Colorado College
OP-23: Rainwater Management

The College complies with City Stormwater management plan requirements. Every physical campus building or landscape improvement project must meet City requirements in order to qualify for a permit. Our Colorado College Facility Design Guidelines Manual, October 2014 addresses storm water management for new construction and renovations in the section, “Colorado College Facility Life-Cycle Design Guidelines for Sustainability” under Site Work on page 46: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/facilities/plan-design-ops-maint/Facility%20Design%20Guidelines%20Manual,%20Rev.%203-16-17....pdf

Colorado College's Sustainable Operations and Maintenance Guidelines Manual, November 2015 addresses stormwater management Bio-Swales/Rain Gardens on page 11 stating that, "Rain gardens are shallow depressions that can hold and soak up water runoff from roof tops, driveways, patios and other impervious surfaces. Rain gardens have deep, compost amended, high infiltration rate soils and are landscaped with native or adapted plants. By holding and naturally infiltrating runoff, rain gardens filter oil and grease from driveways, pesticides and fertilizers from lawns as well as other pollutants before they reach the storm drain and eventually streams, wetlands, lake and other marine waters. Directions: Mulch as much as needed to prevent erosion and weeds, regularly inspect and keep water runoff inlets and outlets well protected with rock and clear of debris, and water as needed until native or adapted plants are well established." The Northeast Parking Lot at the corner of Uintah and Nevada is now the site of five (5) East Campus Housing buildings and a small associated parking lot. There is a large storm water retention pond being designed and installed in 2017 to collect and filtrate storm water from the housing site into the landscape and soils. Another large storm water retention pond is being designed and installed in 2017 to collect and filtrate storm water from the East Campus Housing parking lot. In the summer of 2016, an approximately 2,650 square foot live green roof was installed on the top of Honnen Ice Arena on campus. The green roof reduces storm water runoff by 65 to 90 percent in the summer and 25 to 40 percent during winter months. The drought-tolerant sedums provide a low-maintenance green space that helps reduce heating and cooling costs, extends roof life by as much as 40-50 years and provides a natural air filtration system. with one square foot of green roof foliage able to filter seven ounces of dust and smog per year.

Green roof: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/newsevents/newsroom/live-green-roof-takes-root-on-honnen-ice-arena#.WJ-r2rYrKt8