[Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
Unless a contrary intention clearly appears, the following words and phrases shall have, for the purpose of this chapter, the meanings in the following clauses. Any word or term not defined herein shall be used with a meaning of standard usage.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICESA practice, technique, or measure that is an effective, practical means of preventing or reducing soil erosion or water pollution, or both, from runoff both during and after earth disturbance activities. These can include structural, vegetative, or operational practices.
CUTAn excavation; any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar material is dug into, cut, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated or bulldozed and shall include the resulting conditions; the difference between a point on the original ground and a designated point of lower elevation on the final grade; also, the material removed in excavation.
DISTURBED AREAUnstabilized land area where an earth disturbance activity is occurring or has occurred.
EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITYA construction or other human activity that disturbs the surface of land, including, but not limited to, clearing and grubbing, grading, excavations, filling, embankments, land development, road maintenance activities, mineral extraction, increases in impervious surfaces, and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock or earth materials.
EROSIONThe process by which soil and bedrock are worn away by the action of wind, water, climate or chemical action.
FILLAny act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar material is deposited, placed, replaced, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported, or moved to a new location and shall include the resulting conditions.
FLOODPLAINThe area along a natural watercourse which is periodically overflowed by water therefrom and which has been designated by ordinance of Warminster Township pursuant to the Warminster Township Floodplain Ordinance and Map.
GRADEThe elevation of the existing ground surface at the location of any proposed excavation or fill.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACESurfaces which do not absorb water and which prevent the infiltration of water into the ground. Any area which has been or is proposed to be modified from grass, dirt, vegetation, wooded, or groundcover, including but not limited to the area of all buildings, streets, parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks, swimming pools, and any areas in concrete, asphalt, porous pavers, packed stone or other similar materials, shall be considered an impervious surface. Impervious surfaces also include other areas determined to be impervious by the Department of Licenses and Inspections or its duly authorized agents.
QUALIFYING SITEAny lot, tract, or parcel of land, or series of lots, tracts, or parcels of land, joined together where grading work is continuous and performed at the same time.
RUNOFFThe surface water discharge or rate of discharge of a given watershed after a fall of rain or snow that does not enter the soil but runs off the surface of the land.
RUNOFF FROM A FULLY DEVELOPED AREA UPSTREAMRunoff that can be anticipated upon maximum development of the tributary area of the watershed located upstream from the subject tract, as permitted by prevailing zoning and/or the applicable municipal comprehensive plans, and a rainfall with an average frequency of occurrence as designated by the Township.
SEDIMENTATIONThe process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated or deposited by moving wind, water or gravity. Once this matter is deposited (or remains suspended in water), it is referred to as "sediment."
SLOPEThe face of an embankment or cut section; any ground whose surface makes an angle with the plane of the horizon. Slopes are usually expressed in a percentage based upon vertical difference in feet per 100 feet of horizontal distance.
SOIL STABILIZATIONChemical, physical or structural treatment of a mass of soil to increase or maintain its stability or otherwise improve its engineering properties.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT CONTROL PLANA site-specific plan identifying best management practices (BMPs) to mitigate increases in stormwater runoff volume and/or rate and impacts to water quality.
SWALEA low-lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface water runoff.
TOPSOILSurface soils and subsurface soils which presumably are fertile soils and soil material, ordinarily rich in organic matter or humus debris. Topsoil is usually found in the uppermost four inches.
WATERCOURSEAny natural or artificial swale, stream or structure in which water flows continuously or intermittently.