes and rates determined by the
corps of engineers to be necessary or advisable without regard to
ditch diversion capacities or requirements in either or both states.

(3) The conservation pool will be operated for the benefit
of water users in Colorado and Kansas, both upstream and downstream
from John Martin dam, as provided in this compact. The maintenance
of John Martin dam and appurtenance works may at times require the
corps of engineers to release waters then impounded.in th: conserva-
tion pool or to prohibit the storage of water there1~ uot1l such
maintenance work is completed. Flood control operatlon may also
involve temporary utilization of conservation storage.

D. This compact is not intended to impede or prevent future
beneficial development of the Arkansas river basin in Colorado and
Kansas by federal or state agencies, by private enterprise, or by
combinations thereof, which may involve construction of dams,
reservoirs and other works for the purposes of water utilization and
control as well as the improved or prOlonged functioning of existing
works: 'Provided, that the waters of the Arkansas river, as defined
in article III, shall not be materially depleted in usable quantity
or availability for use to the water users in Colorado and.Kansas
under this compact by such future development or construct10n.

ART! CLE V

Colorado and Kansas hereby agree upon the following basis of
apportionment of the waters of the Arkansas river:
A. Winter storage in John Martin reservoir shall commence on
November 1st of each year and continue to and include the next suc-
ceeding March 31st. During said period all water entering said
reservoir up to the limit of the then available conservation capacity
shall be stored: Provided, that Colorado may demand releases of
water equivalent to the river flow, but such releases shall not
exceed 100 c.f.s. (cubic feet per second) and water so released shall
be used without. avoidable waste.
B. Summer storage in John Martin reservoir shall commence on
April 1st of each year and continue to and include the next succe-
eding October 31st. During said per~od~ ~xcept when.Colo~ado water
users are operating under decreed pr1orlt1es as prov1ded 1n para-
graphs F and G of this article, all water entering said reservoir
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up to the limit of the then available conservation capacity shall be
stored: Provided, that Colorado may demand releases of water
equivalent to the river flow up to 500 c.f.s., and Kansas may demand
releases of water equivalent to that portion of the river flow
b~tween 500 c.f.s. and 750 c.f.s., irrespective of releases demanded
by Colorado.

C. Releases of water stored pursuant to the provisions of
paragraphs A and B of this article shall be made upon d~ands ~y
Colorado and Kansas concurrently or separately at any tlme dUf1ng
the summer storage period. Unless increases to meet extraordinary
candttions. are- authorized by - the-..administration, separate r-eleases
of stored water to Colorado shall not exceed 750 c. f .5., separate
releases of stored water to Kansas shall not exceed 500 c.f.s., and
concurrent releases of stored water shall not exceed a total of
1250 c.f.s.: Provided, that when water stored in the conservation
pool is reduced to a quantity less than 20,000 acre-feet, separate
releases of stored water to Colorado shall not exceed 600 c.f.s.,
and separate releases of stored water to Kansas shall not exceed
400 c.f.s., and concurrent releases of stored water shall not exceed
1,000 c.f.s.

O. Releases authorized by paragraphs A, B, and C of this article,
except when all Colorado water users are operating under. decree
priorities as provided in paragraphs F and G of this artlcle, shall
not impose any callan Colorado water users that divert waters of
the Arkansas river upstream from John Martin dam.

E. (1) Releases of stored water and releases of river flow may
be made simultaneously upon the dewands of either or both states.

(2) Water released upon concurrent or separate demands shall
be applied promptly to beneficial use unless storage thereof down-
stream is authorized by the administration.

(3) Releases of river flow and of stored water to Colorad~
shall be measured by gauging stations:locat~d at or near John.Ma~t1n
dam and the releases to which Kansas 1S ent1tled shall be satlsf1ed
by an equivalent in state line flow.

(4) When water is released from John Martin reservoir appro-
priate allowances as determined by the administration sh~ll be made
for the intervals of time required for such water to arrlve at the
points of diversion in Colorado and at the state line.

(5) There shall be no allowance or accumulation of credits
or debits for or against either state.

(6) Storage, releases from storage and releases of river
flow authorized in this article shall be accomplished pursuant to
procedures prescribed by the administration under the provisions
of article VIII.

F. In the event the administration finds that within a period
of fourteen days the water in the conservation pool will be or is
liable to be exhausted, the administration shall forthwith notify
the state engineer of Colorado, or his duly authorized representative,
that cOn1llencing upon a day certain within said fourteen day period,

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