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WC320 PRESS RELFASE 5-14-$2 FOR IM1ffiDIATE PUBLICATION ~_: Lamar, Colorado -- For the first time since the Arkansas ~iver Compact went into effect in 1949, an empty John Martin Reservoir is in prospect. The Arkansas River Compact Administration, at a special meeting held at Lamar on Tuesday, approved a finding that the irrigation capacity of the reservoir will be, or is liable to be, exhausted within a fourteen- day period. Notification to this effect, as required'by the Compact, was given to the State Engineer todlliY". I This empty reservoir condition will place the entire river and its tributaries in Colorado under priority administration as though the Reservoir had not been built. When water is in storage for release to irrigated land below John Martin Reservoir, benefits elf storage are pushed upstream by relieving junior priority rights above the reservoir from call for water under rights senior to them below the reservoir. At midnight on May 12, there was 20,239 acree"feet. of water in storage in John Martin Reservo:i,r. The Administrat.; (Jll found that present and anticipated releases of water from the reser-voir for irrigation of land below it in Colorado and Kansas would exhaust this storage within a fourteen-dlliY" period and advised the State Engineer of Colorado that on May 24, he should administer the water rights in Colorado on the Arkansas River and its tributaries on the basis of relative priorities as though John Martin Dam had not been constructed or placed in operation. This notification to the State Engineer was made in accordance with the terms of the Arkansas River Compact. This priority administration in Colorado will continue until the Compact Administration finds that water is again available for storage in the conservation pool of the reservoir for release as provided by the Compact and timely notice of such changed condition has been given by the Administration to the State Engineer. itA ~.- At the beginning of the present irrigation season on .April 1, there was only 45,536 acre-feet of water impounded in the conservation pool of John Martin Reservoir. No request for release of water was made until April 7. Since that time, there has been no appreciable addition to the storage from the snow run-off. Precipitation in the Upper Arkansas water- shed this season has been sub-normal. It is anticipated that increased stream flow, due to the snow melt at high elevations in the Arkansas River Basin, cannot be normally expected until about June 10. The extent to which snow run-off at that time may provide water for storage in John Martin Reservoir is a matter of speculation. It is believed by some that an appreciable amount of storage may come about at that time. Heavy rains, particularly during the snow melt peL:"c.. would be an important factor in producing sUQstantial amounts of W":LGl' ,e'or storage. :- \ ~j)