WSP00381

• File Number: 8143.600.10
• Description: John Martin Reservoir
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 12/1/1981
• Title: Analysis of John Martin Reservoir
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

.

:.J ZORICH, SPRONK a ASSOCIATES, INC.
,':1 c.

Page 2

N

to force settlement of continuing controversies regarding the
~. apportionment of the waters of the Arkansas River among the

various users in the States of Colorado and Kansas. The United

States Supreme Court rendered a decision in December of 1943 in

a suit the State of Colorado had brought against the State of

Kansas and the Finney County Water Users Association in 1928.

In its decision, the Supreme Court recommended that the proper

way to resolve the controversy was by interstate negotiations

r:'i

under the compact provision of the Constitution of the United

States.

Meanwhile, in 1936, the United States Congress passed legis-

lation authorizing the construction of the Caddoa Reservoir

;.'

project, which was subsequently renamed the John Martin Reser-

voir project. John Martin Reservoir, located on the Arkansas

River approximately 60 miles west of the Colorado-Kansas state

line, was completed in October of 1948. The purpose of the

reservoir project was for flood control and conservation of

irrigation water.

In response to the directive of the Supreme Court, and in

order that both states could enjoy the benefits of the John

i "

Martin Reservoir project, compact negotiations between the
States of Kansas and Coloraao were begun in January of 1946.

..,i
-::

. .
After nearly three years of arduous negotiations, agreement

was finally reached and the Compact was signed by all parties

involved on December 14, 1948. A copy of the Compact has been

included as Appendix A.

c;

;' ~