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through the sandstone foundation of the dam. Because the lake is supplied by <br /> groundwater with no surface feeder streams, the water has relatively high <br /> concentrations of salts and dissolved solids that limit fish growth. The dissolved <br /> oxygen level is generally adequate, but it can periodically decrease to near the <br /> minimum water quality standard. In 1993, the Colorado Division of Wildlife and <br /> USAGE identified three areas of environmental quality concern in the vicinity of John <br /> Martin Reservoir and Lake Hasty: 1) aquatic habitat quality in Lake Hasty; 2) <br /> Arkansas River fish populations; and 3) endangered/threatened terns and plovers. <br /> The goals of the Lake Hasty Improvement Project are to improve the condition of the <br /> fisheries habitat, waterfowl habitat, and general water quality of the lake. <br /> Potential design alternatives to meet the goals of the Lake Hasty Habitat <br /> Improvement Project are being evaluated. These draft designs propose the use of <br /> constructed inflow and outflow canals and/or enclosed conduits, along with re- <br /> grading of the lake, to provide a means of using surface water diverted from the <br /> Arkansas River to improve the overall water quality in Lake Hasty. <br /> Soil samples from the bottom of the lake were collected by USACE's Kansas City <br /> District team, and testing of these samples is currently in progress. A total of thirteen <br /> test wells, which are monitored monthly, have been installed around the lake in <br /> strategic locations. Water rights are still a factor in the long-term plans for the Lake <br /> Hasty Habitat Improvement Project. USACE anticipates future discussions with the <br /> State of Colorado regarding how water usage and water rights will play a role in <br /> these habitat improvement efforts. The long term goal is to have the Lake Hasty <br /> Habitat Improvement Project completed by 2018 to coincide with the 70th Anniversary <br /> of the completion of John Martin Dam. <br /> 3. Civil Works Authorities and Programs <br /> a. Continuing Authorities Program <br /> The Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) is a group of nine legislative authorities <br /> under which the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, is <br /> authorized to plan, design, and implement certain types of water resources projects <br /> without additional project-specific congressional authorization. USACE had no active <br /> CAP projects in the Arkansas River Basin in 2015. <br /> 1. Section 205 <br /> Section 205 of the 1948 Flood Control Act, as amended, provides authority to <br /> USACE to plan and construct small flood damage reduction projects that have not <br /> been specifically authorized by Congress. USACE had no active Section 205 projects <br /> in the Arkansas River Basin in 2015. <br /> 2. Section 206 <br /> Section 206 of WRDA 1996 provides authority to USACE for aquatic ecosystem <br /> restoration projects in areas unrelated to existing USAGE water projects. USACE had <br /> no active Section 206 projects in the Arkansas River Basin in 2015. <br /> 4 <br />