The city finds that uncontrolled stormwater runoff and construction site erosion from land development and land-disturbing activity can have significant adverse impacts upon local and regional water resources, diminishing the quality of public health, safety, public and private property, and natural resources of the city. Specifically, uncontrolled construction site erosion and stormwater runoff can:
(1) Threaten public health, safety, property, and general welfare by increasing runoff volumes, peak flood flows, and overburdening storm sewers, drainage ways, and other storm drainage systems;
(2) Diminish the capacity of lakes and streams to support fish, aquatic life, recreational uses and water supply uses by increasing pollutant loadings of total sediment, suspended solids, nutrients, heavy metals, bacteria, pathogens, and other urban pollutants;
(3) Degrade physical stream habitat by increasing stream bank erosion, increasing stream bed scour, diminishing groundwater recharge, diminishing stream base flows, and increasing stream temperatures;
(4) Undermine floodplain management efforts by increasing the incidence and levels of flooding;
(5) Alter wetland communities by changing wetland hydrology and increasing pollutant loading; and
(6) Generate airborne particulate concentrations that are health-threatening or may cause other damage to property or the environment.
(Ord. 09-15, passed 10-26-2015; Am. Ord. 10-22, passed 1-9-2023)