Regulations
Garfield County SWPPP Checklist: Concrete Washout & Excavation
Garfield County
Jurisdiction: Garfield County (unincorporated areas, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Silt)
Permit / authority: Governing Permits: Garfield County Grading Permit / CDOT Standard Specifications
Operating in Garfield County means your site is heavily scrutinized for its impact on the Roaring Fork and Colorado River watersheds. County regulations are highly protective of native topography and vegetation, strictly regulating any temporary earthwork through their Community Development Department.
1. The 50 Cubic Yard Grading Permit Trigger
The Rule: Any excavation, grading, or earthwork construction requires a formal county grading permit unless explicitly exempted. The Garfield County Nuance: Garfield County explicitly caps the "Small Project" exemption at 50 cubic yards of earthwork material or 6,000 square feet of graded area. If digging temporary concrete washout pits pushes your total site earthwork over this exact threshold, it triggers the requirement for a major grading permit, engineer-stamped plans, and comprehensive stormwater management oversight.
2. Revegetation & Financial Security Bonds
The Rule: Sites must be returned to their native, stabilized state once construction finishes to prevent long-term erosion and weed propagation. The Garfield County Nuance: Garfield County aggressively protects its native vegetation. If your grading permit involves long-term disturbed areas, the county requires the submission of a Site-Specific Noxious Weed Inventory, a Revegetation Plan, and a Financial Security (Bond). The county uses this bond to perform reclamation if the developer fails to restore the disturbed footprint (e.g., the scarred earth left behind after a dirt washout pit is removed). Using above-grade containment minimizes ground disturbance and protects this financial security.
3. CDOT Section 208 Strict Adherence & The 50-Foot Buffer
The Rule: Discharges of pollutants to state waters are prohibited, and temporary BMPs must be installed according to state specifications. The Garfield County Nuance: Local jurisdictions within Garfield County (such as Silt and Glenwood Springs) explicitly write CDOT specifications into their municipal planning and zoning notes. Concrete waste must be placed in a temporary concrete washout facility located a minimum of 50 feet from state waters, drainageways, and inlets. Furthermore, the containment must strictly adhere to the structural and operational guidelines of CDOT Construction Specifications Section 208. Washout facilities that do not meet CDOT's precise liner and structural standards are rejected.
4. The IBC Appendix J Topography Mandate
The Rule: Site plans must accurately reflect the existing and proposed landscape. The Garfield County Nuance: Under their amended International Building Code (IBC) Appendix J regulations, Garfield County mandates that site plans must show existing and proposed contours within 100 feet of any proposed grading or disturbance. If a superintendent decides to change the location of an in-ground washout pit during phasing, and that new location alters drainage patterns with respect to adjacent properties or roadways, work can be halted until an amended topographic site plan is submitted and approved by the Community Development Department.
