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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ZORICH, SPRONK 8 ASSOCIATES, INC. Page 2 Q N CoO ,::> ~ to force settlement of continuing controversies regarding the apportionment of the waters of the Arkansas River among the various users in the States of Colorado and Kansas. The United States Supreme Court rendered a decision in December of 1943 in a suit the State of Colorado had brought against the State of Kansas and the Finney County Water Users Association in 1928. In its decision, the Supreme Court recommended that the proper way to resolve the controversy was by interstate negotiations under the compact provision of the Constitution of the United states. Meanwhile, in 1936, the United States Congress passed legis- lation authorizing the construction of the Caddoa Reservoir project, which was subsequently renamed the John Martin Reser- voir project. John Martin Reservoir, located on the Arkansas River approximately 60 miles west of the Colorado-Kansas state line, was completed in October of 1948. The purpose of the reservoir project was for flood control and conservation of irrigation water. In response to the directive of the Supreme Court, and in order that both states could enjoy the benefits of the John Martin Reservoir project, compact negotiations between the States of Kansas and Colorado were begun in January of 1946. , , After nearly three years of arduous negotiations, agreement was finally reached and the Compact was signed by all parties involved on December 14, 1948. A copy of the Compact has been included as Appendix A.