Policy 98-1: Sediment Guidance

In 1979, Colorado introduced rules for the presence of sediment in state surface waters, also known as narrative standards. As required by the Clean Water Act, these rules aim to protect the beneficial uses of Colorado's surface waters, including public drinking water, agricultural, industrial, and recreational services, and wildlife. Policy 98-1 explains how to apply the narrative standards for sediment deposits that may harm beneficial uses in Colorado's surface waters.

In 2013, the Water Quality Control Division worked with stakeholders to improve Policy 98-1, and the Water Quality Control Commission adopted the proposal in Nov. 2014.

The updated proposal included:

• Removing unnecessary content.
• Outlining a plan for putting the sediment standard into action.
• Providing clear ways to assess if the standard is met.
• Using Colorado-specific data to set measurable goals and limits.

The division invites water quality professionals and the general public to join the division's continued efforts to improve Policy 98-1. Stakeholders will review past updates and analyze the division's technical work to establish a new sediment region in the policy. This new region will differ from the existing sediment regions, with relatively lower slopes and elevations. The decision not to pursue this region in 2014 was due to a lack of data on reference sites.