(a) As used in Title Six, certain words are defined as follows:
(1) "Accelerated erosion" means the removal of the surface of the land through the combined action of man's activities and natural processes at a rate greater than would occur because of the natural processes alone.
(2) "Cistern" means a reservoir or tank for storing water.
(3) "Culvert" means an enclosed conduit for transporting water under roads, driveways, etc.
(4) "Design storm" means the magnitude or precipitation from a storm event measured in probability of occurrence (e.g., 50-year storm) and duration (e. g., 24-hour), and used in computing storm water management control systems.
(5) "Detention basin" means a basin designed to retard storm water runoff by temporarily storing the runoff and releasing it at a predetermined rate. This basin is designed to drain completely after a storm event.
(6) "Developer" means a person or persons, partnership, association, corporation or other entity, or any responsible person therein or agent thereof, that undertakes the activities covered by this Title Six.
(7) "Disturbed area" means an area of land subject to earthmoving activities.
(8) "Diversion terrace" means a channel and a ridge constructed to a predetermined grade across a slope, and designed to collect and divert runoff from slopes which are subject to erosion.
(9) "Drainage easement" means a right of way granted by a landowner to a grantee, allowing the use of private land for storm water drainage purposes.
(10) "Earthmoving activity" means activity resulting in the movement of earth or the stripping of vegetative cover from the earth.
(11) "Erosion" means the removal of soil particles by the action of water, wind, ice or other geological agents.
(12) "Groundwater recharge" means replenishment of existing natural underground water supplies.
(13) "Hydraulic characteristics" mean the features of a watercourse which determine its water conveyance capacity.
(14) "Hydrology" means properties, distribution and effects of water on the earth's surface, in the soil and underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere.
(15) "Hydrograph" means a plot of the discharge of stream flow or runoff versus time.
(16) "Impervious surface" means a surface which resists the penetration of water or other liquids.
(17) "Infiltration structure" means a structure designed to direct runoff into the ground, e.g. french drains, seepage pits, seepage trench, etc.
(18) "Land development" means:
A. The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
1. A group of two or more buildings, or
2. The division or allocation of land or space between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features;
B. A subdivision of land.
(19) "Land disturbance" means earthmoving activities.
(20) "Nursery" means a tract of land on which trees and plants are raised or stored for transplanting and sale.
(21) "Outlet control structure" means a structure designed to control the volume of storm water runoff that passes through it during a specific length of time.
(22) "Peak discharge" means the maximum rate of flow of water at a given point and time resulting from a predetermined storm.
(23) "Rate of storm water runoff" means instantaneous measurement of water flow expressed in a unit of volume per unit of time, also referred to as "discharge". Examples: cubic feet per second (cfs); gallons per minute (gpm).
(24) "Retention basin" means a basin or pond containing a permanent pool of water and designed to retard storm water runoff by temporarily storing the runoff and releasing it at a predetermined rate.
(25) "Runoff" means that part of precipitation which flows over the land.
(26) "Runoff characteristics" mean the surface components of any watershed which, either individually or in any combination thereof, directly affect the rate, amount and direction of storm water runoff. These may include, but are not limited to: vegetation, soils, slopes and any type of man-made landscape alterations.
(27) "SCS" means Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
(28) "Sediment" means solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from its site or origin by water.
(29) "Sediment basin" means a barrier, dam, retention or detention basin located and designed to retain rock, sand, gravel, silt, or other storm water transported material.
(30) "Seepage pit/seepage trench" means an area of excavated earth filled with loose stone or similar material and into which surface water is directed for infiltration into the ground.
(31) "Semi-pervious surface" means a surface such as stone, rock, concrete or other materials which permits some vertical transmission of water.
(32) "Soil-cover complex method" means a method of runoff computation developed by SCS.
(33) "Storm sewer" means a system of pipes or other conduits which carries intercepted surface runoff, street water and other wash waters, or drainage, but excludes domestic sewage and industrial wastes.
(34) "Storm water" means drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from precipitation or snow or ice melt.
(35) "Subdivision" means the division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, transfer of ownership or building or lot development.
(36) "Swale" means a low lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface water runoff.
(37) "Volume of storm water runoff" means quantity of water normally measured in inches, cubic feet or acre feet determined analytically from: runoff coefficients; rainfall/runoff ratios; and areas underneath hydrographs.
(38) "Watershed" means the entire region or area drained by a river or other body of water whether natural or artificial.
(Ord. 13-1981 §1. Passed 5-20-81.)