City of Aspen Stormwater Manager April Long Appointed to Statewide Water Quality Control Commission
Media Contacts: Trish Aragon, City of Aspen City Engineer,
(970) 429-2785, trish.aragon@cityofaspen.com or
April Long, City of Aspen Stormwater Manager and Clean River Program Manager,
(970) 429-2781, april.long@cityofaspen.com
ASPEN, CO – March 20, 2019 – The City of Aspen is pleased to announce that Governor Jared Polis appointed April Long, City of Aspen Stormwater Manager and Clean River Program Manager, to the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC). This commission is under the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) and is charged with developing water quality policies and regulations for surface water and groundwater for the state of Colorado.
“My participation is an opportunity to help this commission have input in their decision-making process that is reflective of small communities,” said April Long. “I have practical work experience in the use and application of these water quality standards and I’ve seen the way that these standards affect and protect our waters.”
This appointment is meaningful for the City of Aspen and the community members that live and recreate in the Roaring Fork River watershed. This commission is tasked with setting water quality regulations that maintain and protect our waters. As a Commission member, Long will be in the position to work alongside top representatives in the water quality field, which will support Aspen’s continued focus on river health.
The commission has several ongoing and new policy considerations, including rulemaking for the upper and lower Colorado River. In this, the commission considers numerical standards that can address several aspects of water quality. These include standards for water practices, river temperature, pollution, nutrient management and other quality standards.
“I’m raising my family here and it is critically important to me that there remains access to clean, safe drinking and recreational water. This beautiful state is home to exceptional water - it’s why I moved here, and I want to help keep it that way.”
Pending confirmation from the state senate, Long’s three-year term as Water Quality Control Commission began in February 2019 and expires in February 2022. She will also continue serving on the Northwest Colorado Water Quality/Quantity Committee and the Colorado River Basin Roundtable.
About the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC)
The Water Quality Control Commission is the administrative agency responsible for developing specific water quality policy in Colorado, in a manner that implements the broader policies set forth by the Legislature in the Colorado Water Quality Control Act. The commission adopts water quality classifications and standards for surface and groundwaters, as well as various regulations aimed at achieving compliance with those classifications and standards.
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