WSP05830

• File Number: 8111.805
• Description: Arkansas River Compact Administration - Keesee Ditch
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 1/1/1986
• Author: HRS Engineering
• Title: Keesee Ditch Change of Water Rights Vol 3 - Potential for Upstream Exchange of Kessee Ditch Water Stored in John Martin Reservoir
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR UPSTREAM EXCHANGE ON THE ARKANSAS RIVER

A variety of methods and opportunities may be available for the upstream
exchange of Keesee Ditch water from storage in John Martin Reservoir to storage
in Pueblo Reservoir. Basically, these may be classified under three categories:
exchanges made through cooperative agreements with water users'along the
Arkansas River; exchanges made under the direction of the Division Engineer
using river management techniques; and exchanges made at times of favorable

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The first category of exchange methods includes a number of possible exchanges~ 'I ~
between water users up and down the Arkansas River. Perhaps the simplest method ;0 ~ ~
in this category involves a direct exchange of Keesee water in J.ohn Martin Reservoir "/ .
for water already in storage in Pueblo Reservoir. A water user with storage
in Pueblo desiring release of the water to a point at or below John Martin Reservoir
could trade the Pueblo water for an equivalent amount of Keesee water in John
Martin Reservoir. Because no physical transport of water would occur by this
method, few, if any, restrictions on the timing or rate of exchange would be
imposed.

river conditions occurring during normal priority operations. Each of these exchange
categories is discussed briefly below. It should be noted that all of the methods
discussed presume the existence of a valid storage account in Pueblo Reservoir
which has adequate space to accept deliveries of Keesee Ditch exchanges.

More complex methods in this category might involve physical exchanges
over certain river reaches, and simple trades over other intermediate river reaches.
These more complex exchanges depend on the nature of intervening water rights
and the location of offstream reservoirs, and may involve more than one water
user.

The second exchange category involves river management techniques utilized
by the Division Engineer for more efficient use of Arkansas River water. The
Division Engineer would attempt to maximize the available river flow and storage
capacity along the river through numerous exchanges and storage transfers between
water users. These administrative exchanges would provide the greatest flexibility
in accomodating changing legal, water market and river flow conditions.

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