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l\) c..:J (;0 .(... on the Arkansas recreat i on, and River, is used for flood irrigation storage. control, The aquatic habitat in the Arkansas River IS affected by sediment, salt, nutrients, and pesticides. Spa~ning areas and food sources can be smothered by the sediment, water becomes turbid affecting the feeding abl I ity of the aquatic fauna. 'Nutrients in the runoff as wel I as the pesticides can tax the available oxygen. Whi Ie some economic value may be lost in recreation damage, little data is available from the biological impacts. This is true for John Martin Reservoir ~here fishing is popular and a I so I n areas above John Mart i n ~here water qua Ii ty degradation has resulted in very I ittle remaining fishing opportunities. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the Patterson Hollo~ Water Qual i ty project are to improve the Arkansas River water qua Ii ty by reduc i ng the amount of salts reaching the river in return.flows and ~mprove the irrigation water management being practiced In the area. Improved irrigation ~ater management ~i I I control the amount of deep percolation and runoff from the Irrigated cropland. Reduc i ng the amount of water mov i ng through the so i I prof i Ie wi I I minimize the pickup and transportation of salts, nutrients, and pesticides. Installation of planned practices wi II improve the irrigation efficiencies from the present of approximately 40 percent to 60 percent. A reduction of approximately four inches of deep percolation is expected ~ith this improvement in efficiency. This reduction in deep percolation means that over one ton per acre of salt <over 60,000 tons/year from the total area) can be eliminated from the river. Reduced sal inity in the Arkansas River ~i II broaden the potential cropping patterns and yields in the downstream irrigated areas and improve the fishery habitat in the river and John Martin Reservoir. Improved farm irrigation systems wi I I al low for reduced operation and management costs to the landowner and operators in the project area. This in turn wi II improve the overall economic viability of the county. 9