University of Colorado Colorado Springs
OP-27: Rainwater Management

UCCS implements Low Impact Development (LID) practices on major new construction and renovation projects. Practices that we encourage include: 1. Implemented a strategic long-term Master Plan for our University. 2. Thoughtful site-planning and design that reduces negative impact to project site. 3. Encourage student and staff education and participation through collaborative meetings throughout project planning, design and construction. 4. Reduce long-term maintenance costs with great emphasis on plant and landscape materials selection. 5. Reduce disturbed areas by constraining construction staging and laydown areas. 6. Encourage contractor car-pooling and offsite parking at developed lots to reduce negative impact on native and undisturbed land. 7. Introduce new concepts and technologies such as bio retention, rain garden, swales, and detention/conservation areas. 8. Maintain integrity of receiving streams and embankments. 9. Utilizing a staff member to frequent construction project sites to ensure compliance with storm water management and BMP controls. 10. Reduce site runoff and flow rate by construction of detention areas and rip rap. 11. Encourage Sustainability and Project Team members to debate on alternative design approaches. 12. Minimize irrigation footprint by placement of native planting materials that are not susceptible to Colorado drought. 13. Minimize clearing of native trees by incorporating those into the final landscape where possible.

UCCS Stormwater Management Plan UCCS has developed a SWMP based upon previous permit applications and implementations in many areas including: 1. Public Education UCCS Facilities Services Department (FSD) has stormwater educational posters in the University Center. This is a high visibility area and will be seen by faculty, staff, and students alike. While exposing faculty to the ongoing efforts in erosion control and runoff mitigation,FSD provides a schedule of meetings that may be forwarded to interested parties in classrooms. FSD records on the Graphic Information Systems (GIS)database maps all storm drains and physically marks the inlets with a” No Dumping and/or Drains to Stream” marker. Allowable discharges are included on the maps. Electronic links are provided for environmental websites related to storm-water issues. FSD submits stormwater information to the university newspaper for publishing and provides that same information to University’s four campus faculty and staff newspapers. UCCS will annually present a training session to kitchen staff. Proper disposal procedures will be discussed and modifications to procedures made, if deemed appropriate. Reference materials will be prepared for distribution at the training sessions. Annual educational emails will be retained for future use and and modification, as appropriate. The focus of the emails will change annually. 2009- construction activities & exterior storage of materials 2010- illicit discharges & storm drain dumping 2011- highly erodible sediments, overwatering, & fertilizers 2012- trash-litter, and pet feces 2013- vehicle leaks and wash water 2. Public Participation/Involvement FSD sponsors a Student Clean-up Day to be conducted once per semester utilizing students on volunteer groups for trash clean-up, sediment removal and identification of areas of concern. Information on stormwater pollution issues and potential solutions is made available at the Sustainability table at Earth Day events which are scheduled each spring on the campus. Staff is also encouraged to set an example by picking up at least one piece of trash per day. Community involvement is solicited through affected homeowners associations meetings and enviroscape demonstrations at local schools. An annual agenda item regarding Stormwater pollution prevention will be presented to the Executive Team and be made available to the community as a Power Point presentation on the FSD website. A staff member will attend appropriate meetings to enhance the understanding of regulation and the efficient use of Best Management Practices (BMPs). 3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Reporting procedures are being developed and will be posted on FSD website. As part of hazardous materials training, all plant personnel will be trained to identify potential illicit discharges and will be encouraged to report to the appropriate staff members. The University will make every effort to clean HVAC equipment without the use of any solvent other than water and if necessary will dispose of all pollutants and/ or contaminants in an approved manor. 4. Construction Contractors will be required to submit engineered plans to the CDPHE for Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction. Contractors will inspect and record the conditions within the boundaries of their respective construction projects every 14 days and meet with FSD staff regularly to assure compliance. Project management will review contractors’ plans to identify and avoid conflict and will recommend the BMPs that best suit the future needs of the campus. 5. Post Construction All completed projects will be inspected every 14 days and after every precipitation event during the first year of ownership and monthly thereafter. DFS will include BMP maintenance in the established maintenance programs to provide long term sustainability and continuous operation. 6. Pollution Prevention and Housekeeping All excess gravel and sand will be removed at the end of each winter season and sediment removed from affected areas to ensure proper drainage and mitigate pollution. Good housekeeping procedures will be followed by all employees and continuous training will be provided. DFS will prepare and implement a comprehensive SWMP in the near future.

We are unable to legally harvest rainwater in Colorado, however we have implemented rain gardens and bioswales to divert and slow water.

Rain gardens.

We have deployed rainwater gardens at Eldora House, Copper House and Ulrich House. AS well, rainwater gardens have been implemented in the newly-opened Lane Center.

There are several stormwater retention ponds located on the campus.

There are vegetated swales in several campus locations.