This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Recently an article about E.coli contamination in Boulder Creek appeared in the Daily Camera. Boulder Creek is not the only stream in Boulder County that is on the list of impaired waters under section 303 (d) of the Clean Water Act for E.coli. Sections of the Saint Vrain within the Longmont city reach exceed standards for E.coli during the recreation season, according to the 2017 water quality analysis report for the Boulder Creek/Saint Vrain Watersheds. The Saint Vrain River has been on the impaired waters list in 2016, as well as on the most current list in 2018.
It is important for the City of Longmont to find the contamination source(s) before people or pets get sick from coming into contact with contaminated river water and before wildlife and aquatic species are detrimentally impacted. The City of Longmont should set a quality of life benchmark for high water quality in the Saint Vrain River. Residents and our wildlife should have clean water in Saint Vrain River that meets federal standards for E.coli.
Ruby Bowman
Longmont, CO 80501
