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<br />6. FACTS ABOUT THE JOHN MARTIN RESERVOIR PROJECT <br /> <br />The John Martin Reservoir ("JMR") Project was built by the United <br />States Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps of Engineers"). The project <br />was authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of June 22, 1936 <br />when the federal responsibility for flood control throughout the country <br />was assigned to the Corps of Engineers. It is located on the Arkansas <br />River, 58 miles upstream from the Colorado-Kansas Stateline and 18 <br />miles upstream from the City of Lamar, Colorado. Construction of the <br />project began in the fall of 1939, but work was suspended due to <br />World War 11 from the spring of 1943 to the spring of 1946, The <br />project was completed in October, 194B, at a cost of about $15 <br />million. The War Department Civil Appropriation Act of June 24, 1940 <br />changed the name of the project from Caddoa Reservoir Project to John <br />Martin Reservoir Project, in honor of the late Congressman John A. <br />Martin of Colorado. It is operated by the United States Army Corps of <br />Engineers, Albuquerque (New Mexico) District. The Corps stations a <br />resident reservoir manager at Hasty, Colorado, adjacent to the project. <br /> <br />The JMR Project is a part of the comprehensive plan for the control of <br />floods and the development of water resources in the Arkansas River <br />Basin. A 1986 survey of the reservoir, in official use since February 1, <br />1988, shows 259,562 acre-feet of storage capacity above elevation <br />3851.87 for flood control protection of the fertile Arkansas River Valley <br />downstream of the dam. The release of stored flood waters is planned <br />so that, when combined with flows originating downstream from the <br />dam, the capacity of the river channel will not be exceeded. <br />Downstream flood damages prevented by JMR already exceed the cost <br />of the project, and total project benefits to date have surpassed the <br />$117 million mark. <br /> <br />The reservoir also provides 348,683 acre-feet of storage space for <br />conservation and recreation purposes below elevation 3851.87. JMR <br />supplies water to irrigated lands as far downstream as Garden City, <br />Kansas. The conservation pool can store up to 338,639 acre-feet of <br />water for irrigation, Upon request of the Arkansas River Compact <br />Administration, irrigation water for downstream water users is released <br />by the Corps of Engineers through outlet works in the base of the dam. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Recreation and favorable fish and wildlife habitats are also provided by <br />the project. In 1965 Congress authorized a permanent pool to improve <br />habitat and recreation values at JMR. The Administration subsequently <br />approved the use of up to 15,000 acre-feet of storage space at JMR <br />for these purposes. Colorado provides water to the permanent pool <br />pursuant to procedures adopted by the Administration. Reservoir lands <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />A~C. "" <br />