FLOOD10384 ‎(2)‎

• County: Statewide
• Title: Natural Resources of Colorado
• Date: 1/1/1963
• Prepared By: US Department of the Interior
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

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Th~ Roodgates of the John Martin Dam hold back more than a quarter million acre-reet of Arkansas River water, in
Colorado's largest capacity storage reservoir. Completed in 1948, the dam prevents Roods and stabilizes downstream
/low for irrigation purposes.

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entire flood volume of 260,000 acre-feet of
water. Regulated releases from the dam during
the followi~g growing season benefited the
farmers and ranchers by making water available
for irrigation of drought-stricken lands.
It is estimated that flood damages of
$18,871,000 have been prevented in the States
of Colorado and Kansas by the John Martin
Reservoir project since its construction. At
the same time, operation of the project to
provide a more stable and supplemental water
supply to downstream users has provided
cumulative irrigation benefits of $13,256,000.
This compares with total Federal cost for
constructioh of the project of some $15 million.

Additional Returns

Under the reservoir management plan, project
lands surrounding the reservoir are leased to

various individuals for grazing and agricultural
purposes, and to nonprofit organizations for
recreational purposes. By law, 75 percent of
all money received by the Federal Government
from the leasing of public lands, acquired. for
project purposes, is returned to the State or
States in which a reservoir project is situated
to be expended as the State Legislature may
prescribe, in defrayal of the expenses of govern-
ment of the couhty or counties in which such
a project is located.
Lake Hasty, with a suiface area of approxi-
mately 75 acres and a maximum depth of 12
feet, offers ideal conditions for those who
enjoy water sports, since the water level remains
fairly constant. The recreational area developed
by the Corps of Engineers for public use includes
the following improvements: fencing, access
mads, parking area, picnic tables and fireplaces,

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