WSP03823

• File Number: 8135.300
• Description: Ditch Companies - Catlin
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/29/1976
• Author: D Helton R McCabe
• Title: Catlin Transfer Plan and John Martin Permanent Pool Operation
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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cannot impose calls on water users above the reservoir. A
very important provision of the compact is that Colorado re-
leases are measured at John Martin Dam, while Kansas releases
are measured at the Colorado-Kansas state line, allowing
return flow and other accretions between John Martin Dam and
the state line to be credited to the release for Kansas.

Operation governed by the Arkansas River Compact began with
compact year 1949 on November 1, 1948. As shown in Table 1,
John Martin Reservoir was emptied during 19 of the 26 years
between compact years 1949 and 1974. During 13 of these com-
pact years, the reservoir was emptied in April.

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Neither the legislation authorizing construction of John Martin
Reservoir nor the Arkansas River Compact provides for a per-
manent pool in the reservoir. During the compact negotiations,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requested that 10,000 acre-
feet of water be allocated in John Martin Reservoir for this
purpose. This request was not given much consideration be-
cause irrigators in neither state were willing to allocate
project water for this purpose, and the compact commissioners
did not want to jeopardize the negotiations.

John Martin Reservoir has been used for recreation during
periods it contains water. In 1949 the Colorado Game and Fish
Department (predecessor of the Colorado Division of Wildlife)
stocked the reservoir, and the fish did very well until it was
emptied in August 1952. Again during 1957 and 1958, the con-
servation pool was nearly full. The Game and Fish Department
yielded, against its better judgment, and planted 1,000,000
Wall-Eye fingerling. After one year of growth, the fish were
10 to 16 inches long. Needless to say, many people were
disappointed when the conservation pool was emptied in September
1959. with the changes in water management being brought about
by the Fryingpan-Arkansas project, John Martin permanent pool
will be extremely important for waterfowl habitat.

Emptying the conservation pool in September 1959 generated
considerable public demand for the creation of a permanent pool
in John Martin Reservoir. Demands came from sportsmen and
wildlife organizations; business organizations such as junior
chambers of commerce of many communities in the Arkansas Valley;
and many others from women's clubs to boy scouts. These in-

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