WSP01177

• File Number: 8111.600
• Description: ARCA Annual Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 1/1/1987
• Author: ARCA
• Title: Thirty-Ninth Annual Report Arkansas River Compact Administration for the Year 1987
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

Appendix "A-3"
ENGINEERING COMMllTEE REPORT

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On December 2, 1987, the Engineering Committee of the Arkansas River
Compact Administration met in Denver, Colorado. Carl Genova, chairman,
called the meeting to order. David Pope, the other member of the Committee
was present. Other persons also in attendance at the meeting were: Dennis
Montgomery; Wendy Weiss; Hal Simpson; Bob Jesse; Leland Rolfs; James
Bagley; Brent Spronk and Dale Book.
The first item discussed was the proposed transfer of the Keesee Ditch
irrigation rights.
After discussion of the questions and concerns concerning the Keesee
Ditch transfer, the following items were agreed to:
I) A period of record longer than the 20 years (1964-83) should be used.
The period of record agreed to is 1950-83.
2) At least 1,400 acres had been irrigated by the Keesee Ditch since 1947.
3) That 65%, rather than '700/0, was a more reasonable irrigation effi-
ciency for the ditch.
4) HRS will be asked to re-run the model and compute all relevant
parameters (consumptive use, return nows, etc.) for that period of
record with a 65% efficiency and report the results.
5) That HRS should be requested to supply information as to when the
land leveling and border irrigation system- were completed.
6) Hal Simpson agreed to check his agency's crop distribution records
for Keesee Ditch's crop distribution in the 1950's. No such records
exist for the 60's.
'7) Keesee Ditch should be required to substantiate whether 65% is a
reasonable irrigation efficiency for the period November to March of
each year.
8) H RS should be required to explain how effective precipitation was
handled in the model. A more detailed explanatlon of how his water
budget works is also needed.
9) Colorado indicated that they had done some sample comparisons
using the di~tributive Glover analysis technique and the results (aver-
age monthly return nows) varied, at most, nine acre-feet permonth (in
the month of October) and the average annual total varied only by two
acre-feet.
10) Hal Simpson checked his office records fordepth lO water when wells
were drilled in that area. The average depth to water was 12 feet, but
the wells were drilled during a particularly dry period. Additional
follow-up checks should be made to determine average depth to water
to see whether sub-irrigation of alfalfa was a possibility. H RS should
address this issue in its repon. Soil moisture storage figuresarealso to
be checked based on soil surveys.
Mr. Pope indicated that the State of Kansas' position this spring was that
the wells which were drilled post-compact and utilized to irrigate any of the
1,900 acres should also be dried up or made part of an augmentation plan
approved by the State of Kansas before the Keesee Ditch transfer could be
approved. The State of Kansas' position is that depletion or adverse affect
will res.ult if lne weBs are nol dried up or suitable augmenled.
The State of Colorado representatives indicated that the waters from these
six wells were co-mingled on the 1.400 acres irrigated by the ditch, but felt

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