The Basic Standards and Methodologies for Surface Waters (Regulation No. 31, 5 CCR 1002-31) contains antidegradation provisions which provide three separate levels of antidegradation protection (see section 31.8). This document is intended to provide guidance to Water Quality Control Division staff and to the public regarding the implementation of the antidegradation significance tests found in Regulation No. 31. This guidance is designed as a framework...

CDPHE submitted the funding request for the Water Quality Control Division Clean Water Program to the Joint Budget Committee on November 1, 2016. The request contains an overview of the issue, proposed solution, anticipated outcomes and corresponding calculations. The request includes appendices that detail the proposed fee change in summary and detailed formats as well as considerable stakeholder process information including an overview and all...

In Colorado, no single state agency is responsible for wetlands, but many agencies and organizations have their own plans that either specifically address wetland protection, regulation, and management or involve wetland and aquatic resources indirectly. The intent of this WPP is to tie together the priorities, goals, objectives, and actions embedded in existing state plans, and identified through the development of this WPP, into one comprehensive...

Wetlands are an essential component of Colorado's landscape that greatly benefit the people of Colorado by performing a number of vital functions, including water quality improvement, flood attenuation, and wildlife habitat. As resource managers, planners, and restoration practitioners attempt to mitigate for impacts to aquatic ecosystems, there is a growing need for conservation planning tools that help bridge the gap between ecological data collection...

The purpose of this document is to present an overview of the assessment methodology used by the Colorado Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) Program. This methodology was used to evaluate all public drinking water systems in Colorado that have surface water sources or ground water sources that are under the direct influence of surface water. Topics addressed in this document include: 1) background information on the SWAP Program; 2) an...