The County Board of Commissioners finds that:
(A) Water bodies, roadways, structures, and other property within and downstream of the county are at times subjected to flooding;
(B) Flooding is a danger to the lives and property of the public and is also a danger to the natural resources of the region;
(C) Land development alters the hydrologic response of watersheds, resulting in increased stormwater runoff rates and volumes, increased flooding, increased stream channel erosion, and increased sediment transport and deposition;
(D) Soil erosion resulting from land-disturbing activities causes a significant amount of sediment and other pollutants to be transported off-site and deposited in ditches, streams, wetlands, lakes, and reservoirs;
(E) Increased stormwater runoff rates and volumes, and the sediments and pollutants associated with stormwater runoff from future development projects within the county will, absent reasonable regulation and control, adversely affect the county’s water bodies and water resources;
(F) Pollutant contributions from illicit discharges within the county will, absent reasonable regulation, monitoring, and enforcement, adversely affect the county’s water bodies and water resources;
(G) Stormwater runoff, soil erosion, non-point source pollution, and illicit sources of pollution can be controlled and minimized by the regulation of stormwater management;
(H) Preventing further encroachment into the FEH corridors will minimize fluvial erosion hazards and property loss from flooding, enhance public safety, maximize channel stability, and maintain or improve water quality and habitat function;
(I) Adopting the standards, criteria, and procedures contained and referenced in this chapter and implementing the same will address many of the deleterious effects of stormwater runoff, illicit discharges, and fluvial erosion hazards;
(J) Adopting this chapter is necessary for the protection of property, preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare, for the conservation of our natural resources, and for compliance with state and federal regulations.
(K) Adopting this chapter is necessary for the protection of mutual and private drains.
(Ord. 2023-45, passed 12-12-2023)