Stormwater Permitting Support Activities
John T. Doerfer, Project Hydrologist, Master Planning Program
The District hosted quarterly meetings to discuss stormwater issues in 2005. These meetings served as a forum to exchange ideas, set up workgroups, and report on accomplishments. Activities of this group in 2005 are described below. In addition to the local governments within the District, a number of other cities, counties, and special districts throughout Colorado that are required by law to have Clean Water Act permits for their municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4s) discharges actively participated in these meetings.

Municipal Operations Video. A 20-minute video showing best management practices (BMPs) for municipal shops, fueling areas, public streets, and de-icing operations was created for educational purposes. This video is available for purchase through Excal Visual in Boulder at www.excalvisual.com.

Power Washing Brochure. Proper methods for disposing water used for power washing of equipment, kiosks, bleachers, buildings, etc. was developed under the leadership of Kevin Lewis, City and County of Denver. This brochure will be printed in 2006.

BMP Operation & Maintenance. Guidance on operation and maintenance (O&M) of structural BMPs was initiated in 2005. When completed in 2006, these O&M guidelines and will be useful for private owners of structural BMPs, such as Homeowner Associations, as well as local government staff

Low Impact Development. Miranda Maupin with the City of Seattle Public Works Department made a guest presentation on opportunities for retrofitting low-impact development BMPs into urban settings

Grand Valley Stormwater Utility. Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction described their current management programs and efforts to form a stormwater utility among various entities in the Grand Valley.

Arvada’s Public Education Program. Sandra McDonald shared the comprehensive public education program developed by the City of Arvada, including their mascot "Fillip A. Can" with the message to dispose of trash properly.

Industrial Activities Brochure. Aurora, Denver, Lakewood, and the District prepared a booklet and poster for industrial and commercial activities as part of MS4 permit requirements in 2005.

EPA Compliance Inspection. The City of Lakewood was subject to a comprehensive evaluation of its stormwater management programs for permit compliance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Results of this audit should be available in 2006.

Stormwater Monitoring. The District manages a storm-event monitoring program of the South Platte River and tributaries for Aurora, Denver, and Lakewood. The U.S. Geological Survey collected water-quality samples for a total of seven storms in 2005.

The District’s program to monitor and test structural BMPs continued in 2005. Seven storms were sampled at an extended-detention basin at Grant Ranch (Figure 1), nine storms at a porous-concrete pavement site in Lakewood (Figure 2), and four storms at an underground sand filter in Lakewood.


Grant Ranch extended basin detention


Installing porous pavement