Code of Colorado Regulations
1000 - Department of Public Health and Environment
1002 - Water Quality Control Commission (1002 Series)
5 CCR 1002-38 - REGULATION NO. 38 - CLASSIFICATIONS AND NUMERIC STANDARDS SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN LARAMIE RIVER BASIN REPUBLICAN RIVER BASIN SMOKY HILL RIVER BASIN
Section 5 CCR 1002-38.51 - STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024

The provisions of § 25-8-402 C.R.S. provide the specific statutory authority for adoption of these regulatory amendments. The Commission also adopted in compliance with § 24-4-103(4) C.R.S. the following statement of basis and purpose:

BASIS AND PURPOSE

In accordance with a 1995 Memorandum of Understanding between the Metro District, the Water Quality Control Division, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Metro District completed during 1995 and 1996 seven supplemental laboratory tests of effects of varying levels of dissolved oxygen on particular species of fish. These tests were designed to provide additional information to assist in setting a final Older Life Stage 7-Day Mean of Minimums standard and a final Early Life Stage 1-Day (acute) standard.

Based on the tests performed for the Metro District, it was concluded that a 2.0 mg/L dissolved oxygen ("D.O.") standard for Older Life Stage 7-Day Mean of Minimums will protect fish from acute effects and is also likely to protect older life stages from adverse effects on growth. To assure protection from adverse effects on growth, a 2.5 mg/L standard for the Older Life Stage 7-Day Mean of Minimums was adopted.

In tests to provide a basis for an acute (instantaneous) standard for early life stages, it was concluded that a standard of about 3.0 mg/L would protect most fish likely to be in Segment 15 from adverse effects on survival during early life stages. Six fish species were tested in the laboratory during early life stages. Five fish were fully protected from adverse effects on survival at acute D.O. levels above 2.0 mg/L during early life stages. One fish species tested, the plains killifish, demonstrated approximately a 20% reduction in hatching and survival when exposed to repeated acute minima levels of 4.0, 3.0 and 2.0 mg/L, i.e., each of these levels resulted in the same effect on the plains killifish. Repeated acute levels of 1 mg/L resulted in greater suppression of hatch. It is recognized that a portion of the fish community in the river (10% - 20%) may have a reduction in hatch of approximately 20% at repeated D.O. minima below 5 mg/L D.O.

Based on the information that (1) Segment 15 is a Class 2 Aquatic Life stream with significant variations in flow and a predominantly unstable, sandy substrate, (2) there would be a minimal level of effect on the aquatic community as a whole (less than 5%), (3) that the cost of increased treatment outweighs the benefits to the fish community, and (4) the Metro District has agreed to make improvements to Segment 15 to improve the overall diversity and population of fish in the Segment; the Commission has determined that a site specific Early Life Stage 1-Day (acute) standard of 3.0 mg/L will be sufficiently protective for Segment 15.

The standards further provide for an Early Life Stage 7-Day average of 4.5 mg/l for the period July 1 to July 31 north of the Lupton Bottoms Ditch diversion. The Commission agrees with this modification of the Early Life Stage 7-Day average because it will avoid the necessity of building an active aeration facility in the lower end of Segment 15. It is expected that the 4.5 mg/l standard in this portion of Segment 15 will have little, if any, impact on growth and survival of fish. Any possible negative effect will be offset by the benefits of the other improvements (flow equalization, upstream drop structures and channel changes) to be made by the Metro District.

The temporary modifications and the schedule for the standards to become finally effective are based on the Metro District schedule for construction of improvements to increase the D.O. in Segment 15. The Water Quality Control Commission will review these Segment 15 D.O. standards and the implementation efforts in detail as a part of each triennial review until these standards become fully effective.

For the purpose of determining compliance with the standards, dissolved oxygen measurements shall only be taken in the flowing portion of the stream and at mid-depth, and at least six inches above the bottom of the channel. Dissolved oxygen measurements in existing man-made pools and in pools behind low-head dams built for reaeration are not to be used for determination of compliance with the standards. For the purpose of this regulation the extent of the man-made pools shall be defined in writing by the Division based on the best professional judgment of the Division and on advice by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The intent of excluding the existing man-made structures from the instream compliance monitoring for dissolved oxygen is to recognize that these pools are not natural to the river and that they exacerbate low dissolved oxygen problems. In defining the extent of these pools, it is recognized that pools comprise areas of lower velocity, increased sedimentation, and greater depth than other areas of the river; however, there may not be a sharp demarcation of what constitutes a pool using these criteria. Because of this and because the extent of pol area may vary, the judgment and consensus of several stream biologists will be used to define the upstream extent of each pool.

The Commission took notice of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the Metro District, the WQCD, the DOW and EPA. This MOU sets forth the parties' agreement with respect to the dissolved oxygen standards. In addition, it details activities and improvements to be undertaken by the Metro District and includes an anticipated construction schedule. Among the improvements agreed to by the Metro District is flow equalization. Minimizing diurnal flow variations through construction and operation of flow equalization facilities is expected to provide important benefits to the aquatic life in Segment 15 of the South Platte River. With a reduction in daily variation in the river flow and the attendant improvement in fish habitat, the Commission finds that the site-specific numerical dissolved oxygen standards require less of a safety margin to provide sufficient protection to the aquatic life in Segment 15. The MOU provides that the Metro District agrees to design and construct facilities to significantly reduce variations in river flows caused by discharges from the Metro District's Central Treatment Plant.

PARTIES TO THE RULEMAKING HEARING