The Chatfield Watershed Authority is the designated water quality management agency for the Chatfield Watershed.  The Authority manages wastewater treatment plant long-range planning (point sources) and non-permitted nonpoint source management.  Individual Authority membership is responsible for stormwater management and permits.  The Authority develops and maintains a long-rang (20-year) water quality management plan for the watershed.  The Authority reports to the Denver Regional Council of Governments as the "planning" agency.  The Authority is empowered as a signature agency on wastewater site applications submitted to the Colorado Water Quality Control Division.

The Authority implements the Chatfield Reservoir Control Regulation (Regulation #73).  The control regulation assures watershed point and nonpoint source water quality compliance consistent with adopted Colorado stream standards and classifications.    All permitted wastewater dischargers are assigned a total phosphorus wasteload allocation as designated in the control regulation.  The Authority monitors these wasteload allocations for compliance with the regulation.