Arkansas Basin_Water Supply and Needs

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Section 6 Non-Consumptive Water Supply Needs in the Arkansas Basin . BOR should avoid dramatic fluctuations on the river as much as possible throughout the year. When it is necessary to alter flow rates, BOR should limit the daily change to 10 to 15 percent. . It may be possible to improve feeding conditions for brown trout by reducing flows between Labor Day and October 15 in years when flows would otherwise be higher than those recommended by CDOW. If potential benefits warrant the effort, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area managers, CDOW, BOR, and the Division II Engineer should work with the water users to seek opportunities for reducing flows after Labor Day. Below Pueblo Reservoir, the following flow considerations are of note: Pueblo Dam Releases: Releases from Pueblo Dam above 6,000 cfs are rare because the flood control purpose of the reservoir requires that releases be controlled to limit maximum flows at the Avondale gaging station (15 miles below Pueblo Reservoir) to 6,000 cfs. Citv of Pueblo Aoolication for Water Riahts: In December of 2001, the City of Pueblo applied for a conditional RICD water right for a series of boat chute control structures on the Arkansas River as it flows through downtown Pueblo that will be constructed as an integral part of the Legacy Project. These structures will be designed to control, concentrate, and direct the flow of the Arkansas River for use by kayaks, canoes, rafts, and other types of recreational water craft, and other purposes. This boating course will be known as Whitewater Park. The Whitewater Park will include a boat chute/fish ladder (Structure 1) to allow kayaks, boats, and other recreational watercraft, as well as native and sport fish, to pass over an existing 13-foot high diversion structure in the river known as the Southern Colorado Power Plant or West Plains Energy diversion dam (the "Power Plant Diversion"). A series of approximately seven smaller, permanent control structures (Structures 2 through 8) will then be constructed in the river between the Power Plant Diversion and the Union Street Bridge to create self- scouring pools and control the flow of the river at specific points to create various wave forms desirable for whitewater kayaking and recreational boating. These structures will be constructed in a reach of the river that is approximately 2,000 feet in length. The Whitewater o :\SHAWN\ARKANSAS\S6 _ARKANSAS. DOC Park will extend downstream to include a boat chute or chutes (Structure 9) in the Arkansas River at the location of the existing St. Charles Mesa Water District diversion structure, located just downstream from the Santa Fe Street bridge in Pueblo, near Moffat Street (the Moffat Street Chute"). The control structures comprising the Whitewater Park will be numbered consecutively from upstream to downstream, with Structure 1 at the location of the Power Plant Diversion, Structure 8 just upstream from the Union Street Bridge, and Structure 9 at the location of the Moffat Street Chute. The water rights requested are: . March 15th through November 14th of each year - 500 cfs (cond itional) . November 15th through March 14th of each year - 100 cfs (cond itional) In reviewing the application, the CWCB found that the minimum stream flows necessary to provide a reasonable recreation experience in and on the water are as follows: . 500 cfs during June and July . 250 cfs during April, May, and August . 100 cfs during the remainder of the year The CWCB also found that the reach of the Arkansas River beginning with Drop Structure 1 and ending at the downstream limit of Pool 8 is an appropriate reach for the RICD; the reach beginning below Pool 8 and continuing downstream to include Drop Structure 9 and any pool below Structure 9 is not an appropriate RICD reach (http://cwcb.state.co. us/isf/ rules/FI NALfinalPueblo Recommendation Find ings. pdf). As of March, 2004, the CWCB and City of Pueblo were engaged in discussions to work out a mutually acceptable decree. (Seaholm 2004) 6.2.2 Water Based Recreation The Arkansas River Basin offers abundant opportunities for water-based recreation; on the river and its tributaries as well as on numerous reservoirs. Fishing, boating, kayaking, rafting, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, sailing, sailboarding, and gold panning are all available, as well as hiking, picnicking, camping, hunting, and biking. CDIVI 6-3