Relations of Main-Stem Reservoir Operations and Specific Conductance in the Lower Arkansas River

• Description: Relations of Main-Stem Reservoir Operations and Specific Conductance in the Lower Arkansas River
• State: CO
• Author: Lewis, Michael; Brendle, Daniel
• Title: Relations of Main-Stem Reservoir Operations and Specific Conductance in the Lower Arkansas River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

GENERAL DISCUSSION OF
STREAMFLOW AND SPECIFIC
CONDUCTANCE IN THE
ARKANSAS RIVER
Streamflow in the Arkansas River varies spatially
and temporally because of the regular timing of snow -
melt runoff in the upper basin, the irregular timing
of rainfall runoff in the lower basin, the large magni-
tude of irrigation diversions, and the operations of
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
Arkansas River at Canon City (07096000)
Arkansas River near
Avondale (07109500)
main -stem reservoirs. The general spatial and temporal
patterns of streamflow in the Arkansas River are illus-
trated in the hydrographs for six main -stem Arkansas
River stations for an average runoff year (1982) (fig. 3).
At station 07096000 (Arkansas River at Canon
City), which represents inflow from the upper basin to
Pueblo Reservoir, the predominant effects on stream -
flow are due to snowmelt runoff and the release of
stored water from off - channel reservoirs. Streamflow
generally increases with snowmelt runoff in April or
Arkansas River above Pueblo (07099400)
Arkansas River at Las Animas
(07124000)
Arkansas River at Lamar
(07133000)
0'
J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M
1982
Figure 3. Daily mean streamflow at selected Arkansas River gaging stations, 1982.
J J A S O N D
1982
10 Relations of Streamflow and Specific- Conductance Trends to Reservoir Operations in the Lower Arkansas River,
Southeastern Colorado