Amended fire restrictions: Stage 1 fire restrictions in western Boulder County. Fire restrictions rescinded in eastern Boulder County.

Boulder County government offices, except Elections Division, are closed Nov. 5 for Election Day. Vote Center locations open 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. Nov. 5.

Boulder County Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program

Boulder County is Committed to the Protection of Our Environment and Water Quality

Boulder County holds a Federal Clean Water Act and Colorado Water Quality Control Act permit (COR090000) that requires Boulder County to protect stormwater quality by:

  • Establishing organizational control
  • Roles and responsibilities for stormwater programs
  • Encouraging public involvement and participation in stormwater quality activities
  • Providing public education and outreach
  • Detecting and eliminating illegal discharges of pollutants into storm drains
  • Overseeing construction practices to ensure pollutants don’t enter storm drains
  • Ensuring stormwater infiltrates into the soil or flows into a water quality treatment facility, as applicable
  • Preventing stormwater pollution from county operations

Program Description Document

The MS4 Permit requires Boulder County to develop and follow Program Description Documents (PDDs) that describe how the County’s program works. These Program Descriptions are designed to consolidate recordkeeping and other requirements, and also serve as a set of useful procedures for County staff.

Contact the Stormwater Quality Coordinator to review the most up-to-date versions.

More information about each program is provided in the tabs below.

Report Spills

Report non-emergency concerns about illegal discharges or spills to Boulder County Public Health.

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Program and ordinance is administered by Boulder County Public Health.

Public Involvement & Participation

Boulder County notifies the public of any proposed stormwater quality ordinance changes by publishing the proposed ordinance in the newspaper, holding a public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners, and posting the approved ordinance and other program updates here. Boulder County also welcomes feedback on the Program Descriptions.

Public Education & Outreach

Boulder County has developed an education and outreach strategy and is one of the seven member communities of the Keep it Clean Partnership, a collaborative organization formed in 2003 which focuses on water quality protection and enhancement. The Keep it Clean Partnership conducts public education and outreach at schools, community events, and through advertising.

Detecting and Eliminating Illegal Discharges

Boulder County Public Health detects and eliminates pollution from entering Boulder County storm drains as part of the Boulder County Illegal Discharge Ordinance, our local clean water act.

Residents and visitors can help by reporting pollution entering storm drains and waterways.

Things to look for include:

  • An unusual color of the water
  • An unusual or foul odor
  • Suds or puddles when there has not been recent precipitation
  • Any unusual-looking substance leaving the storm drain
  • Illegal dumping of waste near storm drains (e.g., household chemicals, automobile fluids)
  • A large number of dead or dying animals including fish, crayfish, insects, waterfowl or other animals near a waterbody

Report a Concern

To verify if a concern is in unincorporated Boulder County, use the Property Search tool to determine the location before submitting your report. For a full list of contacts, for municipalities in Boulder County, see Keep It Clean Partnership.

Overseeing Construction Practices

Construction activities disturb the vegetation and natural soils of a site, resulting in increased soil erosion, sedimentation, and other forms of pollution. Sediment that washes off a construction site can end up in waterways where it destroys aquatic habitat. The Boulder County Public Works Department protects waterways by ensuring construction projects effectively control pollution as part of the Stormwater Quality Permit Ordinance (Article 7-904) and implementation of the Stormwater Quality Permit.

Managing Stormwater for New Development & Redevelopment

The County addresses runoff from development through the Post-Construction for New Development and Redevelopment Program through the Stormwater Quality Permit and through the Boulder County Storm Drainage Criteria Manual.

Preventing Stormwater Pollution from County Facilities & Operations

Boulder County provides technical support to ensure county departments implement stormwater quality protection practices in their facilities, projects, and daily activities.

Reporting

Boulder County reports stormwater protection activities and outcomes to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) each year in March.

Annual Reports

Questions?

  • Call 720-225-7228
  • Email

Contact Us

Public Works Department (formerly Transportation)

303-441-3900
Submit a request
tdadmin@bouldercounty.gov

Location

2525 13th St.
Boulder, CO 80304

Map and Directions

Hours: Building Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306