For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions describe
the meaning of the terms used in this chapter.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Water Management
Administration.
For purposes of stormwater management, any deleterious effect
on waters or wetlands including their quality, quantity, surface area,
species, species composition, aesthetics or usefulness for human or
natural uses which are or may potentially be harmful or injurious
to human health, welfare, safety, or property, to biological productivity,
diversity, or stability or which unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment
of life or property, including outdoor recreation.
Those methods and procedures used in the cultivation of land
in order to further crops or livestock production and conservation
of related soil and water resources. Logging and timber removal operations
shall not be considered a part of this definition.
Any person, firm, or government agency who executes the necessary
forms to procure official approval of a project or a permit to carry
out construction of a project.
The Town of Rock Hall or the agency, department or person
designated by the Town of Rock Hall to enforce the provisions of this
chapter.
A porous water-bearing geologic formation generally restricted
to materials yielding an appreciable supply of water.
A structural device or nonstructural practice designed to
temporarily store or treat stormwater runoff in order to mitigate
flooding, reduce pollution, and provide other amenities.
The volume used to design structural management practices
to control stream channel erosion. Methods for calculating the channel
protection storage volume are specified in the 2000 Maryland Stormwater
Design Manual, Volumes I and II.
The removal of trees and/or brush from the land but which
shall not include the ordinary mowing of grass.
For stormwater management purposes: The first of three plan
approvals that includes information necessary to allow an initial
evaluation of a proposed project.
The 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and
II (Maryland Department of the Environment, April 2000 and as may
be amended), that serves as the official guide for stormwater management
principles, methods, and practices.
A permanent structure for the temporary storage of runoff
that is designed so as not to create a permanent pool of water.
To change the runoff characteristics of a parcel of land
in conjunction with residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional
construction or alteration.
The concentrated release of stormwater to tidal waters or
vegetated tidal wetlands from new development or redevelopment projects
in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area.
That area contributing runoff to a single point measured
in a horizontal plane, which is enclosed by a ridge line.
A grant or reservation by a property owner of the right to
use an identifiable piece of land or right for a specified purpose
or purposes, and which must be included in the conveyance of land
affected by such easement.
Using small-scale stormwater management practices, nonstructural
techniques, and site planning to mimic natural hydrologic runoff characteristics
and minimize the impact of land development on water resources. Methods
for designing practices are specified in the Design Manual.
Those land development activities that are not subject to
the stormwater management requirements contained in this chapter.
A stormwater design feature that provides gradual release
of a volume of water in order to increase settling of pollutants and
protect downstream channels from frequent storm events. Methods for
designing extended detention BMPs are specified in the Design Manual.
The storage volume required to control those infrequent but
large storm events in which overbank flows reach or exceed the boundaries
of the one-hundred-year floodplain.
The last of three plan approvals that includes the information
necessary to allow all approvals and permits relating to stormwater
management to be issued by the approving agency.
Prolonging the flow time of runoff to reduce the peak discharge.
Any act by which soil is cleared, stripped, stockpiled, excavated,
scarified, filled or any combination thereof.
Any surface that does not allow stormwater to infiltrate
into the ground.
The passage or movement of water into the soil surface.
Designing stormwater management systems so that all reasonable
opportunities for using ESD planning techniques and treatment practices
are exhausted and, only where absolutely necessary, a structural BMP
is implemented.
The design and construction of a facility necessary to control
stormwater from more than one development.
The design and construction of systems necessary to control
stormwater within an immediate development.
The volume controlled by structural practices to prevent
an increase in the frequency of out-of-bank flooding generated by
development. Methods for calculating the overbank flood protection
volume are specified in the Design Manual.
The federal government, the state, any county, municipal
corporation, or other political subdivision of the state, or any of
their units, or an individual receiver, trustee, guardian, executor,
administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind or any partnership,
firm, association, public or private corporation or any other entity.
For stormwater management purposes, a combination of strategies
employed early in the project design to reduce the impact from development
and to incorporate natural features into a stormwater management plan.
That portion of the water quality volume used to maintain
groundwater recharge rates at development sites. Methods for calculating
the recharge volume are specified in the Design Manual.
Any construction, alteration, or improvement exceeding 5,000
square feet of land disturbance performed on sites where existing
land use is commercial, industrial, institutional, or multi-family
residential and existing site impervious area exceeds 40%.
A permanent structure that provides for the storage of runoff
by means of a permanent pool of water.
The implementation of ESD practices, the construction of
a structural BMP or the modification of an existing structural BMP
in a previously developed area to improve water quality over current
conditions.
Soils or other surficial materials transported or deposited
by the action of wind, water, or artificial means.
Any tract, lot, or parcel of land or combination of tracts,
lots, or parcels of land which are under one ownership, or are contiguous
and in diverse ownership where development is to be performed as a
part of a unit, subdivision, or project.
The second of three plan approvals that includes the information
necessary to allow a preliminary evaluation of the site engineering
of a proposed project.
The prevention of soil movement by any of various vegetative
and/or structural means.
Water that originates from a precipitation event.
Natural areas, ESD practices, stormwater management measures,
and any other structure through which stormwater flows, infiltrates,
or discharges from a site.
Any activity which removes the vegetative surface cover,
including tree removal, clearing, grubbing, and storage or removal
of topsoil.
The modification of the minimum stormwater management requirements
for specific circumstances such that strict adherence to the requirements
would result in unnecessary hardship and not fulfill the intent of
this chapter.
A reduction or relaxation of stormwater management requirements
by the approving authority for a specific development on a case-by-case
review basis. A waiver will be allowed to preclude a regulatory taking
for which just compensation would be required.
Any natural or artificial watercourse (including, but not
limited to streams, rivers, creeks, ditches, channels, canals, conduits,
culverts, drains, waterways, gullies, ravines, or washes) in which
waters flow in a definite direction or course, either continuously
or intermittently; and including any area adjacent thereto which is
subject to inundation by reason of overflow or floodwaters.
The volume needed to capture and treat 90% of the average
annual rainfall events at a development site. Methods for calculating
the water quality volume are specified in the Design Manual.
The total drainage area contributing runoff to a single point.
