WSP00691

• File Number: 8142.700
• Description: Trinidad Project - Annual Operating Plans and Reports
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 12/1/1996
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Review of Operating Principles and Project Operations Final Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Operating Principles/Plan

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had also been sent to Kansas for review. Subsequently, Reclamation, in cooperation with the

City, prepared draft amended operating principles to enable the City to change the use of its

Project water rights from irrigation to municipal and industrial use excluding amendments

proposed by the District or as recommended by the 1988 report. These amended operating

principles were sent to Kansas for review, comment and approval by Reclamation's letter of

September 6, 1990. Reclamation did not receive a response to this request.

The District again asked the ARCA to review and approve the draft amended operating

principles at its annual meetings of December 11, 1990 and December 10, 1991. Again, ARCA

accepted the requests and information submitted for the record but did not vote on the issue of

approval.

The Special Master of the United States Supreme Court in Kansas v. Colorado, Original

No. 105, dismissed Kansas' Trinidad Reservoir Claim on June 9, 1992. In his decision, the

Special Master concluded that Kansas' review of changed operating conditions must be based on

whether or not the changed operation will cause a material depletion of useable flows pursuant to

Article IV-D of the Arkansas River Compact and that Kansas may not unreasonably withhold

approval of changes in operating conditions to obtain benefits from the Trinidad Project.

After the Special Master's dismissal of Kansas' Trinidad Reservoir claim, the City of

Trinidad, in cooperation with the District, Reclamation and the State of Colorado, revised the

City's proposed amended operating principles for changing the use of its Project water rights from

irrigation to municipal and industrial pUI1Joses. The City sent the revised amended operating

principles to Kansas and ARCA by letter dated October 22, 1992 asking for review and approval

at the annual ARCA meeting to be held December 8, 1992. By letter dated December 3, 1992

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