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CLEAR

About CLEAR

The Cooperative for Local Environmental Awareness & Responsibility (CLEAR) is a regional partnership dedicated to safeguarding Douglas County’s creeks, rivers and lakes through effective stormwater management. By uniting local governments, districts and community partners, CLEAR helps ensure clean water, healthy habitats and compliance with state water quality standards. CLEAR connects the community with the resources and knowledge needed to protect water quality for generations to come.

Our Mission

CLEAR’s mission is to educate the public and businesses on protecting local waterways, preserving water quality and ensuring compliance with established standards and regulations. Our mission is split into five key focus areas:

Public Education and Outreach

MS4 permittees must implement a public education program to promote behavior change by the public to reduce pollutants in discharges from the MS4. Education and outreach activities, individually or as a whole, must address the impacts of stormwater discharges on water bodies, the steps the target audience can take to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff, and water quality impacts associated with illicit discharges and improper disposal of waste.

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

Illicit discharges include any discharges to an MS4 that are not composed entirely of stormwater, except discharges specifically authorized by a CDPS or NPDES permit or discharges resulting from emergency fire-fighting activities. MS4 permittees must develop a regulatory mechanism to prohibit illicit discharges.

Construction Sites

MS4 permittee’s construction sites programs must address selection, installation, implementation and maintenance of control measures.

Post-Construction Stormwater Management

MS4 Permittees must implement a post-construction stormwater management program to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the MS4.

Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

MS4 permittees must implement a program for pollution prevention/good housekeeping for facilities and operations that they own, operate or perform within the permit area. The program must prevent or reduce water quality impacts from pollutants being discharged to the MS4 from municipal facilities and operations.

Our Goals

You’ll see CLEAR messages in newspapers, public advertising and other outreach materials, all pointing back to this website—your hub for stormwater quality information.

Our History

CLEAR began as the Douglas County Stormwater Co-op in 2000, when Douglas County and Highlands Ranch Metro District staff partnered to meet the requirements of the Stormwater Phase II Rule as part of the Clean Water Act. The partnership quickly grew to include many different municipalities and districts. Together, this collaboration strengthened communication, resource-sharing and engagement with state regulators.

Statewide Leadership

CLEAR members played a vital role in developing Colorado’s phase-2 permitting program and ensuring compliance with stormwater regulations. CLEAR continues to collaborate with the Colorado Stormwater Council, Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority and the Chatfield Watershed Authority.

Logo for CLEAR - cooperative for local environmental awareness and responsibilityOur Commitment

We are committed to providing actionable information for residents, businesses and our partners. Clean waterways not only protect our environment and natural habitats but also save communities money. By working together, we can keep our water safe for everyone.

One thing is CLEAR: our creeks, rivers and lakes depend on you.