Stormwater Permit

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 40% of surveyed water bodies do not meet standards, due, in a large part, to polluted stormwater runoff from streets, neighborhoods and parking lots.  To address this concern, the EPA, in 1990, required large municipalities, such as Denver and Aurora, to apply for and operate under a Phase I Stormwater Permit as outlined in the Clean Water Act.  Starting in 2003, cities with populations between 50,000 and 100,000 people (based on the 1990 census) and densely populated unincorporated areas throughout the nation are required to apply for and operate under a Phase II Stormwater Permit.  Stormwater Permits contain provisions that are designed to clean up stormwater runoff by implementing the the following six minimum control measures:

• Public Education and Outreach
• Public Involvement and Participation
• Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
• Construction Site Erosion Control
• Long-Term Maintenance of Stormwater Best Management Practices
• Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping of Municipal Operations

The City applied for its first five-year Stormwater Permit to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in March 2003.  A second application was required in June 2008 that addresses activities to be conducted under the Stormwater Permit from 2008 to March 2013.  Links to both of the Stormwater Permit Applications submitted to the State and the Annual Reports developed for both the State and the Public are provided.