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<br />,. <br /> <br />o <br />';:) Purpose <br />N <br /> <br />~ The purpose of the study is to formulate a more efficient <br />~ operation plan for John Martin Reservoir which would be agreeable <br />to the irrigators below John Martin Dam in Colorado and Kansas. <br /> <br />Discussion <br /> <br />John Martin Reservoir is operated according to the terms <br />of t.he Arkansas River Compact. When available, water is stored in <br />the conservation pool throughout the year for use during the <br />"summer storage period" or irrigation season from April 1 through <br />October 31. During the "winter storage period" from November 1 <br />through March 31 all water entering the reservoir is stored; except <br />that Colorado irrigators can demand releases equivalent to river <br />inflow but not exceeding 100 cfs. During the "summer storage <br />period" the flood waters entering the reservoir are stored, except <br />that Colorado water users can demand releases of river inflow not <br />to exceed 500 cfs, and Kansas can demand releases equivalent to that <br />portion of the inflow between 500 cfs and 750 cfs. Stored water <br />can be released to irrigators of the two states at maximum rates of <br />750 cfs for Colorado and 500 cfs for Kansas. When the conservation <br />pool storage drops below 20,000 ac-ft the maximum rates of release <br />of stored water are reduced to 600 cfs and 400 cfs for Colorado <br />and Kansas, respectively. Therefore, the maximum rate of discharge <br />at John Martin Reservoir is 2,000 cfs, but it is reduced to 1,750 <br />cfs when the conservation pool drops below 20,000 ac-ft, Colorado <br />releases are measured immediately below John Martin Dam, and Kansas <br />releases are measured near the Colorado-Kansas stateline. <br /> <br />Unfortunately in most years the winter storage does not <br />provide an adequate supplement to the summer supply. Consequently, <br />when one irrigator demands a release of storage water the others <br />generally follow to insure that they receive their rightful share, <br />and the storage is rapidly depleted. In fact, during many years <br />the reservoir is empty by the first of May. In these years 'the <br />irrigators are using the winter water during April, the month that <br />crop requirements are lowest. <br /> <br />The result of this study will be a plan which will <br />aliliocate a portion of the winter storage to each of the nine ditch <br />companies in Colorado and a portion to the irrigators in Kansas. <br />Each can demand and use their portion when they feel it will be <br />most beneficial. Evaporation losses will be charged against each <br />