Major reservoirs in the Arkansas Basin include Pueblo Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, Great Plains Reservoir System, Twin Lakes Reservoir, and Turquoise Lake.
The Arkansas River Basin, draining 24,904 square miles, is Colorado's largest river basin.
Major reservoirs in the Arkansas Basin include Pueblo Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, Great Plains Reservoir System, Twin Lakes Reservoir, and Turquoise Lake.
Major tributaries to the Arkansas include Fountain River and Purgatoire River.
The Arkansas River Basin--Illustrated
Native water: 875,000 acre-feet
Imported water: 101,000 acre-feet
Basin outflow, 1970: 178,000 acre-feet
Basin outflow, 1993: 142,000 acre-feet
Irrigated acreage, 1992: 440,200 acres
Irrigation consumptive use and associated consumptive reservoir and conveyance losses: 704,000 acre-feet
Mine runoff has significantly degraded some of the high elevation tributaries and the main stem of the Arkansas River. Agricultural practices downstream have resulted in elevated levels of dissolved solids and suspended sediment. Dissolved solids, sulfate, and selenium concentrations are elevated at certain locations in the system.
Division of Water Resources and Colorado Water Conservation Board. Senate Joint Resolution 94-32 Concerning the Management, Conservation, and Preservation of the Water Resources of the State of Colorado. Colorado Department of Natural Resources, 1995.
Agricultural Water Conservation Task Force. Regional Characteristics. Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, 1995.
