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Policy 10-1: Aquatic Life Use

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The Colorado Water Quality Control Act protects all state waters for various beneficial uses. Aquatic life use focuses on protecting surface waters to support the health of aquatic ecosystems. Benthic macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects) show the health of a stream or river. The Water Quality Control Division monitors and assesses these organisms to determine the status of aquatic life use through Policy 10-1. This work is important for determining whether we meet our goals to restore, maintain, protect, and improve Colorado's water quality.

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The Water Quality Control Commission adopted the current version of Policy 10-1 in Aug. 2017, which is valid until Dec. 31, 2025. In Oct. 2024, the division will begin an engagement process to renew and update the policy. We invite all interested individuals to join our continued efforts. During this process, we will review previous updates to Policy 10-1 and assess the technical work. To complete the technical work, the division will partner with a consultant (Tetra Tech).

The division will work with participants to:

  • Review and determine if an update is needed for the current Multi-Metric Index (MMI). This approach combines different measurements to assess the health of aquatic life;
  • Evaluate biological thresholds. These are numeric values that show the expected quality of aquatic life in different types of water;
  • Investigate site classifications, particularly splitting Biotype 1 into East and West classifications; and
  • Improve the Ecological Data Application System (EDAS) through system upgrades for easier use.
     
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How to get involved

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Beginning in Oct. 2024, the division will meet with participants through virtual meetings. We are offering two meeting types:

  • Stakeholder meetings. These meetings will focus on explaining the policy and the division's proposal.
  • Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings. These meetings will focus on the technical aspects of the policy. Participants will make recommendations based on Tetra Tech's technical work.

At the end of these meetings, the Water Quality Control Commission will consider the division’s Policy 10-1 proposal through an administrative action hearing scheduled for Aug. 2025.

Sign up to receive notifications about this effort.

 

After the meetings conclude, a copy of the meeting recording, presentation, and other meeting materials will be stored in this public folder.

Stakeholder meeting schedule

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting schedule

 

For questions or comments related to Policy 10-1, please contact:

For questions or comments related to the engagement process or this webpage, please contact: