Colorado Springs has “fudged” on its promise to deal with stormwater.

So said the Pueblo Chieftain in an editorial Sunday.

“We are urging the Bureau of Reclamation to open a supplemental environmental impact statement to determine if there is any scientific basis to the Springs’ claims that its stormwater problems are under control,” the editorial stated.

“So far, Reclamation has relied on political promises to address stormwater, rather than seek scientific information in granting approval for the Southern Delivery System. The strongest response Reclamation has given to critics of these promises is that an “adaptive management program” will evaluate impacts from SDS and fix problems as they occur.

“This is smoke and mirrors.”

The editorial — titled “Control? What control?” — notes that City Attorney Chris Melcher raised concerns in March about the need to fund stormwater.

The city should be spending between $13 million and $15 million annually on stormwater needs, city officials have said.

“That amount is but a pittance of the $500 million Colorado Springs admits it needs to address all of the capital and maintenance needs of its existing stormwater system,” the editorial states.