El Paso County Criteria
Engineering Criteria Manual Appendix I
Stormwater is water from rain and snowmelt that flows across the land. In developed areas, stormwater typically flows across hard surfaces such as streets, parking lots, and roofs before draining into El Paso County’s municipal separate storm system (MS4). Our MS4 consists of a combination of inlets, ditches, and ponds that release water directly into our natural waterways. It is important to note that unlike sanitary sewer systems, our storm sewer system does not enter a wastewater treatment plant to be treated. As stormwater flows across these hard surfaces, pollutants such as trash, debris, sediment, and fertilizers are picked up and carried through our MS4, directly to our waterways. Polluted stormwater can harm our local water quality and aquatic life as well as downstream creeks, rivers, lakes and drinking water supplies.
Please help El Paso County prevent water pollution and help keep our waterways clean by reporting any pollution entering our storm drains or waterways. To report an illicit discharge, please contact the Stormwater Team via email at Stormwater@elpasoco.com or call El Paso County Dispatch at 719-520-6460.
The El Paso County Stormwater Team is under the Department of Public Works Engineering Division. The goal of the Stormwater Team is to create a cleaner, healthier county through the protection and improvement of our community’s stormwater infrastructure. The Stormwater Team accomplishes these objectives with a comprehensive approach to protecting water quality by providing regulatory oversight to ensure pollutants do not leave construction sites, implementing a program to detect and eliminate illicit discharges, and ensuring private and public permanent stormwater quality facilities are properly maintained. Additionally, our team aids in the management of El Paso County owned stormwater infrastructure.
The El Paso County Stormwater Team is also active in education and outreach programs to promote community stewardship of watersheds and the responsible use of water resources. From collaborative efforts with other regional municipalities to innovative engineering and management of water resources, El Paso County Stormwater Team strives to be on the forefront of the stormwater industry in Southern Colorado.
As part of the Federal Stormwater Phase II Rule, El Paso County was required to obtain a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit issue by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Under this MS4 Permit, El Paso County is required to implement an MS4 stormwater management program to control polluted stormwater runoff. A copy of the CDPHE MS4 General Permit (COR090000) is available here. El Paso County’s MS4 Program Description Document (PDD) is available to the public upon request. Requests can be made via email to Stormwater@elpasoco.com.
Document | Stormwater Permit | Current Version | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
ESQCP | AESQCP** | BESQCP | ||
Drainage Report or Drainage Letter | X | --- | ||
FAE Form | X | Jan 2025 | ||
GEC Plan | X | --- | ||
GEC Checklist | X | Mar 2025 | ||
PCM Applicability Form | X | Mar 2025 | ||
Site Map | X | --- | ||
SWMP (optional template available below) | X | --- | ||
.....SWMP Template | Coming Soon | |||
SWMP Checklist | X | Mar 2025 | ||
Stormwater Permit Form | ||||
.....ESQCP Form | X | Mar 2025 | ||
.....AESQCP Form | X | Coming Soon | ||
.....BESQCP Form | X | Jan 2016 | ||
PCM Documents | ||||
.....MHFD-Detention Basin Design Workbook or applicable drain time calculations* | X | Jul 2022 | ||
.....PCM O&M Manual* ......(optional templates available below) | X | --- | ||
.........Extended Detention Basin (EDB) | Apr 2021 | |||
.........Porous Landscape Detention (PLD) | Coming Soon | |||
.........Runoff Reduction (RR) ..........(i.e: Rain Garden or Bioretention) | Coming Soon | |||
.........Runoff Reduction (RR) ..........(i.e: Grass Buffers or Swales) | Coming Soon | |||
.........Sand Filter Basin (SFB) | Coming Soon | |||
.........Underground Facility (UGWO / UGDET) | Coming Soon | |||
.....PCM Maintenance Agreement* | X | --- | ||
.........Owner/Developer | Oct 2024 | |||
.........Owner & HOA | Oct 2024 | |||
.........Owner & Metro District | Oct 2024 | |||
.....Proof of Submittal of Colorado Division of Water Resources “Notice of Intent to Construct a Non-Jurisdictional Water Impoundment Structure” Application* | X | --- |
* Document only required for an ESQCP if the project includes a proposed PCM.
** AESQCP documents pending approval of ECM Appendix I revisions. Anticipated Summer/Fall 2025.
El Paso County Criteria
Engineering Criteria Manual Appendix I
State & Federal Resources & References
CDPHE MS4 General Permit (COR090000)
CDPHE Colorado State Waters Map
CDPHE Clean Water Policies & Guidance
CDPHE Water Quality Permits: Construction
CDPHE Water Quality Permits: Dewatering
FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer Map
USFWS Critical Habitat for Threatened & Endangered Species Map
El Paso County Resources & References
Standard Notes for El Paso County Grading and Erosion Control Plans
Water Quality Treatment Summary Tables
Life Cycle of Stormwater Permits – Flowchart
Stormwater Permit Applicability – Flowchart
Drainage Basin Planning Studies (DBPS)
Regional Flood Awareness Brochure
Pikes Peak Regional Building Department – Floodplain Information
Citizen Connect – Department of Public Works
El Paso County Engineering Division – Department of Public Works
El Paso County Planning & Community Development
El Paso County Public Health Construction Activity Air Permit