Colorado College
OP-22: Rainwater Management

The College complies with City Stormwater management plan requirements. Every physical campus building or landscape improvement project must meet City requirements to qualify for a permit. Our Colorado College Facility Design Guidelines Manual, October 2014, Rev. November 2021 addresses stormwater management for new construction and renovations in the section, “Colorado College Facility Life-Cycle Design Guidelines for Sustainability” under Site Work on page 60 Colorado College Facility Design Guidelines Manual: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/facilities/plan-design-ops-maint/Facility-Design-Guidelines-Manual-Rev.-11-5-21.pdf

Colorado College Facilities Services Sustainable Operations and Maintenance Guidelines Manual, October 2021 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 corner of Uintah and Nevada is the site of five (5) East Campus Housing buildings constructed in 2017 and the associated East Campus Housing Parking Lot with 123 spaces. There was a large storm water retention pond 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 was designed and installed 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. The Tutt Library Renovation and Addition in 1917 included a sustainable live green rooftop garden consisting of approximately 5,000 sedums on the third-floor terrace. Vegetated roofs provide numerous, significant environmental benefits, including: × Increases roof life; soil and plants provide a protective barrier reducing exposure to ultraviolet rays and extreme temperatures, along with a waterproof roof lining, to extend roof life by as much as 200-300 percent, or 40-50 years. × Reduces energy costs; improved thermal insulation and reduced heat island effect provide heating and cooling savings. × Lowers interior sound levels by as much as 40 decibels. × Improves air filtration; one square foot of green roof foliage can filter seven ounces of dust and smog per year. Plant photosynthesis also reduces greenhouse gases in the air. × A planted roof also provides financial benefits including the extension of roof life, energy conservation, and conservation of municipal septic systems. In addition, The Robson Arena new building project completed in 2021 included a total building and parking garage area of 269,227 square feet located on a site area of 160,033 square feet. The college installed a StormTech Rainwater Management system that meets the Colorado, City of Colorado Springs, and regional design standards. StormTech® is an intricate engineered storm water retention system comprised of polypropylene chambers, aggregate, geotextile, and at times geomembrane. They work together to collect rainwater, separate sediment material and allow clean water to percolate into the ground. When it rains, water enters the system through a catch basin and is directed to an isolation area where sediment is flushed. As the water rises, it flows out of the isolation area into adjacent chambers where it passes through fabric and trickles back into the ground. The City of Colorado Springs used Colorado and regional standards to develop BMP (Best Management Practice) standards to manage rainwater runoff. This standard designs to the following: As a result of these studies, water quality facilities for the Colorado Front Range are recommended to capture and treat the 80th percentile runoff event. Colorado has a very low annual precipitation level. Annual total precipitation is 17 inches on average statewide, but has ranged from a low of 11.85 inches in 2002 to a high of 25.52 inches in 1941. The driest multi-year periods were in the 1930s and 1950s, and the wettest were in the 1940s, 1980s, and 1990s. Colorado College Facilities Services Sustainable Operations and Maintenance Guidelines Manual: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/facilities/energy-management/Facilities-Sustainable-OM-Guidelines-Manual-Rev.-10-26-21.pdf

https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/facilities/energy-management/sustainability-guidelines.html

Green Roof: https://sites.coloradocollege.edu/bulletin/2016/12/live-green-roof-takes-root-on-honnen-ice-arena/ 

Colorado College Rain Garden: https://sites.coloradocollege.edu/president/2015/09/16/cache-la-poudre-project/