Town of Nederland Source Water Protection Plan – Final Draft

Boulder County, Colorado December 2014

Written by: Mark Weritz, P.E. Project Manager Town of Nederland

Coordinated by: Dylan Eiler Source Water Specialist Colorado Rural Water Association

For the Community Water Provider: Town of Nederland PWSID: CO0107538

Cover Photo: Photo of Middle Boulder Creek Valley looking east from Eldora Mountain Resort access road (August 2014). Photo by Mark Weritz.

This Source Water Protection Plan for the Town of Nederland was developed using the Colorado Rural Water Association’s Source Water Protection Plan Template.

TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS ...... 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 4 INTRODUCTION ...... 6 Purpose of the Source Water Protection Plan ...... 6 Protection Plan Development ...... 7 Stakeholder Participation in the Planning Process ...... 7 Steering Committee ...... 8 Development and Implementation Grant ...... 9 WATER SUPPLY SETTING ...... 10 Location and Description ...... 10 Physical Characteristics ...... 11 Hydrologic Setting ...... 12 Water Quality Standards ...... 13 Impaired Waters ...... 13 Water Quality Data ...... 14 Drinking Water Supply Operations ...... 15 Water Supply and Infrastructure ...... 15 Water Supply Demand Analysis ...... 18 OVERVIEW OF COLORADO’S SWAP PROGRAM ...... 20 Source Water Assessment Phase ...... 21 Source Water Protection Phase ...... 21 SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT ...... 23 Source Water Assessment Report Review ...... 23 Defining the Source Water Protection Area ...... 23 Potential Contaminant Source Inventory and Other Issues of Concern ...... 26 Priority Strategy ...... 29 Susceptibility Analysis of Water Sources ...... 31 DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL CONTAMINANT SOURCES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN ...... 32 Forest Fire ...... 32 On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) ...... 34 Flood and Stormwater Runoff ...... 36 Road Maintenance ...... 38

Abandoned Mines/Mine Tailings ...... 39 Pesticide Application ...... 40 Illegal Dumping ...... 41 Mines and Mineral Resources ...... 41 Lake Eldora Water & Sanitation District ...... 41 Storage Tanks (Regulated and Unregulated) ...... 42 Public Recreation (Fourth of July and Hessie Trailheads) ...... 43 Nederland Middle/Senior High School ...... 43 Eldora Mountain Resort Operations ...... 44 Road Spills ...... 44 SUPPLEMETARY DISCUSSION ...... 46 Tertiary Zone ...... 46 Integration with the Town Master Infrastructure Plan ...... 47 Municipal Watershed Ordinance ...... 47 Integration with the City of Boulder Source Water Master Plan ...... 47 SOURCE WATER PROTECTION MEASURES ...... 49 Best Management Practices ...... 49 Evaluating Effectiveness of Best Management Practices ...... 49 REFERENCES ...... 56 APPENDICES ...... 58

ACRONYMS

BLM Bureau of Land Management

BMP Best Management Practice

CDOT Colorado Department of Transportation

CDPHE Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

CRWA Colorado Rural Water Association

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

FRS Facility Registry Service

GIS Geographic Information System

MRDS Mineral Resources Data System

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

PSOC Potential Source of Contamination

RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act

SWAA Source Water Assessment Area

SWAP Source Water Assessment and Protection

SWPA Source Water Protection Area

SWPP Source Water Protection Plan

TOT Time of Travel

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

USFS United States Forest Service

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

There is a growing effort in Colorado to protect community drinking water sources from potential contamination. Many communities are taking a proactive approach to prevent the pollution of their drinking water sources by developing a source water protection plan. A source water protection plan identifies a source water protection area, lists potential contaminant sources and outlines best management practices to decrease risks to the water source. Implementation of a source water protection plan provides an additional layer of protection at the local level beyond drinking water regulations.

The Town of Nederland values a clean, high quality drinking water supply and decided to work collaboratively with area stakeholders, including the City of Boulder, to develop a Source Water Protection Plan. The source water protection planning effort consisted of public planning meetings and individual meetings with water operators, government, and agency representatives during the period between July 2013 and December 2014 at meetings held in Nederland. During the development of this Plan, a Steering Committee was formed to develop and implement this Source Water Protection Plan. Colorado Rural Water Association was instrumental in this effort by providing technical assistance in the development of this Source Water Protection Plan.

The Town of Nederland obtains its drinking water directly from Middle Boulder Creek at the site of the water treatment plant (WTP) intake. The Town’s water system and WTP is defined as a community water system with the following Public Water System Identification: (PWSID) CO- 0107538. The first components of the Town’s water system were installed in 1979. The WTP has been recently updated with the installation of microfiltration treatment equipment in 2010. The Nederland WTP is designed to treat and produce up to 400,000 gallons per day.

The Steering Committee conducted an inventory of potential contaminant sources and identified other issues of concern within the Source Water Protection Area. Through this process, it was determined that the highest priority potential contaminant sources and/or issues of concern are: Forest Fire, On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS), Flooding/Stormwater Runoff, and Road Maintenance. Other noted water quality threats include: past and future mining activities, fuel storage tanks, public recreation, and the snowmaking and other operations of the Eldora Mountain Resort.

The Steering Committee developed several best management practices that may help reduce the risks from the potential contaminant sources and other issues of concern. The best management practices are centered on the themes of building partnerships with community members, businesses, and local decision makers; raising awareness of the value of protecting community drinking water supplies; and empowering local communities to become stewards of their drinking water supplies by taking actions to protect their water sources.

The following list highlights best management practices which pertain to the highest priority potential contaminant sources and other issues of concern. 4

 Forest Fire - Partner with the Nederland Fire Protection District to continue fire mitigation around the distribution system and complete other mitigation projects in the watershed.  Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems - Cross referral process with the Town of Nederland and Boulder County Public Health on upstream OWTS permitting.  Flood and Stormwater Runoff - Partner with the Boulder County Department of Transportation and the USFS to identify erosion mitigation opportunities on or near roadways and restoration opportunities adjacent to water bodies.  Abandoned Mines / Mine Tailings - Create and maintain an inventory of abandoned mines within the SWPA and cross-reference with the CDPHE and DRMS to determine which mines are impaired.  Public Recreation - Coordinate with the USFS to discuss recreational activities, downstream water quality concerns and management strategies that could be applied to minimize effects on water quality.

The Steering Committee recognizes that the usefulness of this Source Water Protection Plan lies in its implementation and will begin to execute these best management practices upon completion of this Plan. Furthermore, the Town of Nederland and the City of Boulder will coordinate on mutually beneficial water quality protection efforts since the Town’s Source Water Protection Area and Tertiary Zone overlap the City’s source waters.

This Plan is a living document that is meant to be updated to address any changes that will inevitably come. The Steering Committee will review this Plan at a frequency of once every 1 to 2 years or if circumstances change resulting in the development of new water sources and source water protection areas, or if new risks are identified.

Middle Boulder Creek looking east (downstream) near Hessie Trailhead.

INTRODUCTION

The Town of Nederland operates a community water supply system designed to supply drinking water for up to 2000 residents. Drinking water is currently obtained from a surface water intake area constructed in Middle Boulder Creek. The Town of Nederland recognizes the potential for contamination of the source of their drinking water, and realizes that it is necessary to develop a protection plan to prevent the contamination of this valuable resource. Proactive planning and implementing contamination prevention strategies are essential to protect the long-term integrity of their water supply and to limit their costs and liabilities.1

Table 1. Primary Contact Information for Town of Nederland PWS PWSID Name Title Address Phone Website Name P.O. Box 396 CO Town of Alisha Town (303) 258- Nederland, CO www.nederlandco.org 0107538 Nederland Reis Administrator 3266 80466

Purpose of the Source Water Protection Plan

The Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP) is a tool for the Town of Nederland to ensure a clean and high quality drinking water source for current and future generations. This Source Water Protection Plan is designed to:

 Create an awareness of the community’s drinking water sources and the potential risks to surface water and/or groundwater quality within the watershed;

 Encourage education and voluntary solutions to alleviate pollution risks;

 Promote management practices to protect and enhance the drinking water supply;

 Provide for a comprehensive action plan in case of an emergency that threatens or disrupts the community water supply.

Developing and implementing source water protection measures at the local level (i.e. county and municipal) will complement existing regulatory protection measures implemented at the state and federal governmental levels by filling protection gaps that can only be addressed at the local level.

1 The information contained in this Plan is limited to that available from public records and the Town of Nederland at the time that the Plan was written. Other potential contaminant sites or threats to the water supply may exist in the Source Water Protection Area that are not identified in this Plan. Furthermore, identification of a site as a “potential contaminant site” should not be interpreted as one that will necessarily cause contamination of the water supply. 6

Protection Plan Development

The Colorado Rural Water Association’s (CRWA) Source Water Protection Specialist, Dylan Eiler, helped facilitate the source water protection planning process. The goal of the CRWA’s Source Water Protection Program is to assist rural and small communities served by public water systems to reduce or eliminate the potential risks to drinking water supplies through the development of Source Water Protection Plans, and provide assistance for the implementation of prevention measures.

The source water protection planning effort consisted of development of a steering committee and a series of public planning meetings and individual meetings. Information discussed at the meetings helped the Town of Nederland develop an understanding of the issues affecting source water protection for the community. The Steering Committee then made recommendations for management approaches to be incorporated into the Source Water Protection Plan. In addition to the planning meetings, data and other information pertaining to Source Water Protection Area was gathered via public documents, internet research, phone calls, emails, and field trips to the protection area. A summary of the meetings is represented below.

Table 2. Planning Meetings Date Purpose of Meeting First Planning Meeting - Presentation on the process of developing a Source Water July 31, 2013 Protection Plan for the Town of Nederland. Review of the State’s Source Water Assessment for Town of Nederland. Second Planning Meeting – Delineate Source Water Protection Area for the Town of August 20, 2013 Nederland. Inventory Potential Sources of Contamination for the Town of Nederland SWPA. Third Planning Meeting – Review and update previous work. Develop best October 29, 2013 management practices (BMPs) for the Town of Nederland SWPA. Fourth Planning Meeting – Review and update previous work. Review and discuss Draft December 4, 2014 Source Water Protection Plan and develop Action Plan

Stakeholder Participation in the Planning Process

Local stakeholder participation is vitally important to the overall success of Colorado’s Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) program. Source water protection was founded on the concept that informed citizens, equipped with fundamental knowledge about their drinking water source and the threats to it, will be the most effective advocates for protecting this valuable resource. Local support and acceptance of the Source Water Protection Plan is more likely where local stakeholders have actively participated in the development of their Protection Plan.

The Town of Nederland’s source water protection planning process attracted interest and participation from more than 20 stakeholders including local citizens and landowners, private businesses, water operators, local and state governments, and agency representatives. During the months of July 2013 through December 2014, four stakeholder meetings were held in Nederland to encourage local stakeholder participation in the planning process. Stakeholders were notified by letters, emails, and phone calls. To allow public review and comment, a draft of this document was posted to the official Town website (www.nederlandco.org) and, a paper copy was made available at Nederland Town Hall. Public review comments have been incorporated in the final draft of this plan. Input from these participants was greatly appreciated.

Steering Committee

During the development of this Plan, a volunteer Steering Committee was formed from the stakeholder group to develop and implement this Source Water Protection Plan. Specifically, the Steering Committee’s role in the source water protection planning process was to advise the Town of Nederland in the identification and prioritization of potential contaminant sources as well as management approaches that can be voluntarily implemented to reduce the risks of potential contamination of the untreated source water. All members attended at least one Steering Committee meeting and contributed to planning efforts from their areas of experience and expertise. Their representation provided diversity and led to a thorough Source Water Protection Plan. The Town of Nederland and the Colorado Rural Water Association are very appreciative of the participation and expert input from the following participants.

Table 3. SWPP Stakeholders Steering Stakeholder Title Affiliation Committee Member Alisha Reis Town Administrator Town of Nederland X Jason Morrison Public Works Manager Town of Nederland X Mark Weritz Project Manager Town of Nederland X Water Quality Program Mark Williams Boulder County Public Health X Coordinator Source Water Protection Kristen Hughes CDPHE X Specialist Sylvia Clark District Chief US Forestry Service X Soil Scientist/Air Quality Eric Schroeder US Forestry Service X Program Coordinator Jim Shelley Source Water Manager City of Boulder X Drinking Water Program Michelle Wind City of Boulder X Supervisor Paul Zilis Water Attorney Vranesh & Raisch, LLP X

Greg Davis Storm Water Program Coord. EPA Region 8 X Dylan Eiler Project Manager CRWA X David Hunter Director of Operations Eldora Mountain Resort X Kayla Evans Owner Arapaho Ranch X Ted Plank Road Supervisor Boulder County Road Maintenance X Rick Dirr Chief Nederland Fire Protection District X Joel Price Engineer JVA, Inc. X Water Source Operations Eric Johnson City of Boulder X Manager Cindy McCollum Owner McCollum Excavating X Public Works Utilities Chris Pelletier Town of Nederland X Supervisor Nicole Bratsos Utilities Coordinator Town of Nederland X Mark Van Nostrand Senior Project Manager JVA Inc. X

Development and Implementation Grant

The Town of Nederland was awarded a $5,000 Development and Implementation Grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). This funding is available to public water systems and representative stakeholders committed to developing and implementing a source water protection plan. A one to one financial match (cash or in-kind) is required. The Town of Nederland was approved for this grant in December 2012, and it expires December 2016. The Town of Nederland intends on using sixty percent of the funds to develop the Source Water Protection Plan, and the remaining funds will be used to implement management approaches that are identified in this Plan.

WATER SUPPLY SETTING

Location and Description

Nederland, Colorado (elevation 8,300 feet) is a small mountain town, with municipal boundaries encompassing an area of about 1.6 square miles. Nederland is located 17 miles west of Boulder, Colorado (County Seat of Boulder County). Primary access to Nederland is through Colorado State Highways 72 and 119. The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway connects Nederland to Ward, Estes Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park to the north, and Idaho Springs and Central City to the south. The town seasonally attracts tourists and is a popular jumping off point to nearby outdoor recreational activities.

Prior to occupation of settlers of European descent, Native Americans hunted in the mountains and meadows of the Nederland area. It was not until the late 1800s that Nederland began as a settlement for gold and silver, and later tungsten, miners. The Town was incorporated in 1874, grew through successive mining booms, and drew thousands of residents to the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Nederland had around 3,000 residents at its peak (twice its present population). In the 1920s, tourism helped Nederland recover from the bust that followed the tungsten boom of World War I. Nederland currently has about 750 households, a population of 1,450 residents, and its own unique small mountain town culture. Future projections estimate that the population will increase slightly over the next ten years. Municipal affairs are governed by the Nederland Board of Trustees.

SWPA Vicinity

Physical Characteristics

The watershed of the Nederland Public Water Supply consists of the portion of the Middle Boulder Creek watershed that is upgradient of the public water supply intake, which is located just less than a mile southwest of downtown Nederland. The water supply watershed encompasses about 30 square miles ranging in elevation from 13,397 feet at the Continental Divide to 8,390 feet at the Middle Boulder Creek water intake. The Nederland Public Water Supply watershed includes the Town of Eldora, as well as numerous smaller settlements. The watershed is predominantly federal land (Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests), with numerous private holdings. The watershed boundaries are approximated by Tennessee Mountain-Bryan Mountain-Guinn Mountain to the south, the Continental Divide from Rollins pass to South Arapaho Peak to the west, and Bald Mountain-Caribou Hill-Mineral Mountain- Eldorado Mountain-Park Hill to the north. The Indian Peaks Wilderness occupies the western portion of the watershed. Directly east of downtown Nederland, Middle Boulder Creek flows into Barker Reservoir, a water supply reservoir for the City of Boulder.

Geology of the watershed is composed primarily of Precambrian siliceous metamorphic and granitic rock. These rocks consist of gneisses and schists (1800 million years old) that were intruded by the Boulder Creek Granodiorite (1700 million years old) and the Silver Plume Granite (1400 million years old). In addition, early- and middle- Tertiary (30 to 60 million years old) deposits of metallic ores associated with intrusive dikes and sills are found throughout the

watershed. Deposits of gold, silver, tungsten, copper, lead, zinc, tin and uranium were mined beginning in 1859.

Tungsten, a steel-hardening alloy metal, was milled at the Caribou Mill beginning in 1905. The Caribou Mill was subsequently replaced with the Wolf Tongue Mill, the building of which still exists, but the mill has not operated since the early 1970s. During the turn of the century (around 1900), the Caribou District in the Middle Boulder Creek Valley was active with heavy mining for gold and silver. However, the majority of mining operations have since been abandoned. The watershed includes over 30 historical mining operations, including a quarry/gravel pit mine on Middle Boulder Creek between Eldora and Nederland.

Annual precipitation is dominated by winter and spring snowfall and summer convective thunderstorms. Snow accumulation begins anytime from early October to late November, and spring runoff normally begins in May or early June. Seasonal temperature variations are related to elevation, with shorter summer and longer winter periods at higher elevations. The Continental Divide commonly experiences extreme weather conditions with temperatures below –30°F and winds in excess of 100 mph. Variation in topography leads to different climatic zones in the watershed, including alpine, subalpine, and montane. Temperatures vary widely across the climatic zones. In general, as elevation decreases, temperature increases, and the difference between daily minimum and maximum temperatures increases. The majority of precipitation in the watershed falls as snow, especially at the higher elevations.

Alpine, subalpine, and montane climatic zones consist primarily of forests, shrubs, and ice. The alpine tundra (elevations above 11,500 feet) is above tree line and is sparsely vegetated with lichen and low- growing herbaceous plants. The subalpine zone (11,500 to 8,900 feet) primarily contains Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) forests, meadows, willow carrs, and peat fens. The montane zone (8,900 to 7,900 feet) is dominated by lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).

Hydrologic Setting

Middle Boulder Creek is the principal source of drinking water for the Town of Nederland, Colorado. The entire Middle Boulder Creek watershed drains approximately 40 square miles and is part of the St. Vrain Creek basin (Hydrologic Unit Code 10190004), tributary to the South Platte River. The headwaters of Middle Boulder Creek originate immediately east of the Continental Divide, which is approximately 10 miles west of Nederland. The upper sections of Middle Boulder Creek (North and South Forks of Middle Boulder Creek) join at approximate elevation 9000 feet near the old townsite of Hessie to form the main stem of Middle Boulder Creek, which then continues to flow eastward through the towns of Eldora and Nederland, and eventually into Barker Reservoir. After Barker Reservoir, Middle Boulder Creek continues to flow eastward, joins with North and South Middle Boulder creeks to become Boulder Creek, and joins with St. Vrain Creek just west of the City of Longmont, Colorado. Further downstream the St. Vrain Creek then flows into the South Platte River approximately four miles northwest of 12

Platteville, Colorado. The South Platte River Basin is part of Colorado Water Division One with the office of the Division Engineer in Greeley.

Water Quality Standards Under the Clean Water Act, every state must adopt water quality standards to protect, maintain and improve the quality of the nation’s surface waters. The CDPHE’s Water Quality Control Commission has established water quality standards that define the goals and limits for all waters within their jurisdictions. Colorado streams are divided into individual stream segments for classification and standards identification purposes (Table 4). Standards are designed to protect the associated classified uses of the streams (Designated Use). Stream classifications can only be downgraded if it can be demonstrated that the existing use classification is not presently being attained and cannot be attained within a twenty year time period (Section 31.6(2)(b)). A Use Attainability Analysis must be performed to justify the downgrade.

Impaired Waters Downstream of Nederland and Barker Reservoir, stream segments within the Middle Boulder Creek watershed are listed on the 2010 State’s 303(d) list of impaired waters. Segments of Middle Boulder Creek that are located upstream of the Nederland intake watershed are not listed as impaired. States are required under the Clean Water Act to submit to Congress their list of impaired waters that do not meet the state’s water quality standards for their designated and existing uses. States are also required to develop a watershed restoration action plan called a “Total Maximum Daily Load” for each impaired water body.

Table 4. Stream segments within the Middle Boulder Creek Watershed and their Designated Uses and Impairment Status (Source: EPA “Water Quality Assessment and TMDL Information,” 2013) Waterbody Waterbody ID Location Designated Use Status Name Mainstem Of Middle Boulder Creek, Including Aquatic Life Cold Water-Class 1, All Tributaries, Lakes Recreation Primary Contact, And Reservoirs, From Boulder Creek COSPBO03_0800 Domestic Water Source, Good The Source To The Agriculture Outlet Of Barker

Reservoir.

All Lakes and Reservoirs tributary to Boulder Creek to a point Aquatic Life Cold Water-Class 1, immediately above Barker Recreation Primary Contact, COSPB014_0801 South Boulder Creek Good Reservoir Domestic Water Source, confluence, except as Agriculture specified in Segment 13. This segment includes Barker Reservoir.

Water Quality Data

The City of Boulder routinely monitors water quality in Middle Boulder Creek and Barker Reservoir. The City has performed monthly monitoring in the watershed for over 15 years. Prior to the City’s purchase of Barker Reservoir in 2000, City staff was only able to monitor the reservoir once per year. The City now monitors Barker Reservoir one to two times per month. The City uses the watershed and reservoir data to gain an understanding of the background water quality, treatment capabilities, and temporal and spatial changes in water quality. The City of Boulder previously tested and sampled Middle Boulder Creek at the WTP intake; however, WTP test results compared with samples obtained at the weir were found to be consistently similar. Therefore, the City of Boulder discontinued sampling at the Nederland WTP. The City of Boulder currently monitors the following locations:

 North Beaver Creek at Middle Boulder Creek confluence  Middle Boulder Creek at Weir  Nederland Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent  Barker Reservoir

As reported in the 2002 Middle Boulder Creek Water Source Management Work Plan, the water quality of Middle Boulder Creek is relatively good, with low alkalinity and low hardness. Water quality test data can be routinely obtained by contacting the City of Boulder. Mean test results of 2001 sampling and testing2 are summarized in the table below:

2 2001 is the last year the City of Boulder monitored just below Nederland’s intake. 14

Drinking Water Supply Operations

Nederland Water Intake Area in Middle Boulder Creek. Aerial photo from Denver Regional Council of Governments GIS Department (2012).

Water Supply and Infrastructure The Town of Nederland’s water supply is diverted from Middle Boulder Creek as permitted by its water rights and plan for augmentation. The public water intake for the Town of Nederland is located at the end of a double bend in Middle Boulder Creek, approximately 0.8 miles southwest of downtown Nederland, at 39.955117⁰ latitude and -105.525817⁰ longitude. Access to the intake area is off of County Highway 130 (Eldora Road). The Nederland Water Treatment Plant and Nederland Junior/Senior High School are both located directly across Eldora Road and southeast of the creek intake area. The intake catchment area is located at the outside portion of a bend in the creek in which a longitudinal diversion berm constructed along the creek bed splits a portion of the creek’s flow into a catchment area. Once creek water enters the catchment area, water can then gravity flow through two stabilization/ detention ponds connected in series. Water in the second pond is then available to be delivered to the water treatment plant via the intake pumping station. 15

Water Intake Area in Middle Boulder Creek. Primary creek flow is over boulders and to left. Diverted intake flow is to the right into catchment area.

The augmentation plan enables the Town to divert water rights year- round and to replace out f priority depletions using Nederland’s senior water rights. Nederland has an agreement with the City of Boulder to store up to 39.6 acre-feet of water in Barker Reservoir.

The Water Treatment Plant was originally constructed in 1979 with a capacity of 300,000 gallons per day (gpd). During 2010, several improvements were completed and the design capacity was increased to 400,000 gpd. Raw water is pumped from the raw water pump station, enters into the plant, and passes through inline screening equipment. Water is then dosed with caustic soda and sumaclear polymer and then pumped into a vertical flocculation tank. Caustic soda is used to adjust the raw water pH to within an optimal range for sumaclear polymer addition. The sumaclear polymer is used to coagulate dissolved particulates and help remove turbidity, total organic carbon (TOC), and color from the influent raw water. The water is then distributed to two separate Siemens microfiltration skids, which filter the screened and chemically adjusted raw water, removing the remaining colloidal particles, turbidity, and some pathogenic microorganisms. After microfiltration, the membrane permeate (filtered water) is

directed to the clearwell for disinfection with sodium hypochlorite and subsequent distribution. Three vertical turbine pumps send the filtered water to the High School Water Storage Tank (High School Tank) for chlorine contact time and pressurized distribution to the Town for consumption, and to other storage tanks throughout Town for finished water storage. The storage tanks allow the Town to manage the delivery of water, drawing from the tanks in times of high demand and filling the tanks when demand is low.

Raw Water Pump Station. Pump Station (dark green building) receives water from intake structure at edge of pond. Pump station sends water to water treatment plant (beige building) at left side of photo.

The High School Tank is a buried, cylindrical concrete tank located southwest of the Town’s Jr. and Sr. High School, and was built in 1979. This tank has the capacity to hold 400,000 gallons of finished water, and it pressurizes the water distribution system. The Hilltop Water Storage Tank is a buried, cylindrical concrete tank located near the intersection of Navajo Trail and Tejas Lane. It was installed in 1964 and has the capacity to hold 225,000 gallons of finished water. The Caribou Ridge Tank is a buried, rectangular concrete tank located in the Caribou Ridge development area. This tank was installed in 1989 and has the capacity to hold 225,000 gallons of finished water. The Big Springs Tank is a buried, cylindrical steel tank located at the end of Wildwood Lane. This tank was installed in 1966 and has the capacity to hold 225,000 gallons of finished water. Altogether, the water storage tanks can hold about 1.1 million gallons.

High School Water Tank Site (buried tank) looking north.

Water Supply Demand Analysis

Nederland serves an estimated 800 connections and approximately 1,450 residents and other users in the service area annually. The water system currently has the capacity to produce 400,000 gpd, but the Town’s water rights allow maximum diversions of 1.17 mgd. As recorded in recent water treatment plant influent logs, the average daily demand in summer is approximately 181,000 gpd, and the average daily demand in winter is 160,000 gpd. The average peak daily demand is approximately 250,000 gpd. Using these estimates, the water system has a surplus average daily demand capacity of 364,000 gpd and a surplus average peak daily demand capacity of 285,000 gallons per day.

The Town is currently positioned to meet the Town’s customers’ demands on the water system, although it may not be able to meet the average daily demand or the average peak daily demand of its customers if its only water source becomes disabled for an extended period.

Table 5. Surface Water Supply Information

Water Maximum Water System Facility System Surface Water Constructed Appropriation Appropriation Name Facility Source Date Dates Amount Number (af/yr) Middle Boulder 6/1/1862 – Town of Nederland CO-0107538 1979 13103 Creek 5/19/1975

The potential financial and water supply risks related to the long-term disablement of the community’s water source is a concern to the Steering Committee. As a result, the Steering Committee believes the development and implementation of a source water protection plan for the Town of Nederland can help to reduce the risks posed by potential contamination of its water source. Additionally, The Town of Nederland has developed an emergency response plan or contingency plan (Appendix A) to coordinate rapid and effective response to any emergency incident that threatens or disrupts the community water supply. The Town has also recently constructed a ground-filtered water intake at the existing surface water intake (to reduce volume of treatment chemicals), and plans to develop a reservoir upstream of the existing intake area for which it holds a water right decreed in Case No. W-9476-78 on July 29, 1980.

3 This is the maximum volume available under the Town’s water rights if they were in priority all year. 19

OVERVIEW OF COLORADO’S SWAP PROGRAM

Source water assessment and protection came into existence in 1996 as a result of Congressional reauthorization and amendment of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The 1996 amendments required each state to develop a source water assessment and protection (SWAP) program. The Water Quality Control Division, an agency of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), assumed the responsibility of developing Colorado’s SWAP program. The SWAP program protection plan is integrated with the Colorado Wellhead Protection Program that was established in amendments made to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA, Section 1428) in 1986.

Colorado’s SWAP program is an iterative, two-phased process designed to assist public water systems in preventing potential contamination of their untreated drinking water supplies. The two phases include the Assessment Phase and the Protection Phase as depicted in the upper and lower portions of the figure below, respectively.

Source Water Assessment and Protection Phases

Source Water Assessment Phase

The Assessment Phase for all public water systems consists of four primary elements:

1. Delineating the source water assessment area for each of the drinking water sources; 2. Conducting a contaminant source inventory to identify potential sources of contamination within each of the source water assessment areas; 3. Conducting a susceptibility analysis to determine the potential susceptibility of each public drinking water source to the different sources of contamination; 4. Reporting the results of the source water assessment to the public water systems and the general public.

The Assessment Phase involves understanding where Nederland’s source water comes from, what contaminant sources potentially threaten the water sources, and how susceptible each water source is to potential contamination. The susceptibility of an individual water source is analyzed by examining the properties of its physical setting and potential contaminant source threats. The resulting analysis calculations are used to report an estimate of how susceptible each water source is to potential contamination. A Source Water Assessment Report was provided to each public water system in Colorado in 2004 that outlines the results of this Assessment Phase.

Source Water Protection Phase

The Protection Phase is a voluntary, ongoing process in which all public water systems have been encouraged to voluntarily employ preventative measures to protect their water supply from the potential sources of contamination to which it may be most susceptible. The Protection Phase can be used to take action to avoid unnecessary treatment or replacement costs associated with potential contamination of the untreated water supply. Source water protection begins when local decision-makers use the source water assessment results and other pertinent information as a starting point to develop a protection plan. As depicted in the lower portion of the figure above, the source water protection phase for all public water systems consists of four primary elements:

1. Involving local stakeholders in the planning process; 2. Developing a comprehensive protection plan for all of their drinking water sources; 3. Implementing the protection plan on a continuous basis to reduce the risk of potential contamination of the drinking water sources; and 4. Monitoring the effectiveness of the protection plan and updating it accordingly as future assessment results indicate.

The water system and the community recognize that the Safe Drinking Water Act grants no statutory authority to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment or to any other state or federal agency to force the adoption or implementation of source water protection measures. This authority rests solely with local communities and local governments. The source water protection phase is an ongoing process. The evolution of the SWAP program is to incorporate any new assessment information provided by the public water supply systems and update the protection plan accordingly.

SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT

Source Water Assessment Report Review

The Town of Nederland has reviewed the Source Water Assessment Report along with the Steering Committee. These assessment results were used as a starting point to guide the development of appropriate management approaches to protect the source water of the Town of Nederland from potential contamination. A copy of the Source Water Assessment Report for the Town of Nederland can be obtained by contacting the Town of Nederland or by downloading a copy from the CDPHE’s SWAP program website located at: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDPHE-WQ/CBON/1251596793639.

Defining the Source Water Protection Area

A source water protection area is the surface and subsurface areas from which contaminants are reasonably likely to reach a water source. The purpose of delineating a source water protection area is to determine the recharge area that supplies water to a public water source. Delineation is the process used to identify and map the drainage basin that supplies water to a surface water intake. The size and shape of the area depends on the characteristics of the watershed. The source water assessment area that was delineated as part of the Town of Nederland’s Source Water Assessment Report provides the basis for understanding where the community’s source water and potential contaminant threats originate, and where the community has chosen to implement its source water protection measures in an attempt to manage the susceptibility of their source water to potential contamination.

After carefully reviewing their Source Water Assessment Report and the CDPHE’s delineation of the Source Water Assessment Area for the Town of Nederland’s source, the Steering Committee chose to modify it before accepting it as their Source Water Protection Area for this Source Water Protection Plan.

Primary Zone – The Primary Zone encompasses an area estimated to be 12.04 square miles and is defined as a 1,000 foot wide band on either side of the streams and reservoirs, upstream of Nederland’s intake on Middle Boulder Creek. The Primary Zone includes Nederland Junior/Senior High School and the Town of Eldora. The area within the Primary Zone is mostly undeveloped woodland with considerable amounts of under-brush and fallen timber.

Secondary Zone – The Secondary Zone encompasses an area estimated to be 29.85 square miles and is defined as the entire watershed, upstream of the Middle Boulder Creek Intake Structure. All of the Primary Zone is contained within the Secondary Zone.

Tertiary Zone – The Tertiary Zone encompasses an area estimated to be 6.81 square miles and is defined as the area of the Middle Boulder Creek watershed between the west end of Barker Reservoir and the Nederland public water intake. The Tertiary Zone includes the entire

watershed of North Beaver Creek (aka Caribou Creek), which flows through the Town of Nederland and empties into Middle Boulder Creek immediately upgradient of Barker Reservoir. The Tertiary Zone has been delineated in this study to highlight the portion of the Middle Boulder Creek watershed immediately local to, and flowing through the Town of Nederland. The Town of Nederland recognizes that the Tertiary Zone is outside the watershed of the Nederland public water intake, and does not contribute to Nederland’s drinking water. The Tertiary Zone has been included in the delineation of the overall source water protection zones for the collection and presentation of environmental data normally collected for a watershed study; however, the Tertiary Zone environmental data, provided as a reference in the Appendix, is for informational purposes only, and has not been included in the development of this particular Source Water Protection Plan.

The Source Water Protection Area is illustrated in the following map.

Potential Contaminant Source Inventory and Other Issues of Concern

Many types of land uses have the potential to contaminate source waters: spills from tanks, trucks, and railcars; leaks from buried containers; failed septic systems, buried or injection of wastes underground, use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, road salting, as well as urban and agricultural runoff. While catastrophic contaminant spills or releases can wipe out a water resource, groundwater degradation can result from a plethora of small releases of harmful substances. According to the USEPA, nonpoint-source pollution (when water runoff moves over or into the ground picking up pollutants and carrying them into surface and groundwater) is the leading cause of water quality degradation (GWPC, 2008).

Schematic drawing of the potential source of contamination to surface and groundwater

In 2001 – 2002, as part of the Source Water Assessment Report, a contaminant source inventory was conducted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to identify selected potential sources of contamination that might be present within the source water assessment areas. Discrete4 contaminant sources were inventoried using selected state and federal regulatory databases including: mining and reclamation, oil and gas production, above and underground petroleum tanks, Superfund sites, hazardous waste generators, solid waste disposal, industrial and domestic wastewater dischargers, and water well permits. Dispersed contaminant sources were inventoried using then recent land use / land cover and transportation maps of Colorado, along with selected state regulatory databases. The contaminant inventory was completed by mapping the potential contaminant sources with the aid of a Geographic Information System (GIS).

4 The WQCD’s assessment process used the terms “discrete” and “dispersed” potential sources of contamination. A discrete source is a facility that can be mapped as a point, while a dispersed source covers a broader area such as a type of land use (crop land, forest, residential, etc.). 26

The State’s contaminant source inventory consisted of draft maps, along with a summary of the discrete and dispersed contaminant sources inventoried within the source water assessment area. The Town of Nederland was asked, by CDPHE, to review the inventory information, field- verify selected information about existing and new contaminant sources, and provide feedback on the accuracy of the inventory. Through this Source Water Protection Plan, the Town of Nederland is reporting its findings to the CDPHE.

After much consideration, discussion, and input from local stakeholders, the Town of Nederland and the Steering Committee have developed a more accurate and current inventory of contaminant sources located within the Source Water Protection Area. Upon completion of this contaminant source inventory, the Town of Nederland has decided to adopt it in place of the original contaminant source inventory provided by the CDPHE.

Table 6. Prioritized PSOC’s5 Potential Sources of Contamination Score Forest Fire 20 Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (including vaults and Arapaho Ranch) 15 Flood and Stormwater Runoff (including specific permits) 15 Road Maintenance 10 Abandoned Mines / Mine Tailings 6 Pesticide Application (Eldora, but specifically private landowners) 6 Illegal Dumping (including marijuana cultivation byproducts) 5 Mines and Mineral Resources 4 Lake Eldora Water and Sanitation District (Lagoon) 4 Storage Tanks (Regulated and Unregulated) 4 Public Recreation (4th of July and Hessie Trailheads) (including potential campground parking lot and 4 dispersed camping) Nederland Junior/Senior High School (stormwater, operations, etc.) 3 Eldora Mountain Resort Operations (including stormwater) 2 Road Spills 2

Total 100

5 See pp. 30-31 for an explanation of the Priority Strategy used. 27

In addition to the discrete and dispersed contaminant sources identified in the contaminant source inventory, the Steering Committee has also identified other issues of concern that may impact Nederland’s drinking water source.

Table 7. Issues of Concern Issues of Concern Score Municipal Watershed Ordinance mid-term Integration with the Town Master Infrastructure Plan short-term Integration with the City of Boulder Source Master Plan mid-term Integration with the Boulder County water master planning efforts mid-term Issues in Tertiary Zone mid-term

The following is a map which identifies the location of some of the Town’s Potential Sources of Contamination. Please see the following section titled, “Discussion of Potential Sources of Contamination and Issues of Concern” for explanations.

Priority Strategy

After developing a contaminant source inventory and list of issues of concern that is more accurate, complete, and current, the Steering Committee began the task of prioritizing this inventory for the implementation of the Best Management Practices outlined in this Source Water Protection Plan (see Table 9).

The strategy which the Town of Nederland and Steering Committee used is based on four criteria.

1. Migration Potential or Proximity to the Water Source - The migration potential generally has the greatest influence on whether a contaminant source could provide contaminants in amounts sufficient for the source water to become contaminated at concentrations that may pose a health concern to consumers of the water. Shorter migration paths and times of travel mean less chance for dilution or degradation of the contaminant before it reaches water sources. The proximity of a potential contaminant source of contamination to the Nederland’s water source was considered relative to the three sensitivity zones in the Source Water Protection Area (i.e. Primary Zone, Secondary Zone, and Tertiary Zone).

2. Contaminant Hazard - The contaminant hazard is an indication of the potential human health danger posed by contaminants likely or known to be present at the contaminant source. Using the information tables provided by CDPHE (see Appendices E to H), the Steering Committee considered the following contaminant hazard concerns for each contaminant source:

 Acute Health Concerns - Contaminants with acute health concerns include individual contaminants and categories of constituents that pose the most serious immediate health concerns resulting from short-term exposure to the constituent. Many of these acute health concern contaminants are classified as potential cancer-causing (i.e. carcinogenic) constituents or have a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) set at zero (0).

 Chronic Health Concerns - Contaminants with chronic health concerns include categories of constituents that pose potentially serious health concerns due to long-term exposure to the constituent. Most of these chronic health concern contaminants include the remaining primary drinking water contaminants.

 Aesthetic Concerns - Aesthetic contaminants include the secondary drinking water contaminants, which do not pose serious health concerns, but cause aesthetic problems such as odor, taste or appearance.

3. Potential Volume - The volume of contaminants at the contaminant source is important in evaluating whether the source water could become contaminated at 29

concentrations that may pose a health concern to consumers of the water in the event these contaminants are released to the source water. Large volumes of contaminants at a specific location pose a greater threat than small volumes.

4. Likelihood of Release - The more likely that a potential source of contamination is to release contaminants, the greater the contaminant threat posed. The regulatory compliance history for regulated facilities and operational practices for handling, storage, and use of contaminants were utilized to evaluate the likelihood of release.

In addition to the aforementioned criteria, the Steering Committee considered the value and effect of mitigating the impacts that potential contaminant sources would have on the SWPA. It was determined that implementation of cost effective mitigation measures would not only significantly reduce the potential impact the contaminant would have on the water supply, but also reduce the costs associated with responding to and dealing with a potential contaminant.

To facilitate the ranking process, the Steering Committee performed an exercise where they set aside a total of 100 “resource units” to be used to mitigate the potential impact of contaminants and possibly prevent contamination all together. Those 100 units were then divided among the potential contaminant sources and issues of concern based upon the following factors:

 The potential overall impact of performing mitigation -vs- not performing mitigation or not addressing the issue of concern.  The overall ability to perform the mitigation.  The actual costs associated with the mitigation efforts.

The results of this exercise can be seen in Tables 6 and 7 above.

Susceptibility Analysis of Water Sources

The Town of Nederland’s Source Water Assessment Report contained a susceptibility analysis6 to identify how susceptible an untreated water source could be to contamination from potential sources of contamination inventoried within its source water assessment area. The analysis looked at the susceptibility posed by individual potential contaminant sources and the collective or total susceptibility posed by all of the potential contaminant sources in the source water assessment area. The CDPHE developed a susceptibility analysis model for surface water sources and ground water sources under the influence of surface water, and another model for groundwater sources. Both models provided an objective analysis based on the best available information at the time of the analysis. The two main components of the CDPHE’s susceptibility analysis are:

1. Physical Setting Vulnerability Rating – This rating is based on the ability of the surface water and/or groundwater flow to provide a sufficient buffering capacity to mitigate potential contaminant concentrations in the water source.

2. Total Susceptibility Rating – This rating is based on two components: the physical setting vulnerability of the water source and the contaminant threat.

Upon review of CDPHE’s susceptibility analysis, the Steering Committee determined that both the Physical Setting Vulnerability Rating and the Total Susceptibility Rating for the Town of Nederland’s source are accurate and should remain the same (see table below).

Table 8. Updated Susceptibility Analysis Total Susceptibility Physical Setting Source ID # Source Name Source Type Rating Vulnerability Rating 107538-002 Middle Boulder Creek Surface Water Moderate Moderate

6 The susceptibility analysis provides a screening level evaluation of the likelihood that a potential contamination problem could occur rather than an indication that a potential contamination problem has or will occur. The analysis is NOT a reflection of the current quality of the untreated source water, nor is it a reflection of the quality of the treated drinking water that is supplied to the public. 31

DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL CONTAMINANT SOURCES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN

Forest Fire

2011 Nederland CWPP Fuel Model Map of Eastern Portion of Nederland Intake Watershed

Fuel Model Description  100s (GR) Grasses; fire carrier is grass  120s (GS) Grass-shrub; primary fire carrier is grass & shrubs combined  140s (SH) Shrub; fire carrier is live and dead shrub twigs and foliage  160s (TU) Timber-understory; fire carrier is forest litter and herbaceous or shrub fuels  180s (TL) Timber litter; fire carrier is dead and down woody fuel

The Town of Nederland’s Source Water Protection Area sits in the upper Middle Boulder Creek Basin and has a considerable risk of damage from wildfire. In describing the risk of wildfire to the area, the term “low frequency, high consequence” may be appropriate. The general area is fire-prone to the various conditions shown in the fuels model map above. Numerous wildfires have occurred within a five-mile radius of Town in the recent past under a variety of conditions and circumstances. Nationally, wildfires are primarily naturally caused (i.e., lightning); however, a significant percentage of wildfires in the area have been human caused.

There is mixed ownership and jurisdiction in the area of concern, including private and federal lands, along with two Fire Protection Districts having responsibility for initial attack, which can complicate dispatch and initial attack effectiveness, allowing a potential fire to escape control. In addition, access and egress to the area is limited to one road, Eldora Road, which could complicate suppression efforts. In fact, suppression may be delayed while responders assist the evacuation of area residents and recreational users.

Fire season, traditionally described as May through early July, is now considerably longer, with wildfires occurring state-wide in virtually any month in the calendar. Fire weather and dangerous fuel conditions in the area have historically risen to extreme levels many days per year, with the number of such periods likely to increase along with the longer fire season. Mitigating the wildfire danger using fuel reduction techniques like tree thinning may have limited short-term benefit, as much of the vegetation in the creek bed and surrounding slopes is fast growing. Other fuels are located on steep slopes, some on private lands and others on federal lands. These factors can lead to a high rate of wildfire. A comprehensive approach to fuels treatment that would provide long-term protection to Middle Boulder Creek seems unlikely.

A large hot fire in the creek bed and surrounding lands can have an impact on source waters by removing vegetation and decreasing infiltration during rain events. This can result in soil erosion and sediment and ash pollution in drinking water. Large rain events can produce mudslides, and debris flow capable of destroying water infrastructure and altering clarity and pH of the source waters.

The Nederland Fire Protection District Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), completed in 2011, identified the Nederland Water Treatment Plant as “the most significant critical infrastructure in the Nederland area.” The Nederland FPD CWPP report is available on line at the Nederland FPD CWPP website: http://www.nfpd.org/Documents/Full_NFPD_CWPP_5_20_11.pdf. As a result of the studies included in the 2011 CWPP, the following strategies have been recommended:

 Establish a Firewise Council, which is to ensure that recommendations of the CWPP are revisited, modified as necessary, and updated to its fullest capacity.  Develop a Continuous Funding Source, which is often the biggest hurdle to overcome when trying to implement the recommendations of a CWPP. More funding sources become available just by mere virtue of developing an official CWPP. Funding sources includes federal, state and county programs.  Projects to Implement have been specifically recommended in the 2011 CWPP. Projects typically include thinning and patch cutting to reduce biofuels and to provide firebreaks. One of the recommended projects is that the “Town of Nederland should work collaboratively with USFS and BVSD to establish a fuel- break in this region to protect both the water treatment plant and the high school.”

Forest Fire Best Practices Recommendations: 1. Partner with the Nederland Fire Protection District to continue fire mitigation around the distribution system and complete mitigation around the Arapaho Reservoirs once they are complete and operational. 2. Explore opportunities to work with private landowners for landscape scale fuel reduction and defensible space projects. 3. Coordinate with the City of Boulder on opportunities to participate in the City’s Pre- and Post-Wildfire Planning. 4. Assess post wildfire conditions to identify potential threats to drinking water infrastructure and/or water quality (similar to the USFS BAER process). 5. Share maps, GIS shapefiles, and Emergency Notification Cards with the USFS and Boulder County and coordinate with them on fuels reduction opportunities.

On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS)

Within the source water protection areas there are numerous properties (e.g. Town of Eldora properties) that rely on septic systems to dispose of their sewage. A septic system is a type of onsite wastewater system consisting of a septic tank that collects all the sewage and a leach field that disperses the liquid effluent onto a leach field for final treatment by the soil.

Septic systems are the second most frequently cited source of groundwater contamination in our country. Unapproved, aging, and failing septic systems have a large impact on the quality and safety of the water supply. The failure to pump solids that accumulate in the septic tank will also eventually clog the lines and cause untreated wastewater to back up into the home, to surface on the ground, or to seep into groundwater. If managed improperly, these residential septic systems can contribute excessive nutrients, bacteria, pathogenic organisms, and chemicals to the groundwater. Schematic of a septic system

In Boulder County individual sewage disposal systems are permitted by the Public Health Department. The County administers and enforces the minimum standards, rules, and regulations outlined in the state of Colorado’s Revised Statutes (CRS 25-10-105). It is unknown at this time the number of septic systems within Boulder County, the number of unapproved systems currently in use and the age of all septic systems in the county. The absence of effective monitoring and education increases the risk of contaminants from septic systems entering the groundwater.

The number of septic systems and corresponding spatial locations within the study area are too great to describe in detail in this section of the report. Septic systems within the defined protection zones (primary, secondary, and tertiary) that are recorded with Boulder County Public Health are summarized in the appendix.

There are six categories of the Boulder County Public Health classification system of OWTS that fall within Nederland’s SWPA:

 Approved – inspected, permitted and approved through BCPH.  Final Approval Pending – System meets regulations, but must complete process (maybe not connected to a house, etc.).  Unapproved – undocumented system that has not been permitted or approved with BCPH.  Permit Only No Final Approval – system was permitted, but no final inspection took place to ensure the system was installed according to the permit. System is therefore considered unapproved.  Approval Revoked – properties with old systems that were sold and that never went through BCPH’s property transfer process despite notification from BCPH.  Active Permit – permits that are currently going through BCPH process for final approval.

Boulder County has recently begun to administer a “Septic Smart” program, which enforces implementation of new operating septic system standards for properties containing a septic system during property transfer of title.

Septic System Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Partner with Boulder County Public Health and the City of Boulder to develop a GIS layer with septic systems identified along with prioritizing which septic systems are the most immediate threat (within Primary Zone, or 1,000 feet, for 5 miles upstream may be considered). 2. Share GIS layer with the county to identify sensitivity areas, buffer zones, and protection areas related to septic systems. 3. Use public outreach to educate specific septic systems owners about how to maintain and check their systems. Consider sending this information out in the water utility billing (ex: Are you aware that not operating your septic system properly could affect your drinking water quality?) 4. Cross referral process with the Town of Nederland on upstream OWTS permitting. 5. Implement active managerial controls and outreach on unapproved/unpermitted OWTS within the SWPA. 6. Partner with BCPH to implement a renewable permit process. 7. Identify in Town property files and Eldora property files which properties are on OWTS so that they are flagged any time permits are pulled.

Flood and Stormwater Runoff

The Town of Nederland infrastructure experiences detrimental effects of stormwater runoff from increasing trends in population growth and land development. Development dramatically alters the local hydrologic cycle. During construction, trees and meadow grasses that intercept and absorb rainfall are removed and natural depressions that temporarily pond water are graded to a uniform slope. Cleared and graded sites are often severely compacted which reduces storm water from infiltrating into the ground surface. Construction and development also results in an increase in impervious surfaces like roof tops, driveways, parking lots, and streets which prevents the stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. Stormwater runoff occurs when water from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground over streets, lawns, and other construction and industrial sites. Urban runoff can pick up fertilizers, dirt, pesticides, oil and grease, and many other pollutants and flow into water bodies used for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water.

Runoff can affect the stream hydrology, morphology, water quality and aquatic ecology. Water quality problems include turbid water, nutrient enrichment, bacterial contamination, organic matter loads, metals, salts, temperature increases, and increased trash and debris. Land development affects stormwater runoff by increasing the following:

 The volumes and rates of surface runoff,  The concentrations and the types of pollutants,  The amount of pollutants carried to receiving waters.

Within the Town of Nederland, activities that contribute to the detrimental effects of runoff include: construction and use of transportation corridors; filling of the creek channels and floodplain; degradation and removal of natural vegetation; property development; increased residential and commercial improvements along the creek; and a growing number of contributors to non-point source pollution runoff.

SOURCE: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY An increase in impervious coverage increases stormwater runoff

Addressing Stormwater Concerns The Town of Nederland, along with JVA Engineering, Inc., developed a Master Infrastructure Plan (MIP) to evaluate runoff sources and to provide recommendations of Best Management Practices. The MIP was completed in August 2014 and outlines the current assessment and recommendations for public works improvements in the Town of Nederland (Nederland, 2014). The MIP helped to define the physical characteristics of stormwater runoff in Nederland and to develop strategies for evaluating and improving runoff water quality. Recommendations included the use of retention ponds, detention ponds, disconnecting impervious surfaces, use of wetland and riparian buffer systems, and isolating potential contaminants from mixing with stormwater. The MIP can be reviewed on the Town website at: http://nederlandco.org/government/town-documents/.

Urban Stormwater Runoff Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Arapaho Ranch Reservoirs will allow Nederland to shut off intake in a flood or fire event to keep operations running. 2. Overlay FEMA floodplain layers on SWPA to identify areas of high risk and volatile operations. 3. Coordinate with Boulder County to notify Nederland of new construction permits within the SWPA. 37

4. Partner with the Boulder County Department of Transportation and the USFS to identify erosion mitigation opportunities on or near roadways and restoration opportunities adjacent to water bodies.

Road Maintenance

The source water protection area is located west of Town limits and is primarily accessed by Eldora Road (Boulder County Highway 130), which is maintained by Boulder County Road Maintenance. Several stretches of Eldora Road lie closely adjacent to Middle Boulder Creek. Eldora Road and lesser-use unpaved roads in the source water protection area are generally used for residential and recreational access.

Contaminant Pathways Motor vehicles, roads and parking facilities are a major source of water pollution to both surface and groundwater. An estimated 46% of US vehicles leak hazardous fluids, including crankcase oil, transmission, hydraulic, and brake fluid, and antifreeze, as indicated by oil spots on roads and parking lots, and rainbow sheens of oil in puddles and roadside drainage ditches. Lubricating oils used in automobiles are either burned in the engine or lost in drips and leaks, and are disposed of improperly onto the ground or into sewers. Runoff from roads and parking lots has a high concentration of toxic metals, suspended solids, and hydrocarbons, which originate largely from automobiles (Gowler and Sage, 2006). Storm water runoff over these roads can deliver contaminants from the road surface into the nearby ground and surface water.

Vehicular spills may occur along the transportation route within the source water protection areas from trucks that transport fuels, waste, and other chemicals that have a potential for contaminating the source waters. Chemicals from accidental spills are often diluted with water, potentially washing the chemicals into the soil and infiltrating into the groundwater. Roadways are also frequently used for illegal dumping of hazardous or other potentially harmful wastes.

Road Maintenance Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Install “Source Water Protection Area” signage at strategic locations throughout SWPA. 2. Meet with CDOT, USFS, and the County Transportation Department to provide them with an Emergency Notification Card along with GIS shapefiles. Encourage them to continue the use of their road Best Management Practices to prevent road materials from entering the source waters. Recommendations for application of road deicing and dust abatement materials include:  applying minimum amounts necessary;  apply only when removal of snow and ice cannot be accomplished by blading, plowing or sanding;  minimize use of chemicals in and adjacent to streams, aquifers, and flood prone areas;

 and avoid dumping or storing chemically treated or sanded snow where it can melt and infiltrate groundwater or flow into surface waters.

Abandoned Mines/Mine Tailings

Abandoned Mine Land Mining practices during the early days allowed the mine owners to simply abandon their mines without consideration of the impact on streams, water quality, slope stability and safety. Many old mining properties contain abandoned mine workings, mine waste and/or mill tailings. Active and inactive mining operations have a potential to contaminate drinking water supplies from either point source discharges (i.e. mine drainage tunnels or flowing adits) or nonpoint source discharges from run-off over waste rock or tailing piles. Acidic, metal-laden water emanating from inactive mines and waste rock piles has a potential to impair aquatic life in Middle Boulder Creek upstream from the Town’s drinking water intake, and to a lesser degree threaten human drinking water. The Town of Nederland is not currently aware of any impairment to the drinking water source but the Town wants to work with other agencies to continue to observe and monitor for any potential contamination.

Mine Openings/Tailings Piles within SWPA and adjacent areas.

Abandoned Mines/Mine Tailings Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Partner with the City of Boulder to create and maintain an inventory of abandoned mines within the SWPA and cross-reference with the CDPHE and DRMS to determine which mines are impaired. 2. Develop notification procedures with organizations that might first notice the problems (e.g. Boulder County Open Space) 3. Evaluate actions that might mitigate and protect the source waters and be prepared to implement as appropriate. 4. Actively participate in the review process for mining activity permits at the State and County level and in mine land reclamation activities. 5. Work with Cindy McCollum and the USFS’s Abandoned Mine Lands Program Manager, Trez Skillern, to determine which mines are of highest priority and coordinate on remediation opportunities.

Pesticide Application

Pesticides are widely used by property owners and government agencies in the local area to protect forests, grasslands and meadows from damage or loss due to insects, weeds, and diseases. The major groups of pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Because herbicides are the most widely used class of agricultural and urban use pesticides, they are the pesticides most frequently found in ground and surface water. However, to combat the recent pine beetle epidemic within the region, insecticides such as carbaryl (Sevin), permethrin (Astro), and bifenthrin (Onyx) have also been widely used in the vicinity.

Improper pesticide use has led to human illness, wildlife losses, and water quality degradation. The development of extremely sensitive detection methods has led to the discovery that commonly used management practices may lead to small amounts of pesticide that contaminate ground and surface water supplies. Since we depend on these water supplies for drinking water, pesticide users need to exercise a high level of care and sound pesticide use management to avoid contamination.

Pesticide Application Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Implement education program and notification program for spraying by general public within SWPA. Education outreach may include: mailings and personal communication to promote watershed stewardship to minimize water quality impacts. 2. Begin monitoring at the intake for pesticides (specifically Carbaryl). 3. Review and monitor the BMP’s and regulations that agencies and other organizations utilize (e.g. USFS and Eldora Mountain Resort). 4. Encourage timing herbicide application in relation to soil moisture, anticipated weather conditions, and recommended measures to protect water supplies. Monitor the weather (temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and humidity) and avoid application of herbicide when heavy rains are forecast to prevent runoff of herbicide into nearby waterways. Avoid application during windy weather to prevent drift of herbicide into waterways or buffer zone. 40

Illegal Dumping

Illegal dumping of waste (including discarded soil and fertilizer used in marijuana cultivation) could be a concern in the proposed drinking water supply protection areas. Inappropriate dumping, especially those containing substances that can be detrimental to water quality, should be discouraged.

Illegal Dumping Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Rely on Boulder County’s 24/7 EERT Response to hazardous materials in coordination w/ 1st responders. 2. Research environmental regulations for cultivation sites to inform future Town actions. 3. Based on findings of #2, implement a public education program and create a hazardous waste drop-off site, or recycling center. 4. Begin monitoring at intake and wastewater treatment plant for signs of illegal dumping.

Mines and Mineral Resources

Not until 1973 were mines required to be permitted by the State of Colorado. Current mining permit data for the source water protection areas were obtained from the Colorado Division of Mines, Reclamation, and Safety. Within the protection area there are no permitted mines. Should new mining permits be granted within the watershed, the steering committee offered the following recommendations:

Mines and Mineral Resources Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Coordinate with the agencies who can further identify potential risks in the sensitivity zones and help determine appropriate BMP strategies (ex. CDPHE, DRMS, BLM, etc.). A list of potential BMP approaches that may be implemented once a target mine is identified. 2. Establish contacts with Boulder County Public Health and DRMS to be notified of any new permits/public notices related to proposed future mining areas and re-processing areas.

Lake Eldora Water & Sanitation District

The Eldora Mountain Resort is located on 1,200 acres of mountainous terrain about 3 miles southwest of the Town of Nederland. The resort has operated alpine ski lifts since 1963 and currently supports expansive winter recreational areas and several associated buildings. The resort utilizes two sewage treatment lagoons, which have been recently relined. The lagoons are operated and regularly monitored in accordance with state regulations.

The majority of the resort is located along the southern divide of the Nederland intake portion of the Middle Boulder Creek’s watershed; however, the resort’s water supplies are derived from both the Middle Boulder Creek and South Boulder Creek basins. Most snow-making water is derived from Peterson Lake, which is fed by Lake Eldora and Peterson Creek. Water and wastewater for the resort are managed by the Eldora Water and Sanitation District.

Lake Eldora Water & Sanitation District Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Become informed of regulations in place and request copies of regular inspection reports from Lake Eldora WSD. 2. Coordinate with Lake Eldora WSD to notify Nederland of notable changes, non- compliance, and general downstream concerns.

Storage Tanks (Regulated and Unregulated)

Available database review reveals no known regulated storage tanks within the Nederland Public Water Source Water Protection Area (Primary and Secondary Zones of the SWPA). However, several known regulated tanks are located within the Tertiary Zone, and information regarding these tanks is included in the appendix.

Numerous unregulated storage tanks of unknown locations are likely within the Nederland Source Water Protection Area. Some of them are currently in use (active), while others have been permanently closed. Gasoline, or “liquid phase hydrocarbon,” can leak from tanks and descend through the unsaturated soil zone. Because gasoline is lighter than water, it generally floats on the water table, potentially closer to drinking water sources. Gasoline contains Class A acute health concern compounds like the carcinogenic benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) suite. As such, releases from gasoline storage tanks are a serious concern because of its potential to contaminate public and private water supply sources. Besides the potential for being consumed in drinking water, volatile organic compounds such as the BTEX suite can enter nearby buildings. If buildings are poorly ventilated, the compounds can accumulate and pose a health risk.

Rural residents of the source water protection area may have private aboveground storage tanks containing gasoline to store vehicular fuel. The private aboveground storage tanks are a concern because they may be old and subject to leakage. It only takes a small amount of petroleum to contaminate the ground or surface water. Fuel tanks should be inspected visually on an annual basis and properly seated on a type of secondary containment structure to prevent spills from reaching the ground.

Storage Tanks Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Maintain a current inventory and information on the status of regulated above and underground storage tanks in the source water protection area using the Colorado Storage Tank Information (COSTIS) website at http://costis.cdle.state.co.us. Storage tank information from this site includes: facility, tank, owner, and events. 42

2. Identify Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) events that have occurred within the SWPA using the COSTIS database, and monitor progress on any remedial action conducted for the known contamination sites. Nederland can contact the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Division of Oil and Public Safety (303-318-8000) for information regarding LUST events within the SWPA. Nederland can also contact the Public Records Center at (303) 318-8521 or (303) 318-8522 for a file review. 3. Encourage private unregulated tank owners within the SWPA to construct secondary containment areas under their storage tanks, and research funding opportunities to assist them in this endeavor.

Public Recreation (Fourth of July and Hessie Trailheads)

The expanses of public and private lands within and surrounding the Nederland SWPA attract both tourists and locals for camping and recreation. Several camping areas in the upper Middle Boulder Creek watershed are in close proximity to surface water bodies and do not include waste management facilities. Should a runoff event occur, or a camper fail to practice proper outdoor ethics, these wastes could enter the water supply.

Off-road vehicles, hunting, fishing, and boating near drinking water intakes all have the potential to impact the water supply. Increased erosion can occur when trail and road users leave designated routes and remove vegetation; garbage and litter from visitors can be left at sites or even deposited directly in the water.

Campgrounds and Recreation Best Management Approaches: 1. Coordinate with the USFS to discuss recreational activities, downstream water quality concerns and management strategies that could be applied to minimize effects on water quality 2. Any potential future development by the USFS at public recreation sites will be designed and managed to minimize downstream water quality. 3. The Town of Nederland should keep aware and provide comment on future development via the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

Nederland Middle/Senior High School

Nederland Middle/Senior High School, operated by the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), is located approximately 800 feet upgradient of the Nederland public water supply intake, and 500 feet directly west of the Nederland Water Treatment Plant. The school, with an enrollment of 300 to 400 students, uses a limited amount of hazardous materials that are normally used in high school science instruction and building maintenance. The school is subject to seasonal road traffic and utilizes a one-acre paved parking lot located less than 600 feet upgradient of the intake.

Quality of water downgradient of the school has been identified as an item of concern by the steering committee.

Nederland Middle/High School Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Notification of events, such as new construction, site work, spills, etc. 2. Continued coordination with High School administration with regard to environmental issues.

Eldora Mountain Resort Operations

Snowmaking operations at the Eldora Mountain Resort have been identified as a potential issue of concern. Since it is still unclear whether or not the additive used in snowmaking has the potential to affect water quality, the Town has concerns about these potential effects of snowmelt from artificially created and placed snow on the water quality of Middle Boulder Creek. In addition, construction of diversion, conveyance, storage, and delivery structures can create ground disturbance leading to erosion and sedimentation.

Eldora Mountain Resort Operations Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Notification of events, such as new construction, site work, spills, etc. 2. Continued coordination and monitoring with Eldora Mountain Resort Management with regard to environmental issues.

Road Spills

The impacts and management approaches for incident spills vs. cumulative effects can differ greatly. Incident spills typically come from trucks that transport fuels, waste, and other chemicals getting in an accident or going off the road. Chemicals from accidental spills are often diluted with water in the process of cleaning up the spill, potentially washing the chemicals into the soil and infiltrating into surface water and groundwater. Illegal dumping of hazardous or other potentially harmful wastes is considered an incident spill as well. These spill events are addressed through emergency responders at the fire district or state/county hazard mitigation crews.

Cumulative effects to roads can result from a number of factors. Small but frequent accidents that spill chemicals can lead to overall degradation of waters, dust from roadways can increase sediment loading, and chemical application can alter the chemistry of the water supply.

Road Spills Best Management Practices Recommendations: 1. Rely on Boulder County’s 24/7 Environmental Emergency Response Team (EERT) Response in coordination with 1st Responders. 2. Distribute Nederland Emergency Response Cards to all local emergency responders and keep information on the emergency response cards updated. 44

3. Install “Source Water Protection Area” signage at strategic locations throughout SWPA.

Existing “Save Our Watershed” sign along Eldora Road, at west end of the Town of Eldora.

SUPPLEMETARY DISCUSSION

Tertiary Zone

The Tertiary Zone, as shown in the figure above, has been delineated in this study to highlight the portion of the Middle Boulder Creek watershed immediately local to, and flowing through, the Town of Nederland, yet outside of the Nederland intake watershed (Primary and Secondary Zones). The Town of Nederland recognizes that the Tertiary Zone is outside the watershed of the Nederland public water intake, and does not contribute to Nederland’s drinking water. The Tertiary Zone has been included in the delineation of the overall source water protection zones for the collection of environmental data normally collected for a watershed study; however, the Tertiary Zone environmental data, provided as a reference in the Appendix, is for informational purposes only, and has not been included in the development of this particular Source Water Protection Plan.

Tertiary Zone Potential Sources of Contamination

A cursory environmental data base search revealed potential sites of concern within the Tertiary Zone as shown in the figure above. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) and Colorado Division of Reclamation & Mining Safety (DRMS) sites, along with abandoned mine and tailings piles, are concentrated near the Caribou and Cardinal mining areas in the western portion of the zone, as well as scattered across the eastern portion of the zone. EPA Facility Registry Service (FRS)7 sites and general potential sites of concern (PSOC) are mostly located within or near the town limits of Nederland. Some On-site Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) sites are shown on the figure above; however, all known OWTS sites within the Tertiary Zone are not shown due to the large number of sites. The Big Springs and Hilltop neighborhoods of Nederland are currently unsewered, and developed properties within these areas have on-site treatment systems.

The Town may consider creation of more detailed GIS maps that specifically address mining, OWTSs, regulated tanks, and other sites, such as EPA FRS and RCRA locations. These maps could aid in the management of the Middle Boulder Creek between the intake and the west end of Barker Reservoir.

Integration with the Town Master Infrastructure Plan

The recently adopted Master Infrastructure Plan recommends several short and long term projects consistent with the goals of this SWPP. Among others, proposed MIP projects include raw water storage reservoirs at Arapaho Ranch, water system distribution leak detection, and water treatment plant additions. These projects will allow the Town to conserve water in a more sustainable manner, and to better protect the primary resource of the watershed.

Municipal Watershed Ordinance

Colorado Revised Statute C.R.S. § 31-15-707 gives municipalities the right to enact watershed protection ordinances and regulations for the purpose of maintaining and protecting local waterworks from injury and the public water supply from pollution. The Town may consider to implement and to enforce these regulations for the purpose of reviewing and permitting any activity within the watershed, which creates a foreseeable risk of injury to the Town's waterworks or pollution of the Town’s water supply.

Integration with the City of Boulder Source Water Master Plan

The City of Boulder has a close interest in the proper stewardship of the Middle Boulder Creek watershed. The City of Boulder Source Water Master Plan identifies major concerns such as the

7 The EPA’s Facility Registry Service (FRS) identifies and geospatially locates facilities, sites or places subject to environmental regulations or of environmental interest. 47

large volume and critical storage of Barker Reservoir, effluent of the Nederland Wastewater Treatment Plant, and fire mitigation within the watershed, among many others. The Town of Nederland may consider coordination and participation with the water utility staff of the City of Boulder to accomplish mutual goals in management of the upper reaches of the Middle Boulder Creek watershed.

SOURCE WATER PROTECTION MEASURES

Best Management Practices

The Steering Committee reviewed and discussed several possible best management practices that could be implemented within the Source Water Protection Area to help reduce the potential risks of contamination to the community’s source water. The Steering Committee established a “common sense” approach in identifying and selecting the most feasible source water management activities to implement locally. The focus was on selecting those protection measures that are most likely to work for the community. The best management practices were obtained from multiple sources including: EPA, CDPHE, NRCS, and other source water protection plans. The Steering Committee recommends the best management practices listed in Table 9, “Source Water Protection Best Management Practices” be considered for implementation by: . Town of Nederland . Boulder County Public Health . City of Boulder . Nederland Fire District . United States Forest Service

Furthermore, with Barker Reservoir as a City of Boulder water source, the City’s source waters overlap with Nederland’s Source Water Protection Area and Nederland’s Tertiary Zone. As a result, source water protection measures and best management practices can benefit both water systems but may have different priorities. The City and Nederland intend to share information and cooperate on mutually beneficial water quality protection efforts.

Evaluating Effectiveness of Best Management Practices

The Town of Nederland is committed to developing a tracking and reporting system to gauge the effectiveness of the various source water best management practices that have been implemented. The purpose of tracking and reporting the effectiveness of the source water best management practices is to update water system managers, consumers, and other interested entities on whether or not the intended outcomes of the various source water best management practices are being achieved, and if not, what adjustments to the Source Water Protection Plan will be taken in order to achieve the intended outcomes. It is further recommended that this Plan be reviewed at a frequency of once every 1 to 2 years or if circumstances change resulting in the development of new water sources and source water protection areas, or if new risks are identified.

The Town of Nederland is committed to a mutually beneficial partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in making future refinements to their source water assessment and to revise the Source Water Protection Plan accordingly based on any major refinements.

Table 9. Source Water Protection Best Management Practices Issues Best Management Practice Implementer Forest Fire 1. Proactive - Partner with the Nederland Fire Protection District to continue 1. Nederland and fire mitigation around the distribution system and complete mitigation Nederland FPD around the Arapaho Reservoirs once they are complete and operational.

2. Proactive - Share maps, GIS shapefiles, and Emergency Notification Cards 2. Nederland, USFS, with the USFS and Boulder County and coordinate with the USFS and and Boulder County Boulder County on fuels reduction opportunities.

3. Proactive - Coordinate with the City of Boulder on opportunities to 3. Nederland and participate in the City’s Pre- and Post-Wildfire Planning. Boulder

4. Reactive – Assess post wildfire conditions to identify potential threats to 4. Nederland, USFS, drinking water infrastructure and/or water quality (similar to the USFS and Nederland FPD BAER process).

5. Reactive – provide resource information to inform fire suppression efforts. 5. Nederland

Onsite Wastewater 1. Cross referral process with the Town of Nederland on upstream OWTS 1. Boulder County Treatment Systems permitting. Public Health (OWTS - including vaults (BCPH) and Arapaho Ranch) 2. Implement active managerial controls and outreach on 2. BCPH unapproved/unpermitted OWTS within the SWPA.

3. Develop a GIS layer with septic systems identified along with prioritizing 3. BCPH and which OWTS are the most immediate threat (Zone 1). Nederland

4. Use public outreach to educate specific OWTS owners about how to 4. BCPH and maintain and check their systems. Consider sending this information out in Nederland the water utility billing (ex: Are you aware that not operating your septic

system properly could affect your drinking water quality?)

5. Identify in Town property files and Eldora property files which properties 5. Nederland and are on OWTS so that they are flagged any time permits are pulled. BCPH

6. Partner with BCPH to implement a renewable permit process. 6. Nederland and BCPH

Flood and Stormwater 1. Arapaho Ranch Reservoirs will allow Nederland to shut off intake in a 1. Arapaho Ranch Runoff flood event to keep operations running. and Nederland

2. Overlay FEMA floodplain layers on SWPA to identify areas of high risk and 2. Nederland volatile operations.

3. Coordinate with Boulder County to notify Nederland of new construction 3. Nederland permits within the SWPA.

4. Partner with the Boulder County Department of Transportation and the 4. Nederland USFS to identify erosion mitigation opportunities on or near roadways and restoration opportunities adjacent to water bodies. Road Maintenance 1. Meet with CDOT, USFS, and the County Transportation Department to 1. Nederland provide them with an Emergency Notification Card along with GIS shapefiles. Encourage them to continue the use of their road Best Management Practices to prevent road materials from entering the source waters. Recommendations for application of road deicing and dust abatement materials include:  applying minimum amounts necessary;  apply only when removal of snow and ice cannot be accomplished by blading, plowing or sanding;  minimize use of chemicals in and adjacent to streams, aquifers, and flood prone areas; and

 avoid dumping or storing chemically treated or sanded snow where it can melt and infiltrate groundwater or flow into surface waters.

2. Install “Source Water Protection Area” signage at strategic locations 2. Nederland throughout SWPA.

Abandoned Mines / 1. Proactive - Create and maintain an inventory of abandoned mines within 1. Nederland Mine Tailings the SWPA and cross-reference with the CDPHE and DRMS to determine which mines are impaired.

2. Proactive - Develop notification procedures with organizations that might 2. Nederland first notice the problems (e.g. Boulder County Open Space)

3. Proactive - Evaluate actions that might mitigate and protect the source 3. Nederland waters and be prepared to implement as appropriate.

4. Reactive - Work with Cindy McCollum and the USFS’s Abandoned Mine 4. Nederland Lands Program Manager, Trez Skillern, to determine which mines are of highest priority and coordinate on remediation opportunities. Pesticide Application 1. Implement education program and notification program for spraying by 1. Nederland (Eldora, but specifically general public within SWPA. private landowners) 2. Begin monitoring at the intake for pesticides (specifically Carbaryl). 2. Nederland

3. Review and monitor the BMP’s and regulations that agencies and other 3. Nederland organizations utilize (e.g. USFS and Eldora Mountain Resort). Illegal Dumping 1. Rely on Boulder County’s 24/7 EERT Response to hazardous materials in 1. BCPH and (including marijuana coordination w/ 1st responders. Nederland cultivation byproducts) 2. Research environmental regulations for cultivation sites to inform future 2. Nederland Town actions.

3. Based on findings of #2, implement a public education program and create 3. Nederland a hazardous waste drop-off site.

4. Begin monitoring at intake and wastewater treatment plant for signs of 4. Nederland illegal dumping. Mines and Mineral 1. Coordinate with the agencies who can further identify potential risks in the 1. Nederland Resources sensitivity zones and help determine appropriate BMP strategies (ex. CDPHE, DRMS, BLM, etc.). A list of potential BMP approaches that may be implemented once a target mine is identified.

2. Establish contacts with Boulder County Public Health and DRMS to get 2. Nederland notified on any new permits/public notices related to proposed future mining areas and re-processing areas.

Lake Eldora Water and 1. Become informed of regulations in place and request copies of regular 1. Nederland & Lake Sanitation District inspection reports from Lake Eldora WSD. Eldora WSD (Lagoon) 2. Coordinate with Lake Eldora WSD to notify Nederland of notable changes 2. Nederland & Lake and non-compliance and general downstream concerns. Eldora WSD Storage Tanks 1. Maintain a current inventory and information on the status of regulated 1. Nederland (Regulated and above and underground storage tanks in the source water protection area Unregulated) using the Colorado Storage Tank Information (COSTIS) website at http://costis.cdle.state.co.us. Storage tank information from this site includes: facility, tank, owner, and events.

2. Identify Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) events that have 2. Nederland occurred within the SWPA using the COSTIS database, and monitor progress on any remedial action conducted for the known contamination sites. Nederland can contact the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Division of Oil and Public Safety (303-318-8000) for

information regarding LUST events within the SWPA. Nederland can also contact the Public Records Center at (303) 318-8521 or (303) 318-8522 for a file review.

3. Encourage private unregulated tank owners within the SWPA to construct 3. Nederland secondary containment areas under their storage tanks, and research funding opportunities to assist them in this endeavor.

Public Recreation (4th of 1. Coordinate with the USFS to discuss recreational activities, downstream 1. Nederland & USFS July and Hessie) water quality concerns and management strategies that could be applied (including potential to minimize effects on water quality. parking lot at campground) 2. Any potential future development by the USFS at public recreation sites 2. USFS will be designed and managed to minimize downstream water quality.

3. The Town of Nederland should keep aware and provide comment on 3. Nederland future development via the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Nederland High School 1. Notification of events, such as new construction, site work, spills, etc. 1. Nederland & School (stormwater, misc.) Administration 2. Continued coordination with school administration with regard to 2. Nederland & School environmental issues Administration Eldora Mountain Resort 1. Notification of events, such as new construction, site work, spills, etc. 1. Nederland & EMR Operations (snowmaking, 2. Continued coordination with school administration with regard to 2. Nederland & EMR operations) environmental issues Road Spills 1. Rely on Boulder County’s 24/7 Environmental Emergency Response Team 1. BCPH and Nederland (EERT) Response in coordination with 1st Responders.

2. Distribute Nederland Emergency Response Cards to all local emergency 2. Nederland responders, and keep the information on the emergency response cards

updated.

3. Install “Source Water Protection Area” signage at strategic locations 3. Nederland throughout SWPA.

Integration with the 1. Propose/plan raw water storage project at Arapaho Ranch. 1. Nederland Town Master Infrastructure Plan 2. Propose/plan water system distribution leak detection project. 2. Nederland

3. Propose/plan water treatment plant addition projects (CLEARLOGX and 3. Nederland backwash discharge).

Municipal Watershed 1. Consider implementation and enforcement of Colorado Revised Statute 1. Nederland Ordinance C.R.S. § 31-15-707 for the purpose of reviewing and permitting any activity within the watershed.

Integration with the City 1. Coordination and mutual participation in accomplishing shared Middle 1. Nederland & Boulder of Boulder Source Water Boulder Creek watershed management project goals, such as fire Master Plan mitigation, public outreach, water quality monitoring, etc.

Issues in Tertiary Zone 1. Perform additional detailed environmental database research. 1. Nederland

2. Create specific GIS maps of PSOCs, including Mining Sites, OWTSs, 2. Nederland Regulated Storage Tanks, and other sites including EPA FRS and RCRA sites.

REFERENCES

Anchor Point Group. (May 2011). Nederland Fire Protection District Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Boulder, CO: Prepared for Nederland Fire Protection District and Timberline Protection District.

Boulder Valley School District website information retrieved from www.bvsd.org/high/nederland/pages/ne derlandmshs.aspx.

Boulder County Public Health website information retrieved September 2014 from http://www.bouldercounty.org/env/water/pages/

Cadmus Group, Inc., 2013. “Effects of Wildfire on Drinking Water Utilities and Best Practices for Wildfire Risk Reduction and Mitigation.”

Colorado Geologic Survey. Groundwater Atlas of Colorado. Retrieved from http://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/water/groundwater-atlas/)

Eiler, Dylan, (2013). Source Water Protection for the Colorado River Partnership – Source Water Protection Plan, Colorado Rural Water Association. Pueblo, Colorado.

EPA (2002). Potential Environmental Impacts of Dust Suppressant: "Avoiding Another Times Beach." U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Las Vegas, Nevada. May 2002.

EPA (2014). Colorado Water Quality Assessment Report. Retrieved from ofmpub.epa.gov/waters10/attains_ state.control?_state=CO.

Ficco (2012). Information about Road Maintenance. Dave Ficco, Ouray County Road and Bridge Department. Ridgway, Colorado. January 18, 2012.

GEI Consultants (2002). Middle Boulder Creek Water Source Management Work Plan, City of Boulder, Colorado.

Gowler A.and Sage R. (2006) Traffic and Transport: Potential Hazards and Information Needs. In O. Schomoll, J. Howar, J. Chilton, I. Chorus, Protecting Groundwater Health. IWA Publishing. London, UK.

Ground Water Protection Council (2008). Ground Water Report to the Nation: A Call to Action. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Ground Water Protection Council.

Hill, M., (January 2013). Source Water Protection for the Colorado River Partnership Source Water Protection Plan. Morgan Hill, Garfield County Public Health

JVA Consulting Engineers (2014). “Master Infrastructure Plan for the Town of Nederland.” 56

Mihelich, K. (June 2013). Town of Hotchkiss Source Water Protection Plan. Kimberly Mihelich, Colorado Rural Water Association. Pueblo, Colorado.

Murphy, Sheila; Larry B. Barber, Philip L. Verplanck, and David A. Kinner (2000). Comprehensive water quality of the Boulder Creek Watershed, Colorado, during high-flow and low-flow conditions Chapter 1 - Environmental Setting and Hydrology of the Boulder Creek Watershed, Colorado.

MWH Consulting Engineers. (2009). City of Boulder Source Water Master Plan. Denver, CO.

Ramey Environmental Compliance, Inc. (2013). Town of Nederland Drinking Water Treatment Facility Standard Operating Procedures Manual.

Shelley, Jim (September 2014). City of Boulder, Colorado Source Water Manager. Personal Communication.

Williams, C. (December 2010). Town of Basalt Source Water Protection Plan. Colleen Williams, Colorado Rural Water Association. Pueblo, Colorado.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (2013). December 6, 2013 letter from Glenn Casamassa, Forest Supervisor, U.S Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO to Susan Linner, Project Leader, U.S Fish & Wildlife, Denver, CO.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (2012). National Best Management Practices for Water Quality Management on National Forest System Lands, “Volume 1 National Core BMP Technical Guide.”

Williams, C. (September 2012). Town of Ridgeway Source Water Protection Plan. Colleen Williams, Colorado Rural Water Association. Pueblo, Colorado.

Williams, C. (February 2013). Town of Jamestown Source Water Protection Plan. Colleen Williams, Colorado Rural Water Association. Pueblo, Colorado.

APPENDICES8

A. Contingency Plan*

B. Source Water Assessment Report

C. Source Water Assessment Report Appendices

D. MOU Between CDPHE and U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region

E. Table A-1 Discrete Contaminant Types

F. Table A-2 Discrete Contaminant Types (SIC Related)

G. Table B-1 Dispersed Contaminant Types

H. Table C-1 Contaminants Associated with Common PSOC’s

I. Tertiary Zone Potential Sites of Concern

Note: This public document will only include information that is not deemed sensitive to the safety and operation of the individual community’s water plan operation. Appendices marked with an * are only included in the Public Utility’s report or kept on file at their office. All other documents are included on the CD located in the back pocket of this report. All documents can be reprinted.

8 All appendices are located on the CD version of this SWPP. 58