ALBUQUERQUE – The Albuquerque District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), will host a public meeting on October 27, 2016, to gain public input as it prepares to update and revise the Master Plan for John Martin Reservoir.
The public meeting will be held at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office, 2500 South Main Street, Lamar, Colorado, and is open to the general public. An “open house” will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by a formal presentation at 6:00 p.m. At the conclusion of the presentation there will be a session where the public can ask questions and make comments about the project.
Construction of the John Martin Dam and Reservoir began in August 1940, but work was suspended in the spring of 1943 due to World War II. Construction resumed in the spring of 1946 and the project was completed in October 1948. The dam was built for the purposes of flood control and irrigation. The current Master Plan for John Martin Reservoir was finalized in November 1974 and is in need of revision to address changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends, and USACE management policy. Key topics to be addressed in the revised Master Plan include: revised land classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs and special topics such as invasive species management, and threatened and endangered species habitat. Public participation and feedback is critical to the successful revision of the Master Plan.
A Master Plan is defined as “the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all recreational, natural, and cultural resources throughout the life of the water resource development project.” In general, it defines “how” the resources will be used by the general public.
The Master Plan study area includes all USACE fee-owned land (easements, licenses, leases, etc.) at John Martin Reservoir.
The primary purposes of the John Martin project are flood risk management, irrigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat.
Questions pertaining to the proposed revision can be addressed to: Ms. Karen Downey, John Martin Operations Project Manager, John Martin Reservoir Project Office 29955 County Road 25.75, Hasty, CO 81044, (719) 336-3476, and Ms. Rhonda Fields, Project Manager, CESWF-RPEC-PM, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, P.O. Box 17300, Fort Worth, TX 76102-0300, (817) 886-1681.
About the Albuquerque District: The Albuquerque District covers all of New Mexico, about a third of Colorado, and one-fifth of Texas.
Visit the Albuquerque District Web site at: http://www.spa.usace.army.mil and Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/albuquerquedistrict
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