For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section unless the context in which they are used specifically indicates otherwise:
BASE FLOODA flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASE FLOOD ELEVATIONThe high water elevation of the base flood, commonly referred to as the "one-hundred-year flood elevation."
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs)A practice, or combination of practices and design criteria that comply with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Guidebook of BMPs for Michigan Watersheds, or, if required by the Township, equivalent or other practices and equivalent or other design criteria that accomplish the purposes of this chapter (including, but not limited to minimizing or preventing stormwater runoff and preventing the discharge of pollutants into stormwater) as determined by the Township Engineer, and, where appropriate, the standards of the Kent County Drain Commissioner.
BUILDING OPENINGAny opening of a solid wall, such as a window or door, through which floodwaters could penetrate.
CLEAN WATER ACTThe Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq., as amended, and the applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.
DESIGN ENGINEERRegistered and licensed professional engineer responsible for the design of a drainage plan.
DETENTIONA system which is designed to capture stormwater and release it over a given period of time through an outlet structure at a controlled rate.
DEVELOPED or DEVELOPMENTThe installation or construction of impervious surfaces on a development site that require, pursuant to state law or local ordinance, the Township's approval of a site plan, plat, site condominium, special land use, planned unit development, rezoning of land, land division approval, private road approval or other approvals required for the development of land or the erection of buildings or structures; provided, however, that for purposes of Article
II only, "developed" or "development" shall not include the actual construction of, or an addition, extension or modification to, an individual single-family detached dwelling if it is located more than 500 feet from a water body or a two-family detached dwelling if it is located more than 500 feet from a water body.
Any person proposing or implementing the development of land.
DEVELOPMENT SITEAny land that is being or has been developed, or that a developer proposes for development or that is the subject of an earth change.
DISCHARGERAny person or entity who directly or indirectly discharges stormwater from any property. "Discharger" also means any employee, officer, director, partner, contractor, or other person who participates in, or is legally or factually responsible for, any act or omission which is or results in a violation of this chapter.
DRAINAny drain as defined in the Drain Code of 1956, as amended, being MCL 280.1 et seq., other than an established county or intercounty drain.
DRAINAGEThe collection, conveyance, or discharge of groundwater and/or surface water.
DRAINAGEWAYThe area within which surface water or ground water is carried from one part of a lot or parcel to another part of the lot or parcel or to adjacent land.
EARTH CHANGEAny human activity which removes ground cover, changes the slope or contours of the land, or exposes the soil surface to the actions of wind and rain. "Earth change" includes, but is not limited to, any excavating, surface grading, filling, landscaping, or removal of vegetative roots.
EPAThe United States Environmental Protection Agency.
EROSIONThe process by which the ground surface is worn away by action of wind, water, gravity or a combination thereof.
FLOOD or FLOODINGA general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas resulting from the overflow of water bodies or the unusual and rapid accumulation of surface water runoff from any source.
FLOODPROOFINGAny structural and/or nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures or property that reduce or eliminate flood damage to land, or improvements utilities and structures.
FLOODPLAINAny land area subject to periodic flooding.
FLOODWAYThe channel of any watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved to carry and discharge a base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than 1/10 of a foot due to the loss of flood conveyance or storage.
GRADINGAny stripping, excavating, filling, and stockpiling of soil or any combination thereof and the land in its excavated or filled condition.
ILLICIT CONNECTIONAny method or means for conveying an illicit discharge into water bodies or the Township's stormwater system.
ILLICIT DISCHARGEAny discharge to water bodies that does not consist entirely of stormwater, discharges pursuant to the terms of an NPDES permit, or exempted discharges as defined in this chapter.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACESurface that does not allow stormwater runoff to slowly percolate into the ground.
KCDCKent County Drain Commissioner.
LOWEST FLOORThe lowest floor or the lowest enclosed area (including a basement), but not including an unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure which is usable solely for parking of vehicles or building access.
MDEQMichigan Department of Environmental Quality.
NPDESNational Pollution Discharge Elimination System.
PERSONAn individual, firm, partnership, association, public or private corporation, public agency, instrumentality, or any other legal entity.
PLANWritten narratives, specifications, drawings, sketches, written standards, operating procedures, or any combination of these which contain information pursuant to this chapter.
POLLUTANTA substance discharged which includes, but is not limited to the following: any dredged spoil, solid waste, vehicle fluids, yard wastes, animal wastes, agricultural waste products, sediment, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological wastes, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discharged equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, and industrial, municipal, commercial and agricultural waste, or any other contaminant or other substance defined as a pollutant under the Clean Water Act.
PROPERTY OWNERAny person having legal or equitable title to property or any person having or exercising care, custody, or control over any property.
RETENTIONA system which is designed to capture stormwater and contain it until it infiltrates the soil or evaporates.
SOIL EROSIONThe stripping of soil and weathered rock from land creating sediment for transportation by water, wind or ice, and enabling formation of new sedimentary deposits.
STORM DRAINA system of open or enclosed conduits and appurtenant structures intended to convey or manage stormwater runoff, groundwater and drainage.
STORMWATER RUNOFFThe runoff and drainage of precipitation resulting from rainfall or snowmelt or other natural event or process.
STORMWATER RUNOFF FACILITYThe method, structure, area, system, or other equipment or measures which are designed to receive, control, store, or convey stormwater.
STREAMA river, stream or creek which may or may not be serving as a drain, or any other water body that has definite banks, a bed, and visible evidence of a continued flow or continued occurrence of water.
WATER BODYA river, lake, stream, creek or other watercourse or wetlands.
WATERSHEDA region draining into a water body.
WETLANDSLand characterized by the presence of water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support wetland vegetation or aquatic life.