Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority

Do you have a detention pond in your neighborhood?   Although they may be subtle in appearance, detention ponds, also known as Extended Detention Basins or “EDBs” serve a vital function managing stormwater within our communities. EDBs are one of the most common stormwater control measures used to reduce flooding and remove pollutants before entering a local stream. In order to ensure their proper function, EDBs should be maintained regularly to prevent trash, overgrown vegetation or weeds, and sediment buildup. And if there is one key tip for minimizing maintenance costs on your EDB, it’s this: be proactive! SEMSWA staff recently visited this EDB in Centennial and were glad to see that the pond’s HOA group has been proactive by regularly cleaning out the trickle channel, micropool, trash rack and forebays. The HOA has also performed regular weed mitigation and kept signage installed to notify passers-by about the role of the EDB.   If you’d like to learn more about how to maintain your EDB or another stormwater control measure, come visit our website at www.semswa.org where we have lots of helpful resources for maintaining your facility. Or, give us a call at 303-858-8844.

Last week, SEMSWA hosted our first ever Bring Your Child to Work Day, and our kids sure knew how to have fun while learning about stormwater! Staff children worked hard on inlet labeling, chalk art messaging, and participated in a few experiments at SEMSWA’s main office. They even learned about our #1 occupational hazard: you could get wet!

SEMSWA is a member of DC Clear, an education and outreach co-operative of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Permittees in Douglas County with the mission of promoting water quality and responsible stormwater management. DC Clear is now active on Linkedin, and we look forward to following their posts for helpful pollution prevention tips and stormwater-related updates within Douglas County. Check out their page and give them a follow! https://lnkd.in/dBq95-KW

What better way to spend a rainy day than to attend a Splash Stormwater Education and Outreach Rain Barrel Workshop? Thanks to Arapahoe County and E-470 Public Highway Authority for planning the event in partnership with Splash, and of course to all of our local residents who participated! #waterquality #stormwatermanagement #waterconservation

Here’s a helpful stormwater tip you can follow this summer: Don’t wash your car in the driveway- do it in the grass or at the car wash! When you wash your car in the driveway all the dirt, oil, grit, and soap wash off your car, down the driveway, along the curb and gutter, and into the nearest inlet. From there they are washed into our streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. If instead you wash your car where it will drain to the grass or gravel, it stands a much better chance of soaking into the ground where it can be naturally filtered before draining the nearest inlet. Or better yet, take it to the carwash where the water will drain to the sanitary sewer for treatment. You can learn more helpful stormwater tips on @splashcolorado website at www.splashco.org. #waterquality #stormwatermanagement #stormwater #summerstormwatertip

SEMSWA and our partners had so much fun this weekend at the Cherry Creek Race for the Watershed 5K walk and fun run! There’s nothing quite like recreating with our partners who help promote water quality within the Cherry Creek basin. We can’t say thank you enough to our participants, volunteers, and sponsors who made the event possible, and we’re already excited to race again next year! Splash Stormwater Education and Outreach Loewen Engineering, Inc. Mile High Flood District Valerian LLC E-470 Public Highway Authority Wright Water Engineers, Inc. Muller Engineering Company Parker Water & Sanitation District Runners Roost

@milehighflooddistrict and SEMSWA are here to help. Please contact us if you don’t know your flood risk and visit mhfd.org/floodmap using the QR code above to learn more!

From everyone here at SEMSWA, we wish you a happy and safe Independence Day!

As residents of unincorporated Arapahoe County or the City of Centennial, you are eligible for Flood Insurance backed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is sold by local insurance agents. If your insurance company doesn’t sell flood insurance, you can go to floodsmart.gov to search for a flood insurance provider in your state. Flood insurance may be required if your home is in a FEMA floodplain. Not sure if you’re in a floodplain? Start by searching your address on FEMA’s website https://lnkd.in/e_gbqEJ. Residents of City of Centennial and Arapahoe County can contact SEMSWA for flood hazard information on our website’s Contact Us page at www.semswa.org. #flood #floodplain #floodplainmanagement #SEMSWA #MHFD #FEMA #Floodinsurance #NFIP

Are you or your contractor doing construction work in a floodplain? Before you start work, you need a floodplain permit in addition to your building permits. Learn more in our Floodplain Management section of our website at www.semswa.org   #flood #floodplain #floodplainmanagement #water #rain #nature #SEMSWA #MHFD #FEMA