BOARD00450

• Board Meeting Date: 9/21/1998
• Description: WSP Section - Arkansas River Basin Issues - Status Report on the Arkansas River on the Arkansas River Channel Restoration Study
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

IMPLEMENTED CORPS ACTIONS

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The Albuquerque Corps engineering investigations will be presented in a final report on
the Lower Reach study by October 31, 1998. A Corps representative will present
findings to date at the September Board meeting prior to issuance of the final report.
Mitigation recommendations and funding opportunities will also be presented in the
Corp's study findings.

CWCB ACTIVITIES

For the remaining Upper Reach study effort, the CWCB staff will present scoping
activities to date and objectives for a workplan. They include having obtained
ortbophotography, aerial mapping and a Digital Terrain Model for certain portions of the
Upper Reach. The initial draft Scope of Work has been amended to include a
comprehensive groundwater analysis component. At public hearings and field reviews in
August 1996, groundwater water problems were presented as a siguificant issue in the
area. Since then, groundwater issues have intensified and have been the primary source
of complaints from landowners and agricultural producers.

The CWCB has requested FY99 Section 22 - Planning Assistance to States funds from
the Albuquerque Corps. A Section 22 study effort for the Upper Reach would have the
same objectives and study products as listed in SB 96-124, Section 2. However, the
CWCB staffwill identify opportunities to develop a complete basin study plan at the
September Board meeting as follows. (These alternatives were first presented to the
Board, for future consideration, at the May 11-12, 1998 Board meeting.)

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Alternative No.1 Continue with the ioint CWCBI Albuquerque studv effort which would
be funded and cost-shared under the Corns' Section 22 Planniml Assistance To States
Prof!Yam. This alternative would have the Same study objectives as outlined in the
current Scope of Work but would not contain a comprehensive groundwater analysis or a
complete basin plan.

Alternative No.2 Joint CWCB/Corns study effort under the Corns' General
Investigation (Gn authority. The study effort would expand the Scope of Work and
thereby recognize the siguificant groundwater problems in the Upper Reach. It would
also establish a study effort that is more watershed-based. It would contain the currently
proposed Scope of Work initiatives including: I) hydrauliclsediment investigation, 2)
historical research, 3) reconunendations for channel maintenance activities, 4) review of
reservoir operations, 5) aerial mapping, 6) vegetative management, 7) comprehensive
groundwater analysis, and 8) basin recommendations and implementation strategies.

Alternative No.3 The State manages the basin-wide studv investigation. Study would
be funded mainly by the State with subcontracts and MOU's with other federal and state
agencies. The study effort would include I) hydrauliclsediment investigation, 2)
historical research, 3) recommendations for channel maintenance activities, 4) review of

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