WSP07461

• File Number: 8143.600.30
• Description: John Martin Reservoir - Other Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 9/1/1982
• Author: Dept of Army
• Title: John Martin Dam and Reservoir - Small Hydropower Addition Reconnaissance Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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SUBJECT TO

PRELIMINARY .
RE.VISIGN

C)

III.

Hydrology.

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A.

Project Oppratinn. ~

1. The availability of ~ater for the production of electrical po~er

at John Martin Dam is directly dependent on the operation of the project for

its authorized purposes. namely. irrigation and flood control. The storage

and release of water for irrigation are in accordance with the Arkansas River

Compact. Release of storage from the flood control pool is at the discretion

of the Corps of Engineers. Storage of water in the reservoir actually began

1n December 1942 although official closure was not made until March 1943.

Prior to 1948. irrigation releases were very irregular due partly to the lack

of an agreement between the State of Colorado and Kansas for the use of the

water. A temporary agreement in the form of a compact was signed by the two

states and ratified by the United State Congress in May 1949. Some of

articles of the compact which are pertinent to the storage and release of

water in John Martin Reservoir are as follows:

Colorado and Kansas h~reby agree upon the following basis of
apportionment of the waters of the Arkansas River:

A. ~inter storage in John Martin Reservoir shall Commence on
November 1st of each year and continue to and include the next
succeeding March 31st. During said period all water entering said
reservoir up to the limit of the then available conservation capacity
shall be stor~~: Provided. that Colorado may demand releases of water
equivalent to the river flow, but such releases shall not exceed 100
cubic feet per second and water so released shall be used without
avoidable waste.

B. Summer storage in John Martin Reservoir shall commence on
April 1st of each year and continue to and include the next succeeding
October 31st. During said period, except when Colorado water users
are operating under decreed priorities----, all water entering said
reservoir up to the limit of the then available conservation capacity
shall be stored: Provided. that Colora~o may demand releases of water
equivalent to the river flow,up to 500 c.f.s., and Kansas may demand
releases of water equivalent to that portion of the river flow between
500 c.f.s. and 150 c.f.s., irrespective of releases demanded by
Colorado.

C. ----Unless increases to meet extraordinary conditions are
authorized by the Administration. separate release of stored water to
Colorado shall not exceed 750 c.f.s., separate releases of stored
water to Kansas shall not exceed 500 c.f.s., ~nd concurrent releases

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