The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
CUT. A portion of land surface or area from which earth has been removed or will be removed by excavation; CUT also means the depth below original ground surface to excavated surface.
DEBRIS BASIN. A barrier or dam built across a waterway or other suitable locations to retain rock, sand, gravel or silt or other materials.
DEVELOPMENT. Any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations.
DIVERSION. A channel with or without a supporting ridge on the lower side constructed across or at the bottom of a slope.
EMBANKMENT. A manmade deposit of soil, rock or other materials.
EROSION. The wearing away of the land surface by the action of wind, water or gravity.
FLOODPLAIN. For the purpose of this chapter, means all the land which was or would be inundated during the intermediate regional flood as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with maps under community panel numbers 260065-0001 and -0002, or by the State Water Resources Commission.
GRADING. Any stripping, cutting, filling, or stockpiling, or any combination thereof, and shall include the land in its cut or filled condition.
GRADING PERMIT. A permit issued to authorize grading under the City Building Code.
GRASSED WATERWAY. A natural or constructed waterway, usually broad and shallow, covered with erosion-resistant grasses, used to conduct surface water from a field, diversion or other site features.
MULCHING. The application of plant or other suitable materials on the soil surface to conserve moisture, hold soil in place, and aid in establishing plant cover.
NATURAL GROUND SURFACE. The ground surface in its original state before any grading, excavation or filling.
REGULATORY FLOODWAY. The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discourage the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height.
SEDIMENT. Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water or gravity as a product of erosion.
SEDIMENT POOL. The reservoir space allotted to the accumulation of submerged sediment during the life of the debris basin.
SLOPE. The degree of deviation of a surface from the horizontal, usually expressed in percent or degree.
SOIL. All unconsolidated material and organic material of whatever origin that overlies bedrock which can be readily excavated.
SOIL ENGINEER. A professional engineer who is qualified by education and experience to practice applied soil mechanics and foundation engineering.
STRIPPING. Any activity which removes or significantly disturbs the vegetative surface cover, including clearing and grubbing operations.
STRUCTURAL ROCK FILLS. Fills constructed predominantly of rock materials for the purpose of supporting structures.
TEMPORARY PROTECTION. Stabilization of erosive or sediment producing areas.
VEGETATIVE PROTECTION. Stabilization of erosive or sediment producing areas by covering the soil with:
(1) Permanent seeding, producing long- term vegetative cover;
(2) Short-term seeding, producing temporary vegetative cover; or
(3) Sodding, producing areas covered with a turf of perennial sod-forming grass.
WATERCOURSE. Any natural or artificial watercourse, stream, river, creek, ditch, channel, canal, conduit, culvert, drain, waterway, gully, ravine or wash in which water flows in a definite direction or course, either continuously or intermittently, and which has a definite channel, bed and banks, and includes any area adjacent thereto subject to inundation by reason of overflow or floodwater.
(1993 Code, § 82-307) (Ord. passed 10-12-1992)
Cross reference:
Definitions generally, see § 1.2;
Zoning definitions, see § 82-4