Surface Water
The flow in the Upper Arkansas River is influenced by the operations of an interstate compact between Colorado and Kansas. Under the compact, some surface water inflows are stored in John Martin Reservoir for use in Kansas. The reservoir is located approximately 90 miles west of the Stateline, near Lamar, Colorado. Water releases are coordinated with Kansas Department of Agriculture-Division of Water Resources and the Associated Ditches. There are six 
United States Geological Survey streamflow gage sites along the Upper Arkansas River. They include Coolidge, Syracuse, Kendall, Deerfield, Garden City and Dodge City.
The average annual streamflow at Syracuse was 286.2 cfs. Coolidge was 155.04 cfs. Streamflow was 129.36 cfs at Deerfield. Kendall was 104.35 cfs. Garden City’s average streamflow was 174.22 cfs. Dodge City averaged 128.45 cfs.
