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6. FACTS ABOUT THE JOHN MARTIN RESERVOIR PROJECT The John Martin Reservoir ("JMR") Project was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps of Engineers"). The project was authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of June 22, 1936 when the federal responsibility for flood control throughout the country was assigned to the Corps of Engineers. It is located on the Arkansas River, 58 miles upstream from the Colorado-Kansas Stateline and 18 miles upstream from the City of Lamar, Colorado. Construction of the project began in the fall of 1939, but work was suspended due to World War II from the spring of 1943 to the spring of 1946. The project was completed in October, 1948, at a cost of about $15 million. The War Department Civil Appropriation Act of June 24, 1940 changed the name of the project from Caddo a Reservoir Project to John Martin Reservoir Project, in honor of the late Congressman John A. Martin of Colorado. It is operated by the United States Army Engineer District, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mr. Russell Smith has been the resident superintendent of the project since October, 1976. The JMR Project is a part of the comprehensive plan for the control of floods and the development of water resources in the Arkansas River Basin. A 1986 survey of the reservoir in official use since February 1, 1988 shows 259,562 acre-feet of storage capacity above elevation 3851.87 for flood control protection of the fertile Arkansas River Valley downstream of the dam. The release of stored flood waters is planned so that, when combined with flows originating downstream from the dam, the capacity of the river channel will not be exceeded. Downstream flood damages prevented by JMR already exceed the cost of the project, and total project benefits to date have surpassed the $115 million mark. The reservoir also provides 348,683 acre-feet of storage space for conservation and recreation purposes below elevation 3851.87. JMR supplies water to irrigated lands as far downstream as Garden City, Kansas. The conservation pool can store up to 338,639 acre-feet of water for irrigation. Upon request of the Arkansas River Compact Administration, irrigation water for downstream water users is released by the Corps of Engineers through outlet works in the base of the dam. , I Recreation and favorable fish and wildlife habitats are provided by a I ~. 10,000 acre-foot permanent pool authorized by Congress in 1965. With reservoir lands open to all, there are many attractive pUblic use areas for outdoor recreation, water sports, fishing and boating, and camping. During project construction some embankment material waS 8 AACA1...