Storm water runoff is water from rain or snowmelt that does not immediately infiltrate into the ground, and instead flows through natural or man-made conveyance or storage systems. Stormwater runoff volume is greater in areas with high proportions of impervious surfaces (e.g., paved roads, buildings, parking lots, etc.). Runoff from areas where industrial activities are conducted can contain pollutants when facility practices allow exposure of industrial materials or activities to stormwater. To regulate the amount of pollutants entering Colorado Waters, the Colorado Water Quality Control Act mandates that certain types of industrial activities that discharge stormwater to state waters must obtain coverage under a Colorado Discharge Permit System (CDPS) permit issued by the Colorado Water Quality Control Division.
This report presents the information contained in the SWSI Report that is specific to the Yampa/White/Green Basin as a starting point for the Colorado Basin Roundtable to develop the needs assessment required by the Interbasin Compact Process.
The Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) Water Quality Control Division is developing an approach to manage nutrients in Colorado waters. The primary driver for this effort has been an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directive to reduce nutrients in waters under jurisdiction of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The Division's proposal to control the discharge of nutrients relies largely on a technology-based control regulation that would establish effluent limits for both total phosphorus (TP) and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) for many domestic and some nondomestic wastewater treatment facilities that become subject to the control regulation will have to invest in capital improvements and ongoing operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) has identified McPhee & Narraguinnep Reservoirs as not supporting their designated uses due to the presence of elevated fish tissue concentrations of mercury that have resulted in Fish Consumption Advisories. Mercury concentrations at the levels observed present a significant health risk to persons who consume listed fish from the reservoirs. Because McPhee & Narraguinnep Reservoirs do not support their designated uses, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is required for mercury loading to the reservoirs. The purpose of this TMDL is to provide an estimate of pollutant loading reductions needed to restore the classified uses of McPhee and Narraguinnep reservoirs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, is supporting CDPHE in the development of this TMDL.
The FACWet was developed by surveying existing wetland rapid assessment methodologies and blending the best aspects these approaches with the most recent advances in wetland science.
The purpose of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) Recovery Plan is to outline the coordination and support activities that occur in the recovery phase following a chemical event at Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD). The term “recovery” includes measures to assess the hazard and perform other urgent tasks in the area affected by the emergency; a controlled process for reentry, restoration, and remediation; and provision of services to persons, businesses and other organizations affected by the emergency. The primary purpose of recovery activities is to protect public health and safety while returning the community to normal or near normal conditions.