WSP00530

• File Number: 8142
• Description: Trinidad Reservoir
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 4/1/1961
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Special Report on Irrigation Function Trinidad Project Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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John Martin Reservoir is located on the Arkansas River imme-

diately below the mouth of the Purgatoire River, and is operated

for flood control and. conservation. The conservation benefits of

the reservoir are apportioned among the water users of the Arkansas

River under the terms of the Arkansas River Canpact between the

States of Colorado and Kansas.

The compact provides in part that, "This Compact is not

intended to impede or prevent future beneficial development of

the Arkansas River Basin in Colorado and Kansas by Federal or

State agencies, by private enterprise, or by combinations thereof,

which may involve construction of dams, reservoirs, and other works

for the purpose of water utilization and control, as well as the

improved or prolonged functioning of existing works: Provided,

that the waters of the Arkansas River. . . shall not be materially

depleted in usable quantity or availability for use to the water

users in Colorado and Kansas under this Compact by such future

d.evelopment or construction."

It is planned to utilize the conservation capacity in the

proposed Trinidad Reservoir to store and regulate the flows of

the Purgatoire River for maximum beneficial use of crops grown

within the project area. Regulation of the wate:r- supply will

permit more timely diversion of water to meet crop consumptive

use requirements. Water users in the project area have expressed

their willingness to cooperate completely in order to improve

their present unstable water supply. Plans for improvement of

the water supply for the project area are based on the following

asslllllptions :

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