WSP06131

• File Number: 8149.911
• Description: Miscellaneous Small Projects and Project Studies - SE Needs Assessment and PSOP
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 8/1/2001
• Author: US Army Corps of Eng
• Title: Arkansas River From John Martin Dam To The Colorado-Kansas State Line Channel Capacity and Riparian Habitat Planning Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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ARKANSAS RIVER FROM OTEROIPUEBLO COUNTY LINE
TO JOHN MARTIN RESERVOIR
CHANNEL CAPACITY AND RIPARIAN HABITAT PLANNING STUDY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topic

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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDA TIONS.........................................1ll

1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1
1.1 STUDY AUTHORITY ........................................................................................ 1
1.2 STUDY PURPOSE .............................................................................................. 1
1.3 STUDY REACH AND TYPICAL PROBLEM AREAS .................................... 1
2. GENERAL BACKGROum> AND SETIING ......................................................... 5
2.1 JOHN MARTIN RESERVOIR PROmCI'........................................................... 5

2.2 CLINfA TE....................... ............. ............. .............................................................. 8
2.3 PHYSIOLOGY. GEOLOGY, AND SOn...s ........................................................... 9

2.4 WATER RESOURCES .......................................................................................... 9
2.5 THE CHARACTER OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER: A HISTORIC .......................

PERSPECflVE...................................................... ................. ..................................... 10
3. HYDROLOGIC AND ECOLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS ....................................... 23
3.1 GEOMORPHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ......................................................... 23
3.2 HYDRAULICS AND SEDIl\1:ENTA TION....................................................... 24

3.2.1 Historic Hydrology ......................................................................................... 24
3.2.2 Historic Sediment Infonnlltion........................................................................ 29

3.2.3 HydraUlic Modeling ......... .................................................... ......... .................. 31
3. 2.4 Sediment Anal ysis....................................................................................... .... 31
3.2.5 Problem Areas - Existing and Improved Conditions.................................... 35
3.2.6 Hydraulic and Sediment Summary ................................................................. 38

3.3 ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES ............................................................................. 38
3.3.1 Aquatic System ............................................................................................... 39
3.3.2 Riparian System .., .................... ....................................................................... 39
3.3.3 Functions of Riparian Vegetation ................................................................... 41

3.3.4 Special Status Species..................................................................................... 42
3.3.5' Riparian Fauna ................................................................................................ 43
3.3.6 Salt Cedar Removal............................................................;........................... 44
4. DOCUMENTATION OF VEGETATION AND CHANNEL PROBLEMS ........... 46
4.1 RESULTS-AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH COMPARISONS OF VEGETATION

........................................................................................................................46
4.2 INTERPRETATION OF CHANNEL PROBLEMS AS SEEN IN AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHS........................................................................................................ 49

5. RECOMl\1ENDA TIONS............................................................................................. 60
6. REFERENCES Cfl'ED ............................................................................................... 62

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