Design Criteria Manual
Fountain Creek Watershed District Design Criteria Manual 2017
Design Manual Volume 1 - Policies and Procedures, Hydrology, Hydraulics and Revegetation
Desing Manual Volume 2 - Stormwater Quality and Best Management Practices
The District was created by Senate Bill 09-141 (SB 09-141), which amended Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) by adding Article 11.5. The boundaries, governance, and powers and duties of the District are established through this legislation.
The District consists of the counties of El Paso and Pueblo and is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of a representative from the cities of Colorado Springs, Fountain, and Pueblo; El Paso and Pueblo counties; small municipalities in El Paso County; the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District; and the FCW Citizens Advisory Group. A Technical Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory Group provide input to the Board.
As defined in CRS 32-11.5-102 (1), the District has a wide range of responsibilities and is authorized to manage, administer, and fund the capital improvements necessary in the Fountain Creek Watershed and the Watershed Management Area to:
- prevent and mitigate flooding, sedimentation and erosion;
- improve water quality and otherwise address water quality and water quantity issues;
- improve drainage;
- fund the acquisition and protection of open space;
- develop public recreational opportunities, including park, trails and open space; and
- improve wildlife and aquatic habitat and restore, enhance, establish, and preserve wetlands.
The District has land use authority in the 100-year floodplain within El Paso and Pueblo counties, south of the City of Fountain and north of the City of Pueblo (ie, the "corridor"). Outside of the corridor, the District is authorized to be a referral agency to provide input to public bodies on land use applications that may have direct or indirect impacts to the watershed. More specific descriptions of District authority within the watershed are provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions.
The District was created by Senate Bill 09-141 (SB 09-141), which amended Title 32 of the Colorado
Revised Statutes (CRS) by adding Article 11.5. The boundaries, governance, and powers and duties of
the District are established through this legislation.
The District consists of the counties of El Paso and Pueblo and is governed by a Board of Directors
consisting of a representative from the cities of Colorado Springs, Fountain, and Pueblo; El Paso and
Pueblo counties; small municipalities in El Paso County; the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy
District; and the FCW Citizens Advisory Group. A Technical Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory
Group provide input to the Board.
As defined in CRS 32-11.5-102 (1), the District has a wide range of responsibilities and is authorized to
manage, administer, and fund the capital improvements necessary in the Fountain Creek Watershed and
the Watershed Management Area to:
• prevent and mitigate flooding, sedimentation and erosion;
• improve water quality and otherwise address water quality and water quantity issues;
• improve drainage;
• fund the acquisition and protection of open space;
• develop public recreational opportunities, including park, trails and open space; and
• improve wildlife and aquatic habitat and restore, enhance, establish, and preserve
wetlands.
The District has land use authority in the 100-year floodplain within El Paso and Pueblo counties, south
of the City of Fountain and north of the City of Pueblo (ie. the “corridor”). Outside of the corridor, the
District is authorized to be a referral agency to provide input to public bodies on land use applications that
may have direct or indirect impacts to the watershed. More specific descriptions of District authority
within the watershed are provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions.
The Fountain Creek Watershed Flood Control and Greenway District Design Manual, Volumes 1 and 2
(Manual) provides owners, developers, engineers, applicants, designers and contractors with information
necessary to comply with requirements for drainage system and stormwater quality planning, design and
implementation related to stream restoration, new development, redevelopment and construction
activities. This Manual is intended to guide users in determining which requirements apply and which
stormwater quality best management practices (BMPs) are necessary for a given site. The
owner/applicant is responsible for ensuring that site plans, designs, and construction activities at a site
comply with applicable statutes and ordinances. The Manual should be used in conjunction with other
relevant engineering references and best professional judgment.
The standards set forth in this Manual represent minimum levels of analysis and care to achieve the goals
for proper stormwater management and project performance. The owner/applicant must consider whether
the standards in the Manual are adequate to achieve the intended results. Alternatives to the requirements
stated herein may be proposed by the owner/applicant subject to the established processes for variances or
amendments. The burden of proof that the proposed alternative methods or application are consistent
with the objectives contained herein lies with the owner/applicant.
The Manual provides guidance in these areas:
- Overall stormwater management and design principles and policies.
- Requirements for submittals.
- Floodplain management requirements.
- Methods of defining and conveying design flows.
- Design criteria and guidance pertaining to street drainage, inlets, storm sewers, conduit outlet structures, and culverts and bridges.
- Design criteria and guidance for open channels.
- Requirements for detention storage to reduce adverse impacts due to increased runoff from development.
- Methods for preserving and reestablishing vegetation.
- Methods for estimating reductions in design flows and volumes due to runoff reduction practices. Requirements for the development and implementation of construction-phase erosion and sediment control plans and the use, design and maintenance of construction BMPs.
- Information on construction inspection and enforcement.
- Requirements and procedures for inclusion of permanent stormwater quality BMPs and designs innew developments and redevelopments.
- Procedures for assessing existing structural controls for retrofitting with water quality features.
The Manual is intended to be used as a reference document for the District, its agents and contractors and
applicants that propose to plan, design and construct improvements in the watershed that may have direct
or indirect impacts on the watershed. The District will require compliance with the Manual for projects
completed under its direction and will recommend compliance with the Manual for projects completed
within other jurisdictions that are referred to the District for review and comment.
Linked Documents and Third Parties
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