PUB00118

• Year: 2000
• Title: Arkansas River Water Needs Assessment
• CWCB Section: Interstate & Federal
• Author: Smith and Hill
• Description: Information and findings associated with the Arkansas River Water Needs Assessment study
• Publications - Doc Type: Historical

Arkansas River Water Needs Assessment - Section 1. Executive Summary

Early Transmountain Diversions and
Upper Basin Storage Facilities

By 1935, 43,000 acre-feet were imported annually
from other basins into the Arkansas River Basin.
Some of this total was made up from several large,
open ditches that crossed the Continental Divide,
but the majority was comprised of imports
through the Busk-Ivanhoe System and the Twin
Lakes Project. Development of rhe Busk-Ivanhoe
System allowed diversion of water from the head-
waters of the Fryingpan River to Lake Fork Creek
via the Carlton TunneL Development of the Twin
Lakes Project allowed importation of water from
the headwaters of the Roaring Fork River to the
North Fork of Lake Creek via the Twin Lakes
TunneL

At the time of construction, these systems
provided water exclusively for agricultural use in
the lower Arkansas River Valley. In cases where
these diversions were not stored high in the basin,
the systems had the effect of increasing flows
during spting runoff and early summer in the
main stem. These systems continue to operate
today, although some of the imported flows are
directed to storage before being released to the
main stem. Today, the enlarged Twin Lakes system
imports an average of 54,500 acte-feet annually,
and the Busk-Ivanhoe System imports an average
of 6,200 acre-feet annually. The Wertz, Ewing,
and Columbine ditches import an average of 4,971
acre-feet annually.

Significant storage facilities were also built in the
upper basin to store both native water and
imported water. In 1900, the Twin Lakes and
Colorado Canal Company constructed Twin Lakes
Reservoir on Lake Creek (an enlargement of a
natural reservoir), with a capacity of 54,452 acre-
feet. CF&I Steel Corporation completed
construction of Sugarloaf Reservoir in 1902, with a
capacity of 17,416 acre-feet. This reservoir
allowed storage of native water from the Lake Fork
Creek and storage of water from other Arkansas
River tributaries by exchange. Finally, Otero

Canal Company constructed Clear Creek
Reservoir from 1902 to 1907, with a capacity of
11,486 acre-feet. Construction of these teservoirs
slightly reduced spring peak flows by capturing
runoff and increased late summer flows by
releasing stored water for irrigation purposes.

Municipal Water Supply Systems

Starting in the 1950's, several of the agricultural
water supply systems were purchased in whole or in
part by municipalities who sought an assured water
supply for growing populations. In 1955, Pueblo
Board of Water Works purchased Clear Creek
Reservoir from the Otero Canal Company. In the
early 1970's, the Twin Lakes rransmountain
diversion system and reservoir were purchased by
Colorado Springs, Aurora, Pueblo, and Pueblo
West. The change of ownership means that instead
of an exclusive pattern of spring storage and
summer release for agriculture use, these reservoirs
are now managed to provide year-round supplies
for the municipalities. Since they are part of a
complex municipal supply system, releases of stored
water to the main stem may occur at any time of
the year. In addition, if part of the yield of these
reservoirs is not needed for municipal use, water
may be sold to other customers, which results in
releases timed to meet the customer's need.

Colorado Springs Utilities has an extensive water
supply system that taps multiple watersheds, but
only a portion of this system has the capability to
affect main stem flo,,",s between the headwaters and
Pueblo. The Pikes Peak South Slope System and
the Penrose Rosemont System divert water out of
tributaries thar enter the Arkansas River between
Canon City and Pueblo. Water from the
Homestake Project, which diverts water from the
Eagle River watershed, and the Blue River Project,
which diverts water from tributaries to the Blue
River in Summit County, is transported directly to
Colorado Springs and does not enter the main
stem of the Arkansas River. Colorado Springs also
obtains water from the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
(discussed in Section 3, Institutional and Legal.

1-4 - Summary of the Arkansas River Institutional and Legal Analysis