FAQ

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean. The watershed includes both the streams, rivers, and ditches that convey the water as well as the land surfaces from which water drains. The watershed represents an area where all the water is drained to a single point. Each watershed is separated topographically from adjacent basins by a geographical barrier such as a ridge, hill or mountain. Sometimes political boundaries influence watershed boundaries such as when man-made efforts transport water out of one watershed into another.

Why is the work of BMW important to me?

BMW is working to keep the water in our watershed clean. One out of every two citizens in Colorado lives within the Barr Lake – Milton Reservoir Watershed (BMW), but most don’t know it. Because so many Coloradans live in the BMW, water resources in the watershed are very familiar to us, because we use them everyday, whether we’re drinking water from our tap, taking a shower, washing dishes, flushing our toilet, eating locally grown food, or enjoying wildlife near our homes. Without the water in the BMW remaining clean, the lifestyle in the Denver metro area would be very different from what we currently enjoy.

Who is BMW and how did they form?

BMW is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization with the mission of encouraging cooperation, involvement, and awareness by interested parties in collaborative efforts to improve the water quality of Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir.

BMW members come from both ends of the pipe; water providers (the water that comes out of your tap) and wastewater treatment providers (who treat the water you flush down the drain). BMW incorporated in 2005 and began working through a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process. The TMDL process is one way of writing laws and regulations to keep water clean.

How can I get involved in BMW?

BMW encourages interested people to become members. Click here to learn about the different membership levels.

We also encourage people to sign up for the BMW e-newsletter to learn more about BMW activities. Send us an email today!