In 2008, the 5-2-1 Drainage Authority has provide stormwater management services and is responsible for NPDES compliance in the areas it serves within Mesa County.  The 5-2-1 DA complies with NPDES and other environmental regulations and informs the public about stormwater quality and projects.  

The 5-2-1 DA is an outgrowth of the partnerships between the City of Grand Junction, the City of Fruita, the Town of Palisade, Mesa County and the Grand Valley Drainage District.  The boundary was established to include those private lands adjacent to the Colorado River and the private and public lands above them in the drainages.  Because the authority is wholly within Mesa County, the boundaries do not extend beyond the Mesa County line even though the contributing areas of some of the drainages originate well outside the county.

Stormwater Management

Stormwater Management is the process of understanding, planning for, analyzing and controlling stormwater. Stormwater Management plays a critical role in controlling flooding, enhancing safety, protecting the environment and meeting the requirements of federal environmental regulations. Stormwater must be managed for the common good across the whole community because water runoff does not follow subdivision or community boundaries.

A major purpose of the 5-2-1 DA is to address the multi-jurisdictional problems of stormwater management.  Runoff from public lands such as the Colorado National Monument might cross private and public properties in the County, the City, under a state highway, and back into the County before entering the Colorado River at a point that happens to be in the City.