The Arkansas Basin has seen robust growth over the past few years. Home to two large cities – Colorado Springs and Pueblo – the Arkansas Basin has seen an increase in competition for the same scarce water resources. As a result of this urban growth, there has been an increase in the transfer of water from agricultural use to municipal and industrial (M&I) uses.

Following the South Platte Basin, the Arkansas Basin is projected to experience the largest increase in M&I water demand by 2050, requiring an increase of between 141,000 AF and 195,000 acre feet (AF) with passive conservation included. 
To learn more about the Arkansas Basin, see the Basin Fact Sheet.

Recent Roundtable Meetings
Meeting Date	Meeting Materials
October 2019	Minutes Executive Committee Minutes
September 2019	Minutes Executive Committee Minutes
August 2019	Minutes   Executive Committee Minutes

Arkansas Basin Roundtable (BRT) Priorities

• Maintain agricultural viability in the lower basin
• Provide for in-basin augmentation in the upper basin
• Provide for adequate water quality to meet all needs
• Ensure adequate water for future needs:
  • M&I
  • Agricultural
  • Environmental
  • Recreational

Arkansas BRT Activities and Accomplishments
The Arkansas Basin recently approved a report describing the basin’s significant efforts toward implementing the requirements set forth in the Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act. Since the Arkansas BRT first convened in September 2005, the BRT has worked to determine its consumptive and nonconsumptive water supply needs, examined water supply availability and identified projects or methods to meet those needs. The BRT is currently involved in Phase II of the nonconsumptive needs assessment and determining how to best support and/or implement the projects and methods to meet their identified water supply needs.

Arkansas Basin’s Major Projects and Programs

• Southern Delivery System ­
• Conduit ­
• Preferred Storage Option Plan (PSOP) ­
• Super Ditch

Roundtable Information
Meetings	Monthly on 2nd Wednesday in Pueblo
Leadership	Chair: Mark Shea  Vice-Chairs: Mike Weber   IBCC Representatives: Terry Scanga and Jeris Danielson  Recorder: Elise Bergsten and Al Tucker
Subcommittees	By-laws Executive Groundwater Needs Assessment Nonconsumptive Needs Assessment Water Transfers
Roundtable Governance	There are currently 49 voting members of the Arkansas BRT Basin By-laws

Next Basin Roundtable Meeting

Additional Information Arkansas BRT Members Arkansas BRT By-laws - Updated Feb 2016 Arkansas Basin Fact Sheet Arkansas Education Action Plan Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) (~79 MB)

Contact the Arkansas BRT Colorado Water Conservation Board 1313 Sherman Street, Room 718 Denver, CO 80203 Chairperson: Mark Shea WSRF Contact: Abby Ortega Phone number: 719-688-8748 WSRF Information - Link

Arkansas BRT Reports & Documents

Arkansas DSS Feasibility Study Final Report (50 MB) Considerations for Modeling a Water Bank at the Aspinall Unit with Current Environmental Flows Modeling Considerations for an Aspinall Water Bank Arkansas SWSI 2010 Basin Report (Final Draft ~13 MB) Projects and Methods to Meet the Needs of the Arkansas Basin (November 2009) Arkansas Basin Consumptive Use Water Needs Assessment: 2030 (July 2008) Agricultural Transfer Report Arkansas Basin Nonconsumptive Map and Associated Background Colorado Agricultural Water Conservation Brochure Arkansas Basin Working Needs Assessment (SWSI Report) Aquifer Recharge and Storage Conference Report Use the Document Search below to find additional Arkansas BRT documents not listed here.

Arkansas BRT Document Search Check out the latest documents from the Arkansas BRT, including meeting minutes, reports and presentations. Select Arkansas from the basin roundtable dropdown to limit the results to the Arkansas BRT.