WSP06526

• File Number: 8103.400
• Description: Arkansas River Basin Legislation - Compacts
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 2/3/1949
• Author: Unknown
• Title: Legislative Record - Arkansas River Compact - 1948
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

ARKANSAS RIVER COMPAC~'

13

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CC1064

The CHAIRMAN, So that actually Colorado gets more than 60 per-
cent of the actual water; does it not! >'
Mr, VIDAL, I think so, We have had many controversies about that, ~.
The CHAIRMAN, I mean the right of use and reuse as recognized,
Mr, VIDAL. There is no reuse in Colorado, Whatever is taken
out of the dam and diverted below Caddoa in Colorado goes to
Kansas, There is r.ractically no reuse in Colorado, You see, the dis-
tance is only 58 mIles, There are 10 ditches below that that have no'
opportunity to reuse it, and there is practically no opportunity for
any additional construction that would permit the reuse, We have
covered that bv some provisions of the compact anyhow,
The CHAImifAN, It would appear from what I see here that the
Commission measured the actual flow of the river at about 1,250 cubic
feet per second and divided that on the basis of 750 and 500!
Mr. VIDAl" Not exactly the flow of the river; that is the release
from the reservoir,
The CHAIRMAN, How did you determine that division!
Mr, VIDAL, Oh, by many things; the flow of the river beginning in
1908;which was just after the first session in the Supreme Court here,
down to about 1942 or 1944; the actual flow of the river and the storage
that would become usable through Caddoa out of that flow, That
1,250 feet, except when the administration consents to an increase,
is more of a limitation on total releases from Caddoa than anything
else, We felt that 750 and 500 would carry out that relation of 6()...40.
But that is more of a limitation on it.
When we get down to a certain low state of storage, we limit it still
further to 600 and 400, That is released from the reservoir,
Colorado does get in the winter season when the water is supposed
to be all stored; it has the privilege of diverting or calling for 100
second-feet of water for small purposes, stock purposes and things
of t.hat kind,
The CHAIRMAN, I observe also there is a provision that although
the priorit.ies may be disregarded in the use of the water from storage,
if the reservoir should be emptied then priorities must be reestab-
lished,
Mr, VIDAL, Kansas is out of the picture, except whatever goes over
the State line belongs to it, Of course, we can't help that.
The CHAIRMAN, 'What is the administrative agency!
Mr, VIDAL, The administrative agency would be appointees of the
G01'el'l10r, who will be a water-right owner and resident from District,
67 in Colorado, which is below the dam, and a water-right owner and
resident. from Districts 14 and 17 above the dam on the main stem
of the river, and the director of the water board, The three from
Kansas wi If be two water-right owners and residents of Kearney"
Hamilton, and, Finney Counties, and what we always call t.he State,
engineer.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that board provided for in the compact!
Mr, VIDAL, It is provided for in the compact.
The CHAIRMAN, What article!
Mr, VIDAL, Article VIII.
The ,CHAIRMAN, Thank you,
Mr, VIDAL, The Governor i~ to make those appointments, I dis-
cussed this matter with the Governor before we put it into the Com--
96908-49-3

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