WSP07211

• File Number: 8149.911
• Description: Miscellaneous Small Projects and Project Studies - SE Needs Assessment and PSOP
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 4/1/1999
• Author: AK River Basin Water
• Title: Preliminary Findings Arkansas River Water Needs Assessment
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

1551

Table of Contents

I. Introduction to the Water Needs Assessment ....................,.......,............1
A. Physical Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
B. Resource Managers and Responsibilities .,.......................,..................1
C. Purpose of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
D. Existing Land and Water Management Framework. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
E. Study Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

II. Summary - Arkansas River Legal & Institutional Analysis ..........,....................7
A. Native River Flows and Downstream Senior Water Righrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
B. Early Transmountain Diversions and Early Storage Facilities .............................7
C. Municipal Water Supply Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
D. Fryingpan - Arkansas Ptoject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
E. Arkansas River Compact of 1948 .............................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
F. Annual Flow Management Program ..............................................10
G. Legal and Institutional Opportunities for Water Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

III. Summary - Hydrologic Analysis of Changes in
Arkansas River Flows Since 1889 ................................................... .11

IV. Operation ofthe Fryingpan - Arkansas Projeet ..................,.................. .13
A. Explanation of water management objectives and actions to optimize yield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
B. Baseline Arkansas River hydrograph incorporating Fryingpan-Arkansas Project operations. . . . . . .14

IV. Water Needed to Protect or Support Critical Resource Values .......................... .17
A. Overview of Natural Resource Water Preferences by Location .......................... .17
!. Arkansas River Flow Preferences ............................................ .17
a. Comparison of Resource Flow Preferences to 1982-1995 Flows .,................. .20
2. Turquoise Reservoir, Twin Lakes, and Clear Creek Reservoir Water Level Preferences ,..... .26
3. Pueblo Reservoir Water Level Preferences .....,................................ .26
B. Summary of Natural Resource Water Preferences by Individual Resource Values . . . . , . . . . . . . . .29
!. Water Preferences for Fish Populations .....................,......,..,........ .29

a. Arkansas River ..............................................,....... .29
b. Turquoise Reservoir and Twin LIkes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
c. Clear Creek Reservoir .........................................,....... .30
d. Pueblo Reservoir ......................................................30
2. Water Preferences for Riparian Habitars ....................................... .31

a. Arkansas River ...................................................... .31
b. Reservoirs ...... . , . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . .32
3. Water Preferences for Terrestrial Wildlife .....,.................................32

a. Arkansas River ...................................................... .32
b. Reservoirs ..............................................,........... .33
4. Water Preferences for Recreation .........................,.........,........ .33

a. Arkansas River .................,.................,..........,....... .33
b. Turquoise Reservoir and Twin Lakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
c. Pueblo Reservoir ............................................,.........34

III