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Endangered Species The native greenback cutthroat trout is the Colorado State Fish. It is federally lis ted as threa tened but has been reintroduced into many streams and lakes. The Arkansas darter is a federal candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act and is listed as threatened by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Unique Characteristics ~ Erosion and channel instability in lower reaches of Fountain Creek. . An unusual groundwater mound exists at La Junta and is under investigation, along with substan- tial channel degradation. " Development of water supplies will be limited and complex due to the Compact allocation, interstate litigation, and salinity concerns. l\ Litigation with IZansas over compact issues. Groundwater Compact Facts Arkansas River Compact of 1948 The Compact apportions the waters of the Arkansas River between Colorado (600/0) and IZansas (400/0) based on the opinion of the u.S. Supreme Court in Colorado v: IZansas, 320 U.S. 383 (1943). The Compact established the Arkansas River Compact Administration to prescribe procedures for Compact administra- tion, including three representatives from Colorado (a water user from above and below John Martin Reservoir and the Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board), three IZansas representatives, and a federal representative. The 1980 Operating Principles provide for storage accounts in John Martin Reservoir and the release of water from those accounts for Colorado and IZansas water users. If the conservation pool in the reservoir is depleted, Colorado is required to administer water rights priorities in District 67 (downstream from John Martin). During such periods, IZansas is not entitled to water flowing into the reservoir. Colorado and IZansas have litigated claims concerning Arkansas River water since the early twentieth centur~ Supreme Court decrees establish principles of equitable apportionment of water between states. In 1995, Colorado was found to have depleted stateline flows in violation of the Compact. The states are now litigating the nature and extent of the injury to IZansas and the method of repayment by Colorado before a Supreme Court appointed Special Master. In response to an order of the Special Master, the Colorado State Engineer promulgated well administration rules to bring Colorado into compliance with the Compact. Upper Basin -- Above Pueblo Reservoir Lower Basin -- Below Pueblo Reservoir Alluvium Bedrock Aquifer Shallow Alluvium Bedrock Aquifer Aquifer Stream and glacial Dry Union Formation up Width varies from 1 to 10 Up to 1,000 ft thick. Characteristics deposits -- silt to large to 500 ft thick. Fractured miles; 30 to 200 ft thick. Sandstone formation in boulders granite -- Sawatch and Designated groundwater the Ogallala (Northern Mosquito ranges; basins within the Arkan- and Southern High Plains) carbonate rock -- sas Basin include the The southern part of the Leadville Upper Black Squirrel and Denver Basin bedrock Big Sandy. aquifers provides water to Douglas, EI Paso and Elbert counties. Primary Uses Domestic Domestic Agriculture Agriculture, domestic and municipal Yield Varies widely due to Varies widely: 10 to 4,000 gpm, 50 to 500 gpm range of materials: up to 10 to 200 gpm depending on location 500 gpm at Salida to Buena Vista reach Water Quality Generally potable, a few Generally potable, a few Degrades downstream Generally very good local exceptions of local exceptions of from good in the upper natural and man made natural and man made portion of the reach to contamination contamination poor, only marginally useful for irrigation and Source: Colorado Department of Natural Resources stockwatering due to salinity ( Arkansas River Basin Facts - 4 )