WSP05904

• File Number: 8111.600
• Description: ARCA Annual Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 6/1/1985
• Author: ARCA
• Title: Thirty-Sixth Annual Report Arkansas River Compact Administration for the Year 1984
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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6. Facts about the John Martin Project:
The John Martin Reservoir Project was built by the Corps of
Engineers, United States Army. The project was authorized by Congress
in the Flood Control Act of June 22, 1936, when tbe federal responsibility
for nood control throughout the country was assigned to the Corps of
Engineers. It is located on the Arkansas River, 58 miles upstream from
the Colorado-Kansas stateline and 18 miles upstream from the city of
Lamar, Colorado. Construction ol the proiect began in the fall of 1939, but
work was suspended by World War II [rom the spring of 1943 to the spring
of 1946. The project was completed in October 1948 at a cost of about $15
million. The War Department Civil Appropriation Act of June 24, 1940,
changed the name of the project from Caddoa Reservoir Project to John
Martin Reservoir Project, in honor of the late Congressman John A.
Martin of Colorado. It is operated by the United States Army Engineer
District. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mr. Russell Smith has been the
resident superintendent of the project since October, 1976.
The John Martin Reservoir Project is part of the comprehensive plan
for the control of floods and the development of the water resources of the
entire Arkansas River basin. The reservoir provides 270.375 acre-feet of
storage capacity for flood control. It protects the fertile Arkansas Hiver
Valley below the dam. H provides 350.951 acre.feet of storage space for
conservation and recreation. John Martin Reservoir supplies water to the
irrigated lands below the dam as far as Garden City, Kansas. The top of
the conservation pool is 3,851 feet abo....e mean sea level, which provides
350,951 acre-feet of storage for irrigation. The release of stored flood
waters in excess of the conservation and recreation pools and above
elevation 3.851 feet is planned so that, when combined with flows
originating downstream from the dam, the capacity of the channel will
not be exceeded. Upon request of the Arkansas River Compact
Administration, irrigation water for downstream water users is released
through the outlet works in the base of the dam. Downstream flood
damages prevented by John Martin dam already exceed the cost of the
project. Benefits have already passed the $92 million mark.
Recreation and favorable fish and wildlife habitats are derived from
this project. With reservoir lands open to all, there are many attractive
public use areas for outdoor recreation, water sports, fishing and boating,
or just relaxed living. During construction some embankment material
was obtained from a ?5-acre tract of land immediateJy downstream of the
dam. This excavated area, averaging 12 feet deep, ClUed with water. and
formed Lake Hasty, the center of year-round recreation.
John Marlin Dam consists of a concrete gravity structure 1,644 feet
long and 120 feet high. and an earthfill structure 2.600 feet long. The
concrete gravity structure contains a gated spillway provided with
sixteen 30 feet by 64 feet tainter gates with their operating machinery.
There are earthen wing dams on either side of the main dam. The north
wing dam is 3,880 feet long. connecting to the earthfill structure of the
main dam at the north abutment. The south wing dam is 5,807 feet long
and connects to the south end of lheconcrete structure of the main dam. A
bitwninous-surfaced roadway, 21 feet wide, extends along the crest of the
north wing dam, main dam, and southwing dam. The overall length of the
structure is 2.6 miles. Detailed project data are shown below.

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