September 14, 2026 – El Paso County is seeking public input to support the update of the County’s Stormwater Master Drainage Plan.
Led by the El Paso County Department of Public Works in partnership with Matrix Design Group, the Stormwater Master Drainage Plan will evaluate long-term stormwater needs, review existing drainage studies, and assess the capacity of public drainage infrastructure across the unincorporated county. The goal is to help ensure the County’s stormwater systems remain stable, sustainable, resilient, and functional while supporting public safety, protecting property, and safeguarding local waterways.
Stormwater from rain and snowmelt flows over roads, rooftops, parking lots, and developed areas, and when not properly managed, can contribute to flooding, erosion, infrastructure damage, and water quality concerns. Residents are encouraged to visit www.epcstormwaterplan.com to learn more, sign up for updates, and use the interactive map to identify drainage concerns, flooding, ponding, damaged infrastructure, or other stormwater-related issues.
The input of residents, who know their neighborhoods, roads, and drainage areas better than anyone, is critical to the success of the Plan, helping the County better understand local concerns and identifying priorities for stormwater planning and where infrastructure improvements can do the most good.
The Stormwater Master Drainage Plan will also incorporate findings from the County’s Stormwater Infrastructure Assessment Project, which is evaluating stormwater assets such as pipes, inlets, manholes, outfalls, open channels, and culverts. The assessment will help identify and prioritize infrastructure in need of repair or replacement and update the County’s stormwater asset database. More information is available at https://publicworks.elpasoco.com/stormwater-infrastructure-assessment-project/.
In addition to the Stormwater Master Drainage Plan, El Paso County, in partnership with Wilson & Company Inc., is also conducting the Haegler Ranch/Gieck Ranch/Ellicott Consolidated Drainage Basin Planning Study (DBPS) as a separate, basin-specific planning effort.
The DBPS focuses on drainage, flood risk, future development, and long-term infrastructure needs in eastern El Paso County, generally around the Ellicott area extending to the northwest and southeast of that, east of Colorado Springs along the Highway 94 corridor, including the Haegler Ranch, Gieck Ranch, and Ellicott Consolidated drainage basins. Residents who live, work, own property, or travel through the study area are encouraged to review the study and provide comments at https://wilsonco.mysocialpinpoint.com/HGECDBPS.
While the DBPS is separate from the countywide Stormwater Master Drainage Plan, both efforts support the same broader purpose: helping El Paso County better understand stormwater challenges, plan responsibly for growth, reduce flood risks, and prioritize future drainage infrastructure needs.
Residents can participate by:
- Visiting www.epcstormwaterplan.com to provide countywide stormwater feedback
- Using the interactive map to identify flooding, drainage, erosion, ponding, or infrastructure concerns
- Visiting https://wilsonco.mysocialpinpoint.com/HGECDBPS to review and comment on the Haegler Ranch/Gieck Ranch/Ellicott Consolidated Drainage Basin Planning Study
- Reviewing the County’s Stormwater Infrastructure Assessment Project at https://publicworks.elpasoco.com/stormwater-infrastructure-assessment-project/
- Signing up to receive project updates
- Sharing observations about stormwater issues in their neighborhoods, on nearby roads, or in areas where they regularly travel
For more information or to provide feedback on the Stormwater Master Drainage Plan, visit www.epcstormwaterplan.com.