WSPC12833

• File Number: 8103
• Description: Preliminary Report on Water Legislation Investigation for the Arkansas River Basin
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 12/1/1967
• Author: Coordinator of Natural Resources
• Title: Preliminary Report on Water Legislation Investigations for the Arkansas River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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factors and their degree of influence on winter return flow between
Pueblo and La Junta.

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These studies show that John Martin Reservoir had a distInct
effect upon return flow after it was placed in operation. They also
show the relationship between the amount of water pumped from wells for
irrigation and the amount of return flow.

SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS

A number of computor studies should be made if the best
water management plan or plans are to be developed for the Arkansas
River Basin in Colorado. Because of the junior priorities of irrIgation
wells and their adverse effect upon the senior surface water rights, It
is recommended that the first study be a reconstruction of the stream-
flow on a monthly basis with John Martin Reservoir in operation, and
the determination of the water supply available to the various
appropriators according to their vested water rights. Variations of
this study would include the operation of John Martin Reservoir in
accordance with the past practices under the Colorado-Kansas compact,
modification of these practices concerning del iveries in Colorado, and
el iminating Colorado1s obligations to deliver water to Kansas on the
assumption that storage would be provided in Kansas to compensate
Kansas for the water now obtained by that state from John Martin
Reservoir. Also, another variation would be studies assuming full
operation of the Frying Pan Arkansas Project. The recommended final
computor studies would include the integration of wells and ground water
use therefrom in conjunction with the use of surface waters to obtain
the greatest benefit from the State's water resources in this basin.
In these studies it would be assumed that winter irrigation will and
will not be used and that the Frying Pan Arkansas Project will and will
not be in operation. The studies would requIre various adjustments to
protect vested senior water rights. In these studies, the greatest degree
of regulation of excessive snowmelt flows, winter flows and return
flows would be made so the monthly water requirements of the various