The following definitions shall be applicable to this chapter:
BY-PASS CHANNEL. A channel formed in the topography of the earth's surface to carry storm water runoff through a specific area.
CLEARING. The cutting or destruction of trees, tree stumps of less than six inches in diameter, brush, or structures.
CONTROL STRUCTURE. A structure designed to control the volume of storm water runoff that passes through it during a specific length of time.
DEVELOPMENT. Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to erection or removal of buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, stripping, clearing, removal or drilling operations.
DRAINAGE. The removal of surface or ground water from a given area either by gravity or by pumping.
DRAINAGEWAY. A ditch, levee, watercourse, or other natural or artificial condition for the removal of surplus or excess surface water collecting or accumulating on the land.
DRY BOTTOM STORM WATER STORAGE AREA. A facility that is designed to be normally dry and contains water only when excess storm water runoff occurs.
EROSION. The natural wearing away of the land by the action of running water and/or wind.
EROSION, ACCELERATED. An increased wearing away of the land by the action of running water and/or wind resulting from the development of land, destruction of vegetative cover, or other activity of man.
EXCAVATE. Any act by which organic matter, earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar material is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated or bulldozed.
EXCAVATION. The condition resulting from excavating.
EXCESS STORM WATER. That portion of storm water runoff which exceeds the transportation capacity of storm sewers or natural drainage channels serving a specific watershed.
EXPOSED LAND. Land which has been stripped or from which vegetative cover and/or topsoil has been removed.
FILL. Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock, or any other material is deposited, placed, replaced, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved by man to a new location.
GRADE, EXISTING. The vertical location of the existing ground or other surface prior to excavation or filling.
GRADE, FINAL. The vertical location of the ground or other surface after the grading work is completed in accordance with the erosion and sedimentation control plan.
GRADE, ROUGH. The vertical location of the ground or other surface after the commencement of grading but prior to the establishment of final grade.
GRADING. To excavate or fill or any combination thereof.
GROUND WATER RECHARGE. Replenishment of existing natural underground water supplies.
NATURAL DRAINAGE. Channels formed by the existing surface topography of the earth prior to changes made by unnatural causes.
PARCEL. All contiguous land under single ownership and/or unified control or all land included within a storm water control plan or an erosion and sedimentation control plan, whichever is greater.
POSITIVE GRAVITY OUTLET. A term used to describe the drainage of an area by means of natural gravity so that it lowers the free water surface to a point below the existing grade or invert of storm drains within the area.
RECOGNIZED AGENCY. An agency or governmental unit that has statistically and consistently examined local and climatic and geologic conditions and maintained records as they apply to storm water runoff, e.g., U.S. Weather Bureau, University of Illinois Engineering Experiment Station, Illinois State Water Survey, etc.
REMOVAL. Removing vegetation (including ground cover) to the ground and complete extraction of tree stumps by cutting, burning, chemical application or other means.
SAFE STORM DRAINAGE CAPACITY. A term used to describe the quantity of storm water runoff that can be transported by a channel or conduit without having the water surface rise above the level of the earth's surface over the conduit, or adjacent to the waterway.
SEDIMENTATION. The process of forming and depositing of suspended matter carried in suspension in water through the action of gravity. It is usually accomplished by reducing the velocity of the water below the point where it can transport the suspended material.
SETTLING. See SEDIMENTATION.
STORM WATER RUNOFF. Water that results from precipitation which is not absorbed by the soil or plant material.
STORM WATER RUNOFF RELEASE RATE. The rate at which storm water runoff is released from dominant to servient land.
STORM WATER STORAGE AREA. Areas designated to store excess storm water.
STRIPPING. Any activity which relocates topsoil and tree stumps with diameters of six inches or more from the site, or relocated topsoil for storage for later use on the site.
STRUCTURE. Any object which is constructed or erected and which requires permanent location on the land or attachment to an object having permanent location on the land. The term STRUCTURE is intended to include, but not be limited to, such objects as buildings, fences, parking lots, concrete or asphalt slabs, decks and patios.
STRUCTURE, HYDRAULIC. Any engineering structure for the purpose of regulation and control of water.
STRUCTURE, TEMPORARY. Any structure used to retard erosion or limit the flow of water, constructed of nondurable materials in a manner to insure temporary control of waterflow rates for beneficial use over as short a period as one or two seasons.
TRIBUTARY WATERSHED. All of the area that contributes storm water runoff to a given point.
WATERCOURSE. A channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently, and if the latter, with some degree of regularity. Such flow must be in a definite direction and cover a prescribed area. Watercourses may be either natural or artificial, and both may occur either on the surface or underground.
WATERCOURSE, ARTIFICIAL. A surface or underground watercourse constructed by man.
WATERCOURSE, NATURAL. A surface or underground watercourse created by natural forces and conditions.
WATERCOURSE, UNDERGROUND. A geological formation which contains water moving in a known direction and defined channel.
(Ord. 3270, passed 8-28-00)