2000 NPS Management Program

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Colorado
Nonpoint Source Management Program
2005 Supplement

The Water Quality Control Commission approved the 2005 NPS Management Program supplement on August 8, 2005.  This document supplements the major update of the program approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in January, 2000.

Much of the background and program foundation found in the 2000 document is still valid.  However, the 2005 supplement supersedes the 2000 action plan, program priorities, and funding guidelines. In addition, some of the best management practices also have been updated.

The supplement outlines the program actions for the next five years.  In particular the NPS program will migrate from an individual pollutant category approach, such as agriculture, mining or construction, to a pollutant-integrated watershed approach, addressing the collective NPS needs of a specific geographic region of Colorado. 

Several new provisions are described in the supplement, especially related to funding.

• A watershed plan is the cornerstone for all on-the-ground restoration and remediation efforts.  Those efforts must be prioritized in a watershed plan before they can be approved for funding.

• NPS grant funds may no longer be used to remediate sources of pollutants that may eventually require a discharge permit.  

• Monitoring and assessment activities:  NPS grant funds may be used only to (a) collect data in direct support of the development and implementation of a total maximum daily load (TMDL) allocation; (b) determine measurable results from on-the-ground NPS projects; or (c) develop watershed plans, when identified as a priority in the annual proposal guidance.  

• Use of NPS grant funds on private lands:  Landowners/operators will be expected to participate financially in implementing best management practices on their land.  Their contribution can be either by direct cost contribution, i.e., cash, or through in-kind services, e.g., labor.  In some instances, in particular where the long-term maintenance is necessary to prevent re-release of pollutants into the environment, an environmental covenant may be requested.