Resevoir and Watershed Water Quality Management Goals and Objects

Goals

• Maintain and enhance beneficial uses of the reservoir.
• Achieve the 15-µg/L chlorophyll standard in the reservoir.
• Meet the phosphorus goal for the reservoir of 40-µg/L of total phosphorus.
• Meet the evolving Cherry Creek TMAL for total phosphorus.
• Reduce sediment loads from the watershed.
• Maintain and enhance overall diversity of habitat in the watershed.
• Promote good stewardship of water resources through incentives to public and private interests.

Objectives

1. Reduce average phosphorus loads by 2020.
2. Reduce wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) direct discharges to 0.05 mg/L phosphorus by August 1, 2004.
3. Implement minimum best management practices (BMPs) for all new development, per the Authority’s "Stormwater Quality Requirements" (Authority, 2001).
4. Retrofit existing development BMPs to enhance phosphorus immobilization.
5. Promote practices that reduce phosphorus loads from new development.
6. Stabilize, reclaim, and enhance Cherry Creek and its tributaries.
7. Optimize phosphorus reduction opportunities and watershed health by implementing BMPs that exceed minimum requirements during new development.
8. Identify phosphorus sources in the headwater region and implement phosphorus reduction strategies.
9. Coordinate with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater Phase I and II entities and efforts.
10. Reduce septic system loads in the Cherry Creek Reservoir Watershed.
11. Promote watershed-based pollutant trading for phosphorus.
12. Promote reuse of wastewater through land application or indirect potable reuse, as applicable.
13. Implement Pollutant Reduction Facilities (PRFs).
14. Identify and develop new funding mechanisms to meet watershed goals.
15. Integrate watershed management with source water protection.
16. Implement education and outreach programs, including a website.
17. Identify background phosphorus sources in the headwater region and implement phosphorus reduction strategies.
18. Stabilize channels and streambanks where appropriate.
19. Protect groundwater recharge areas and groundwater quality by establishing protection zones.
20. Identify and promote the preservation of buffer zones for water quality.
21. Promote land conservation related to water quality.
22. Inventory stream conditions and rehabilitate problem areas.
23. Protect sensitive areas and vulnerable resources.