WSP12263

• File Number: 8272.500
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Colo Dept of Public Health - WQCC and WQCD
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/1990
• Author: WQCD
• Title: Colorado Nonpoint Source Management Program - Prepared to Fulfill the Requirements of Section 319 of the Clean Water Act
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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A permitting system assures reclamation of new and existing mining sites from
a nonpoint source perspective. Therefore, most efforts for nonpoint source
water quality purposes are focused on abandoned or inactive mining sites. The
Mined Land Reclamation Division is very active in pursuing new and
experimental technologies to reclaim the waters emanating from these historic
sites. The Abandoned Mine Land fund (AML) has been a real asset in providing
funds to assist in this effort. The AML funds are generated through a fee ~
placed on coal production areas.

C. Soil Conservation Board

The legislative mandate to the Board is to provide the State of Colorado with
a program of soil and water conservation to control wind and water erosion,
prevent floods and preserve adequate underground water reserves. The Board
represents the eighty soil conservation districts of the State in the state
government processes. The Board and districts are involved in a number of
soil conservation projects which are beneficial to water quality particularly
in the fields of agriculture, rangeland grazing, and subdivision construction
processes. .

D. Colorado Division of Wildlife

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (l:iOW) is involved in projects to improve
habitat for aquatic life. These projects may include nonpoint source
correction. The DOW staff also offers expertise in water quality and aquatic
life habitats. This expertise is essential in diagnosing effects of pollution
on aquatic environments and proposing solutions to these problem areas.
Involvement of the DOW in nonpoint source projects is therefore essentiaL

E. Colorado Water Oualitv Control Division

The Division, in addition to its regulatory and staff functions discussed
earlier in this chapter, also administers two funding programs which maybe
used to assist in, correcting nonpoint source problems.

The Federal Wastewater Construction Grant Program offers grants for 55%,of the
costs of construction of publicly owned wastewater facilities. The Clean .
Water Act amendments of 1967 expanded this program through section 201 G(l)b
to include funding of nonpoint source projects. This section would allow,the
Governor of the state to request up to 20% of the annual construction, grant
fund be used for nonpoint source projects. The Construction Grant Program
will be phased out in Federal Fiscal Year 1994, therefore if this source is to
be utilized for nonpoint sources, efforts'must be made in the near future to
access its funds.

The second funding program administered by the Division is the state Water
Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund (WPCRF). The WPCRF was established in
the Clean Water Act to replace the Construction Grant Program. The intent of
the program is to provide financial assistance to governmental entities for
the construction of water quality projects, including nonpoint sources, to
improve water quality within the state. The first priority of the WPCRF is to
fund wastewater facility improvements, nonpoint source projects are a second
priority for this source of funding.

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