Nonpoint Source Pollution Management

Nonpoint Source (NPS) vs Point Source Pollution

NPS pollution is a broad category of water pollution that does not fall within the legal definiaion of 'point source' in Section 502(14) of the Clean Water Act:

"Point source means any discerniable confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channed, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, landfill leachate collection system, vessel or other floating craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include return flows from irrigated agriculture or agricultural storm water runoff."

Unlike permitted pollution from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4), industrial and seage treatment plants, NPS pollution comes from many sources. Pollutants come from rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands and groundwater. Types of NPS pollution are associated with how people use the land (land use) and particular physical land types (land cover). In Colorado, NPS source categories can include:

• Abandon mine lands:
• Agriculture;
• Atmospheric deposition;
• Forestry (includes wildfires and flooding);
• Hydromodification and habitat alteration; and
• Urbanization.

Includes the NPS Management Plan and Annual Reports, EPA’s NPS Program and Grant Guidelines, and federal regulations.

• Project development resources, (e.g. eRAMS, watershed plan map, etc.), map of previous NPS projects, and project monitoring and evaluation resources to help determine pollutant sources and load reductions.

• Information on the contracting process, project administration and reporting (e.g. sampling protocols, Sampling Analysis Plan template, etc.)

The NPS Program submits a Success Story to EPA annually to highlight where NPS best management practices in an impaired waterbody led to that waterbody meeting water quality standards. These restoration and protection projects are collaborative efforts, and reflect the continued effort across many entities to improve water quality in the state.

Explore these projects on EPA’s Success Story page.

The Water Quality Control Division’s Water Quality Engagement Webpage provides updates on regulations, guidance, and policies as well as engagement opportunities for the public.

If you would like to be added to or removed from the NPS Program’s email list, please contact: cdphe_wqcd_nonpointsource+managers@state.co.us

Estella Moore
Nonpoint Source Program Coordinator
estella.moore@state.co.us
303-692-2864

Kenan Diker
Agricultural Water Quality Specialist
kenan.diker@state.co.us
303-692-3597

Christa Trendle
Project Coordinator
christa.trendle@state.co.us
303-692-6343

Kate MacDonald
Project Coordinator
kate.macdonald@state.co.us
720-236-1426

Tammy Allen
Restoration & Protection Unit Manager
tamara.allen@state.co.us
303-692-3554