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<br />ULl~8~ <br /> <br />canal seepage eventually returned to the main stream system and thus <br /> <br /> <br />acted to maintain the river as a continuously flowing stream. It has <br /> <br /> <br />been estimated that the maximum return of water developed within the <br /> <br /> <br />Arkansas River watershed did not occur until the 1920's. Transmoun- <br /> <br /> <br />taln diversions in recent years have further augmented return flow. <br /> <br /> <br />According to diaries of early day trappers, explorers and early land <br /> <br /> <br />developers, the Arkansas River below Pueblo often went dry during the <br /> <br /> <br />latter part of the summer season. <br /> <br /> <br />Major tributaries below Canon City are Fountain Creek, St. Charles <br /> <br /> <br />River, Heurfano River, Apishapa River, Timpas Creek, Horse Creek, Adobe <br /> <br /> <br />Creek, Purgatoire River, Caddoa Creek, Rule Creek, Big Sandy Creek, <br /> <br />Two Buttes Creek, and Wild Horse Creek. Inflow from the last two <br /> <br /> <br />named creeks enter the Arkansas River below the lowest ditch in <br /> <br /> <br />Colorado and is consequently not available for use in Colorado. Flood <br /> <br /> <br />flows in Horse and Adobe Creeks are diverted for storage by the Ft. <br /> <br /> <br />Lyon Canal in Horse and Adobe Creek Reservoirs. <br /> <br />Snowmelt from the Arkansas River system normally follows two phases. <br /> <br /> <br />The initial phase usually occurs during April from elevatio~below <br /> <br /> <br />8,000 feet. Major runoff usually does not take place until the latter <br /> <br /> <br />part of Mayor early June and is exhausted by the end of July. Normal <br /> <br />base and return flows are inadequate to supply all but the more senior <br /> <br /> <br />priorities On the system. <br /> <br /> <br />Ground Water <br /> <br />The principal aquifer in the Arkansas Valley is the valley fi 11 <br /> <br /> <br />deposit along the Arkansas River. Limited amounts of alluvium are <br /> <br /> <br />found on some of the principal tributaries. The aquifer consists pri- <br /> <br /> <br />marily of sand, gravel, clay, and silt up to a depth of 200 feet. It <br /> <br /> <br />ranges in width from I to 14 miles with an overall average of approxi- <br /> <br /> <br />mately 3 miles. The aquifer is hydraulically connected to the river <br /> <br /> <br />and ground and surface water constitute a common supply. The ability <br /> <br /> <br />of alluvium to transmit water is prinCipally controlled by its porosity <br /> <br /> <br />and permeability. Porosity varies widely, depending On grain size, <br /> <br />particle gradation, and roundness of grains comprising the alluvium. <br /> <br />The specific yield of the aquifer reportedly averages 20 percent. <br /> <br />- 9 - <br />