WSP07377 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

\.:) (.~ N o ~{."" co 'J . . Water Yield of Muddy Creek Basin by J. Robert Owen Colorado Water Conservation Board November 26, 1975 The Colorado Division of Wildlife transferred 5,000 acre-feet of storage rights from the Muddy Creek Reservoir into John Martin Reservoir (Civil Action No. 1434, June 13, 1968, Bent County District Court) as a part of the water necessary to create a permanent pool. The transfer was conditional on, among other- things, approval by the Arkansas River compact Administration and the establishment of several gaging stations in the basin to measure the amount of runoff from the watershed above the dam and the losses incurred between the reservoir and the confluence with Rule Creek. It is desirable to implement the provisions of the transfer and to integrate this water source into the permanent pool plans at this time. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the hydrology of Muddy Creek and to estimate the quantity and variability of runoff from the watershed that could be used to assist in establish- ing a permanent recreation pool in John Martin Reservoir. Water stored in John Martin from these rights would also assist in meeting the annual evaporation requirement. Muddy Creek is tributary to Rule Creek, which in turn flows into John Martin Reservoir from the south. A sketch of the area is sho~n in figure 1. The drainage area above the reservoir site is approxi- mately 169 square miles. Elevation at the reservoir site is about 4,200 feet and about 5,200 feet at the watershed divide. Soils of the basin are generally shallow and well-drained. Vegetation on the basin consists mainly of native grasses such as blue grama, buffalo grass, and galletagrass. Some WOOdland occurs near the southern basin divide.