Planning
Planning Overview
CCBWQA conducts two general types of planning:
- Strategic planning related to its mission and goals and
- Specific project planning for pollution abatement projects.
Vision and Mission
The objective of the Federal Clean Water Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. CCBWQA’s vision is to implement this vision in the Cherry Creek Reservoir Basin. CCBWQA strives to:
- Improve, protect, and preserve water quality in Cherry Creek and Cherry Creek Reservoir for recreation, fisheries, water supplies, and other beneficial uses.
- Provide for effective efforts by counties, municipalities, special districts, and landowners within the basin in the protection of water quality.
- Promote public health, safety, and welfare.
Goals
- Use effective stewardship to implement sustainable Reservoir and watershed water quality management strategies.
- Implement an efficient and effective organization with the expertise to achieve results.
- Work with Member Entities and Stakeholders to enhance partnerships on water quality policies and projects.
- Continue to develop leading edge, innovative water quality solutions.
- Adapt as needed.
Objectives
- Better understand Reservoir and watershed dynamics and linkages.
- Identify the right "mix" of sustainable strategies that will preserve and enhance water quality for beneficial uses and/or prevent negative water quality impacts.
- Ensure that the CCBWQA Board maintains an adaptable organizational structure and expertise so it can efficiently identify, prioritize, and implement Authority initiatives, and respond to requests.
- Enhance partnerships with Member Entities and Stakeholders to leverage resources, resulting in improvement, protection, and/or preservation of water quality beneficial uses, and prevention of negative water quality impacts.
- Effectively and efficiently participate in Regulatory Activities that impact water quality.
- Continue as leader and laboratory.
Pollution Abatement Project Planning
CCBWQA plans for future Pollution Abatement Projects. These planning efforts help to identify future projects, estimate water quality benefits, and inform prioritization for inclusion in the 10-year Capital Improvement Program.
- Lone Tree, Windmill and Cottonwood Creeks Major Drainageway Plan: In 2023, CCBWQA funded and participated in an extension of a major drainageway plan from the Cherry Creek State Park Boundary to the Reservoir. Planning for the upper portions of the plan area upstream of the Park were being completed by SEMSWA and MHFD, with CCBWQA’s support enabling completion of the plan for these drainage basins. Work for the plan was conducted during 2023 and will be completed in early 2024.
- Sulphur Gulch, Sara Gulch, Tallman Gulch & Tall Tributary Master Drainage Plan: In 2024, MHFD, Parker and Douglas County will be partnering on a master drainage plan for several minor tributaries. CCBWQA intends to support and participate in the master planning effort.
Emerging Regulatory Issues
CCBWQA actively participated as a party in the WQCC 2023 Regulation 38 “Lakes Nutrients Criteria'' RMH in April 2023 2023. At this RMH, the WQCD adopted chlorophyll-a, total phosphorus and total nitrogen standards for certain reservoirs in Colorado with a delayed effective date after December 31, 2027. CCBWQA plans to propose site-specific phosphorus and nitrogen standards in Cherry Creek Reservoir at the Regulation 38 rulemaking hearing in 2025 based on unique conditions in the Cherry Creek watershed. In 2023, CCBWQA shared its initial proposal for site-specific phosphorus and nitrogen standards with the Water Quality Control Division, EPA, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.