Plans and Regulations

Protecting resources through environmentally sound development

The Town is committed to protecting water resources and ensuring future development continues in an environmentally sound manner. Below is a list of plans, regulations and manuals to assist in these efforts. These plans and the updates are reviewed by the Water Commission before approval by Town Council.

  1. Stormwater
  2. Water
  3. Wastewater
  4. Water Resources / Conservation

Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Manual

The GESC / DESC Manual has been renamed the Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Manual (TESC Manual) and has been revised to comply with the Town's MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) Permit with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The manual is in effect for all new projects after July 1, 2019. The transition from GESC to TESC is outlined in the next section.

The TESC Manual describes the permitting program that has been adopted to promote environmentally sound construction practices in Town. The goal of the program is to implement erosion and sediment control measures as a standard for all land-disturbance activities. The hope is to reduce increases in erosion and sedimentation over pre-development conditions. Erosion caused by construction and downstream sedimentation can damage property and degrade the quality of streams and lakes. The TESC Manual (PDF) is a large document, so it may take several minutes to open the full manual.

Grading, Erosion and Sediment Control / Drainage Erosion and Sediment Control Manual

The GESC and DESC Manual (commonly known as the GESC Manual) will still apply to projects that were in review or started construction before July 1, 2019. The transition to the TESC requirements are as follows:

GESC Permits:

  • Non-residential GESC-permitted projects will remain under the GESC program until close-out.
  • Residential GESC-permitted projects will be required to comply with the TESC requirements for vertical construction by Jan. 1, 2020.

DESC / Building permit requirements:

  • Residential subdivisions with at least one active building permit as of July 2019 will continue with the issuance of combined Building/DESC Permits through Dec. 31, 2019.
  • Residential subdivisions without active building permits as of July 2019 will be required to comply with the new TESC Permit requirements prior to release of building permits.
  • All residential building permits will be required to comply with the new TESC Permit requirements starting Jan. 1, 2020.

The GESC and DESC Manual (PDF) is a large document so it may take several minutes to open the full manual.

Storm Drainage Design and Technical Criteria Manual

Castle Rock Water recognizes the importance of sound stormwater planning and management. Stormwater management is an integral part of overall development planning and site design, which must be addressed in the earliest planning stages. All drainage reports and plans, drainage system analyses, and drainage system designs, submitted as a requirement of the Town of Castle Rock Municipal Code, shall comply with the criteria in the 2019 Storm Drainage Design and Technical Criteria Manual (PDF).

Portions of the Town are within the Cherry Creek Watershed governed by Water Quality Control Regulation 72. Construction projects within Cherry Creek must comply with Control Regulation 72.7. Visit Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality website for further information.

Drainageway master plans

Castle Rock Water has completed 20 major drainageway watershed master plans. These master plans serve as supplemental documentation to the Stormwater Master Plan (PDF). The plans were developed by engineering consultants and follow the basic outline set forth by the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District. The purpose of the drainageway master plans is to determine the drainage, flooding and erosion problems within the individual watersheds and identify strategies to minimize or eliminate these problems. They also identify existing problems along the major drainageway system, analyze floodplain characteristics, and provide recommended improvements for flood conveyance, stream stabilization and water quality. The plans provide a guide for managing necessary drainageway improvements in an efficient manner as development occurs in the watersheds, and minimize costs to rate payers.

Executive summaries and conceptual design drawings of the drainageway master plans can be viewed through the links below. If you would like to view any of these drainageway master plans in their entirety, please email us your request.

Plum Creek Watershed

Cherry Creek Watershed

Code Central

Visit our Code Central web page for municipal code, land development codes, infrastructure design codes, our fee schedule, and more.