Our Management Agency Responsibilities
Key Takeaways:
CDPHE’s Colorado Water Quality Control Division is the 208 Water Quality Planning Agency and is responsible for the regional water quality management plan. Because there is no Regional Water Quality Management Plan developed for Cherry Creek basin, the Statewide Water Quality Management Plan (SWQMP) applies. Historically, CCBWQA has served as the 208 Management Agency but is currently referred to as the “Management Agency” in Regulation 22.
CCBWQA has an important role in the management of water quality in the basin. The Authority's role currently includes review of site location approvals for wastewater treatment plants and lift stations, and providing recommendations to the State regarding approval, denial, or conditional approval of such applications.
Three levels of management agencies are recognized in the federal Clean Water Act. The SWQMP defines their different roles:
Planning agencies develop regional or statewide water quality management plans (commonly called “Section 208 Plans”) that evaluate regional and statewide existing water quality conditions, identify pollutant sources, evaluate the cumulative impacts of multiple point and nonpoint sources in a regional area, and develop appropriate water quality controls, including recommendations for wastewater treatment plant effluent limits. The Colorado Water Quality Control Division is the designated 208 planning agency for the Cherry Creek basin. CCBWQA works cooperatively with the Division to support planning activities by monitoring and evaluating water quality, conducting modeling to better understand pollutant loading and pollutant reduction opportunities, and other activities.
Operating agencies carry out day-to-day wastewater treatment plant functions, and ensure water quality requirements are met. These are typically wastewater treatment plants.
Management agencies carry out the Section 208 Plans. In Colorado, general-purpose local governments and special districts are designated as management agencies.