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Management Agency

The Bear Creek Watershed Association is the designated water quality management agency for the Bear Creek Watershed.  The Association manages wastewater treatment plant long-range planning (point sources) and non-permitted nonpoint source management.  Individual Association membership is responsible for Stormwater management and permits.  The Association develops and maintains a long-rang (20-year) water quality management plan for the watershed.  The Association reports to the Denver Regional Council of Governments as the "planning" agency.  The Association is empowered as a signature agency on wastewater site applications submitted to the Colorado Water Quality Control Division.

The Association maintains a watershed management plan.

Responsible Under State Regulation

The Association implements the Bear Creek Reservoir Control Regulation (Regulation #74).  The control regulation assures watershed point and nonpoint source water quality compliance consistent with adopted Colorado stream standards and classifications.    All permitted wastewater dischargers are assigned a total phosphorus wasteload allocation as designated in the control regulation.  The Association monitors these wasteload allocations for compliance with the regulation.

Water Quality Monitoring

The Association is responsible for water quality monitoring in the watershed.  There are three separate monitoring efforts underway by the association and membership:

1. Routine stream and reservoir sample program as defined in the control regulation with sample sites on Bear Creek (2 above reservoir on segments 1a and 1b), below the reservoir, Turkey Creek inflow and a vertical reservoir station in the central pool;
2. Special reservoir sampling by the City of Lakewood to maintain the in-reservoir aeration system and detail reservoir dynamics in the growing season; and
3. Special Bear Creek stream segment 1a monitoring to assess temperature, ammonia and aquatic life stressor chemistry.  The primarily growing season assessment will be extending year-round beginning in October 2004.

The wastewater treatment operator also conduct special study monitoring to help maintain  discharge permits.

Watershed Manager

The Association serves as the water and environmental resource stewards for the watershed.  As such, the Association monitors and comments on all major activities in the watershed that could degrade water or environmental quality.

Development Reviews

The Association reviews Clear Creek and Jefferson County development plans, which have a potential to affect water or environmental quality within the watershed.

Wastewater Management Strategy

The Association maintains a wastewater management strategy for the Aspen Park Village Center.  All wastewater treatment plants must be in compliance with the adopted strategy.