WSP07336

• File Number: 8111.600
• Description: ARCA Annual Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 12/12/1978
• Author: ARCA
• Title: Thirtieth Annual Report Arkansas River Compact Administration for the Year 1978
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

in storage at 8:00 a.m. April 10, 19'78, to honor both states call, Kansas
400 cfs and Colorado 600 cfs plus 10 cfs river flow. Both states sustained
their demand until the reservoir emptied at 6:30 p,m. April 13, 19'78.
Storm activity in late April through June 4, 19'78, created minor
tributary freshets above and below John Martin Reservoir. Flows were
not sufficient to justify storage until 8:30 A.M. June 5, 19'78, when the
gates were regulated for slorage. Colorado called for 360 cfs and
Kansas 240 cfs to supplement some tributary flows below John Martin.
Both states cancelled their calls June 6, as rain activity continued and
tributary flows were exceeding demands, Storage accumulated to
11,052 acre-feet by June 13 at 8:00 a,m., at which time a release of 1000
cfs was made to fill a Color.,.do demand of 600 cfs and Kansas 400 cfs.
On June 18, Colorado plac"" a call for 300 cfs river flow to make a
combined release of 1300 cfs until the reservoir emptied at 5:00 p.m.
June 19.
Combined flows of the Arkansas and Purgatoire Rivers were suf-
ficienl to begin storage June 28, 19'78, at 7:00 a.m., when Colorado
demanded 600 cfs plus 250 cfs river flow, and Kansas 400 cfs. These
demands were maintained until the reservoir emptied at 9:30 p.m. July
2,19'78.
High tributary flows below Pueblo into the Arkansas River justified
storage, beginning at 3:00 a.m. July 11, 19'78. A release was made for
1250 crs to satisfy a Kansas demand of 400 ds and Colorado 600 crs plus
250 cfs river flow, The reservoir became empty at 8:30 p.m. July 15.
Three summer storage periods occurred and 19 days of storage
water were run this year.
With the exception of JWle and July, river flows were at critically
low stages throughout the year, Tributary flows below John Martin
were similarly low, Litlie benefit was received in the administration of
storage water in the 1!177 -78 season.
The gates were closed October. 31, 19'78 for winter storage. There are
1001 acre.feet in storage to date.

9. GAGING STATIONS
In general, streamflow records of satisfactory accuracy were ob-
tained at the compact stations. Emphasis was continued on performing
additional field work to increase the accuracy of the records and on
providing current streamflow data to the Administration and State
officials, as required. The Compact Administration has commended a
program to modernize and improve water gaging on the Arkansas
River and to identify the needs and opportWlities for improved water
measurements. An effort has been made to enlist a variety of state and
federal agencies in cooperation.
The control for the Purgatoire River near Las Animas continues to
be a problem, The changing of the stage-diacharge relationahip by
beavers building brush dams just downstream from several of the
gages continues to be a problem.
Installation of the new station radio transmitters and printout
receivers began in late March by the U.S, Geological Survey, The new
stations were in satisfactory operation in early May, 19'78. Minor
re(lllirs and adjllltmenls kept the system operational, except for
lightning burning out the relay unit at John Martin sDd a malllUlction
of the Lamar printout receiver, This new equipment is an anelto the
administration and operation of John Martin RaervOir, The telemark

-9-