As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
AQUIFER
Water-bearing rock or soil strata.
CHANNEL
The bed or lowest point of a watercourse.
CLOSED DRAINAGE
A network of conduits, pipes, culverts and appurtenant structures
constructed to convey the runoff of natural surface waters.
DETENTION
The holding of natural surface water during and following
a rainfall event, or during snow melt conditions, in an area planned
for such use, in such a way that the addition of the detained water
to downstream drainageways or natural watercourses can be achieved
in a controlled manner, usually by means of a throttling facility
such as a culvert or weir structure.
DETENTION AREA
The temporary body of water created by planned detention
which makes use of natural water collection areas, or areas which
tend to collect surface water due to man-made terrain features such
as limited-flow culverts, restricted outlets, etc.
DETENTION STRUCTURE
A man-made construction which creates a detention pond by
limiting flow rates away from a natural collection area or which adds
to the detention capacity of such an area.
DEVELOPER
The actual owner or owners of the land and/or person, firm
or corporation which develops or uses land within the Town in such
a manner that it in any way affects the storm or surface water drainage
characteristics of the property developed or used. The term "developer"
shall include municipal, charitable and educational corporations,
institutions, associations and governmental agencies.
DEVELOPMENT
Any improved land use, including residential, commercial,
industrial, institutional or recreational; includes development of
raw land as well as additions or alterations to presently developed
land.
DITCH
A narrow excavation having steep sides, used to drain or
irrigate property.
DRAINAGE
The gravitational movement of water from its place of origin
via surface runoff within or outside developed channels or via subsurface
underflow.
DRAINAGE BASIN
The area drained by a watercourse, in this chapter used interchangeably
with "watershed."
DRAINAGE EASEMENT
A permanent and/or temporary right-of-way granted by the
owner to the Town providing unhindered access to the banks and channels
of streams and drainage systems.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
A network consisting of any combination or type of open channels
and enclosed artificial facilities and/or retention or detention facilities
employed to convey or control the runoff of natural surface waters.
ENCROACHMENT LIMIT
The boundary of a maintenance way easement adjacent to a
portion of a drainage system within which no building or structure
shall be erected and within which no trees, bushes or other vegetation
shall be planted or allowed to grow which will interfere with the
maintenance of the drainage channel, unless otherwise allowed, as
in an agricultural exclusion.
ENCROACHMENT OFFICER
The agent designated by the Town Board to monitor and enforce
the encroachment limits as defined above.
EXCAVATION
The removal of sand, gravel, soil, including topsoil or other
natural deposits, by stripping, digging or any other means.
FILLING
The depositing of natural or artificial material that raises
the existing grade of land or modifies the surfaces of water bodies.
FLOODPLAIN
The area of normally dry terrain that becomes covered with
water during and after local or upstream rainstorms and/or ice melt
conditions. The floodplain for a specific watercourse may be defined
in terms of the severity of the precipitation event, which causes
the flooding. Floodplains may be determined from maps prepared by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, by the Federal Flood Insurance Administration
(FIA) or as a result of special engineering studies. Changes in the
natural drainage system may change the locations of the floodplain
limits.
FLOODWAY
In general, the area through which, or over which, floodwaters
flow at specific levels of runoff severity. The FIA has a special
definition for insurance purposes.
FLOW RATE
The quantity of water that moves past a given point in a
specified increment of time, usually measured in cubic feet per second
(cfs).
GRADING
The alteration of the existing grade of land through excavation
or filling.
OPEN DRAINAGE
A network of natural streams, creeks, constructed channels
and ditches or swales employed to convey the flows of natural surface
waters.
RETENTION FACILITY
An area or structure without an outlet or with a controllable
outlet, intended to collect and store surface water during and after
precipitation to prevent excessive downstream flows. A retention facility
has a normal low water pool above, which is designed freeboard to
contain storm flows.
RIP-RAP
Rocks or stones placed on soil to prevent erosion from precipitation
or moving water.
STRIPPING
The removal of overburden, topsoil, soil, vegetation or other
natural material from land.
SURFACE WATER
That portion of natural precipitation which moves across
the land surface, as sheet flow or as channelized flow to permanent
watercourses.
SWALE
A shallow, relatively wide drainage channel of area, with
flatter side slopes than a ditch, usually covered with grass or other
natural vegetation.
TOPSOIL
The natural surface layer of an undisturbed area of terrain,
usually darker than the underlying layer, ranging in organic matter
content from 2% to 50% and which ranges in texture from loamy fine
sand to clay.
TOWN
The Town of Williamson.
TRIBUTARY
A stream channel, swale, ditch, etc., contributing flow to
a larger stream or body of water.
VELOCITY
The speed of water, usually related in feet per second (fps).
VOLUME
A quantity of water, usually related in cubic feet (cf).
WATER TABLE
The level below which the soil is saturated with water.
WATERCOURSE
A stream of water. It may be natural or man-made and may
flow seasonally or year round.
WATERSHED
The area drainaged by a watercourse, usually divided by a
ridge or crest line of natural topography but sometimes by man-made
constructions. Same as "drainage basin."
WETLANDS
Land and submerged lands commonly called "swamps" or "marshes"
which support aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation, plants or brush.
Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any
person, firm, entity or corporation to:
A. Modify the topography or surface qualities of any area greater than
20,000 square feet so that the water retention or discharge characteristics
of the area are modified, unless the action has been approved by the
Town Board through its designated Engineer. Recognized agricultural
procedures in active agriculture areas as defined by New York State
Division of Agriculture and Markets are exempted from the regulations
herein defined.
B. Place, deposit or permit to be placed or deposited any debris, fill,
sand, stone or other solid materials of any kind or nature or construction
of any kind into or across any watercourse, including culverts, pipes,
or other drainage systems that may cause the obstruction or alteration
of flow through the area.
C. Fill, obstruct, dam, divert or otherwise change or alter the natural
or artificial flow of waters or drainage or the intensity or quantity
of flow through any stream, ditch, pipe, culvert, watercourse or other
improvement or drainage system.
All preexisting obstructions or deposits or alterations or diversions
of the natural flow of water or the intensity or quality of flow through
any watercourse or drainage system which cause the inundation of real
property, buildings or other premises or, in the opinion of the Town
Board through its designated Engineer, constitute an undue burden
upon the drainage system or hamper the proper present or future course
of development of the drainage system, or, in the opinion of the Town
Board through its designated Engineer, presently constitute or in
the reasonably foreseeable future will constitute a danger or hazard
to the well-being, safety or general welfare of the residents of the
Town or any property located therein, may be removed or corrected
by the Town upon 10 days' notice by the Town. The Town will endeavor
to replace improvements necessary for essential use of the property,
such as driveway culverts.
The developer shall submit detailed drainage plans with a report
containing sufficient data for the Town to check the feasibility of
the drainage system as proposed by the developer. The following data
shall be included:
A. Hydrologic (at all critical points within the development):
(1) Tributary drainage area delineated on the map.
(5) Design flow and protection level.
(6) Peak flow rates and velocities before and after development.
B. Hydraulic:
(1) The plan and profile of all drainage systems shall be provided.
(2) Sizes and types of drainage improvements, including special structures,
typical sections, easement, etc.
(3) When required, supporting calculations for upstream and downstream
channel capacities as they affect water surface levels and backwaters
within or adjacent to the development. Such calculations shall be
supported by such additional survey information as may be required
to determine a profile and cross section of the upstream and downstream
channel reaches of the development under construction.
(4) A detailed development-grading plan prepared to suitable contour
intervals with grading details to indicate proposed street grades
and elevations, watercourse grades and elevations, building site elevations
and surface elevations at critical points throughout the development.
(5) In certain cases, the Town may waive the requirement for detailed
drainage plans of one- or two-lot parcels when the work proposed involves
only minor modifications or alterations to the drainage system. In
the event that detailed plans are waived, the developer shall be required
to submit a drainage plan containing sufficient data for the designated
Engineer to check the feasibility of the drainage system as proposed
by the developer.
The approval of plans for proposed drainage systems and flood
hazard prevention requirements shall not constitute a representation,
guaranty or warranty of any kind or nature by the Town of Williamson
or by an officer or employee thereof of the safety, operation, adequacy
or intent of the proposed facilities and shall create no liability
upon or cause for action against such public body, officer or employee
for any damage that may result from construction pursuant thereto.