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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 States <br />Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps of Engineers"). The project was <br />authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of June 22, 1936 when the <br />federal responsibility for flood control throughout the country was assigned <br />to the Corps of Engineers. It is located on the Arkansas River, 58 miles <br />upstream from the Colorado-Kansas Stateline and 18 miles upstream from <br />the City of Lamar, Colorado. Construction of the project began in the fall of <br />1939, but work was suspended due to Wond War II from the spring of 1943 <br />to the spring of 1946. The project was completed in October, 1948, at a <br />cost of about $15 million. The War Department Civil Appropriation Act of <br />June 24, 1940 changed the name of the project from Caddoa Reservoir <br />Project to John Martin Reservoir Project, in honor of the late Congressman <br />John A. Martin of Colorado. It is operated by the United States Army Corps <br />of 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 floods <br />and the development of water resources in the Arkansas River Basin. A <br />1986 resurvey of the reservoir, in official use since February 1, 1988, shows <br />259,562 acre-feet of storage capacity above elevation 3851.87 for flood <br />control protection of the fertile Arkansas River Valley downstream of the <br />dam. The release of stored flood waters is planned so that, when combined <br />with flows originating downstream from the dam, the capacity of the river <br />channel will not be exceeded. Downstream flood damages prevented by <br />JMR already exceed the cost of the project, and total project benefits to date <br />have surpassed the $117 million mark. <br /> <br />Tho r':'C:I:llr\/nil'" !:IIlen nrn\lirloc: ':l.dA: ~A':l. '!:li""r.o._fo.ot ",f eo""''''''''''''' eon.......,. fnr <br />....--..---..--.. ----" 1'"'--'--- - --,--- --.- .--. -. -~_._.,.- -1""--'" ..... <br /> <br />conservation and recreation purposes below elevation 3851.87. JMR <br />supplies water to irrigated lands as far downstream as Garden City, Kansas. <br />The conservation pool can store up to 338,639 acre-feet of water for <br />irrigation. Upon request of the Arkansas River Compact Administration, <br />irrigation water for downstream water users is released by the Corps of <br />Engineers through outlet works in the base of the dam. <br /> <br />Recreabon and favorable fish and wildlife habitats are also provided by the <br />project. In 1965 Congress authorized a permanent pool to improve habitat <br />and recreation values at JMR. The Administration subsequently approved <br />the use of up to 15,000 acre-feet of storage space at JMR for these <br />purposes. Colorado provides water to the permanent pool pursuant to <br />procedures adopted by the Administration. Reservoir lands are open to <br />public use for outdoor recreation, water sports, fishing, boating, and <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />"'~~1_ <br /> <br />8 <br />