[Ord. No. 261, 3/6/2023]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AASHTO
American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials. The website home page for AASHTO is http://transportation1.org/aashtonew/.
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY
Activities associated with agriculture such as agricultural
cultivation, agricultural operation, and animal heavy use areas. This
includes the work of producing crops including tillage, plowing, disking,
harrowing, planting, or harvesting crops; or pasturing and raising
of livestock; and installation of conservation measures. Construction
of new buildings, building additions, or impervious area is not considered
an agricultural activity.
APPLICANT
A landowner, developer, or other person who has filed an
application to the municipality for approval to engage in any regulated
activity as defined in this chapter.
AQUIFER
A geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation
that contains sufficient saturated, permeable material to yield useful
quantities of groundwater to wells and springs.
AS-BUILT PLANS (DRAWINGS)
Engineering or site plans or drawings that document the actual locations, dimensions, and elevations of the improvements, and building components, and changes made to the original design plans. The final version of these documents, or a copy of same, are signed and sealed by a qualified licensed professional and submitted to the municipality at the completion of the project, as per the requirements of §
23-502 of this chapter as "final as-built plans."
ATTENUATE
To reduce the magnitude of the flow rate by increasing the
time it takes to release a specified volume of runoff (for example
the one-year, twenty-four-hour storm event). Attenuation is a method
of reducing the peak flow rates for post-development compared to the
peak flow rates in predevelopment.
BANKFULL
The channel at the top-of-bank or point from where water
begins to overflow onto a floodplain.
BASEFLOW
Portion of stream discharge derived from groundwater; the
sustained discharge that does not result from direct runoff or from
water diversions, reservoir releases, piped discharges, or other human
activities.
BMP (BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE)
Activities, facilities, designs, measures, or procedures
used to manage stormwater impacts from regulated activities, to provide
water quality treatment, infiltration, volume reduction, and/or peak
rate control, to promote groundwater recharge, and to otherwise meet
the purposes of this chapter. Stormwater BMPs are commonly grouped
into one of two broad categories or measures: "structural" or "nonstructural."
In this chapter, nonstructural BMPs or measures include certain low-impact
development and conservation design practices used to minimize the
contact of pollutants with stormwater runoff. These practices aim
to limit the total volume of stormwater runoff and manage stormwater
at its source by techniques such as protecting natural systems and
incorporating existing landscape features. Nonstructural BMPs include,
but are not limited to, the protection of sensitive and special value
features such as wetlands and riparian areas, the preservation of
open space while clustering and concentrating development, the reduction
of impervious cover, and the disconnection of rooftops from storm
sewers. Structural BMPs are those that consist of a system that is
designed and engineered to capture and treat stormwater runoff. Structural
BMPs include, but are not limited to, a wide variety of practices
and devices from large-scale retention ponds and constructed wetlands
to small-scale underground treatment systems, infiltration facilities,
filter strips, bioretention, wet ponds, permeable paving, grassed
swales, riparian buffer, sand filters, detention basins, and manufactured
devices. Structural and nonstructural stormwater BMPs are permanent
appurtenances to the site. [See also "stormwater management facility"
and "stormwater control measure (SCM)."
CCHD
Chester County Health Department.
CFS
Cubic feet per second.
CHANNEL
A natural or artificial open drainage feature that conveys,
continuously or periodically, flowing water and through which stormwater
flows. Channels include, but shall not be limited to, natural and
man-made drainageways, swales, streams, ditches, canals, and pipes
flowing partly full.
CONSERVATION DESIGN (CD)
A series of holistic land development design goals that maximize
protection of key land and environmental resources, preserve significant
concentrations of open space and greenways, evaluate and maintain
site hydrology, and ensure flexibility in development design to meet
community needs for complementary and aesthetically pleasing development.
Conservation design encompasses the following objectives: conservation/enhancement
of natural resources, wildlife habitat, biodiversity corridors, and
greenways (interconnected open space); minimization of environmental
impact resulting from a change in land use (minimum disturbance, minimum
maintenance); maintenance of a balanced water budget by making use
of site characteristics and infiltration; incorporation of unique
natural, scenic and historic site features into the configuration
of the development; preservation of the integral characteristics of
the site as viewed from adjoining roads; and reduction in maintenance
required for stormwater management practices. Such objectives can
be met on a site through an integrated development process that respects
natural site conditions and attempts, to the maximum extent possible,
to replicate or improve the natural hydrology of a site.
CONSERVATION PLAN
A plan written by a planner certified by NRCS that identifies
conservation practices and includes site-specific BMPs for agricultural
plowing or tilling activities and animal heavy use areas.
CONSERVATION PRACTICES
Practices installed on agricultural lands to improve farmland,
soil and/or water quality which have been identified in a current
conservation plan.
CONVEYANCE
A natural or man-made, existing, or proposed stormwater management
facility, feature or channel used for the transportation or transmission
of stormwater from one place to another. For the purposes of this
chapter, conveyance shall include pipes, drainage ditches, channels
and swales (vegetated and other), gutters, stream channels, and like
facilities or features.
DESIGN STORM
The magnitude and temporal distribution of precipitation
from a storm event measured in probability of occurrence (e.g., a
five-year storm) and duration (e.g., 24 hours), used in the design
and evaluation of stormwater management systems. Also see "return
period."
DETENTION (or TO DETAIN)
Capture and temporary storage of runoff in a stormwater management
facility for release at a controlled rate.
DETENTION BASIN
An impoundment designed to collect and retard stormwater
runoff by temporarily storing the runoff and releasing it at a predetermined
rate. Detention basins are designed to drain completely shortly after
any given rainfall event.
DETENTION VOLUME
The volume of runoff that is captured and released into the
waters of the commonwealth at a controlled rate.
DEVELOPER
A person, company, or organization who seeks to undertake
any regulated activities at a site in the municipality.
DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (DBH)
The outside bark diameter of a tree at breast height which
is defined as 4.5 feet (1.37 meters) above the forest floor on the
uphill side of the tree.
DISCHARGE
A.
(Verb) The release of water from a project, site, aquifer, drainage
basin or other point of interest.
B.
(Noun) The rate and volume of flow of water such as in a stream,
generally expressed in cubic feet per second (volume per unit of time).
DISTURBED AREA
Land area disturbed by or where an earth disturbance activity
is occurring or has occurred.
DITCH
An artificial waterway for irrigation or stormwater conveyance.
DRAINAGE AREA
That land area contributing runoff to a single point (including
but not limited to the point/line of interest used for hydrologic
and hydraulic calculations) and that is enclosed by a natural or man-made
ridgeline.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
All facilities and natural features used for the movement
of stormwater through and from a drainage area, including, but not
limited to, any and all of the following: conduits, pipes and appurtenant
features, channels, ditches, flumes, culverts, streets, swales, and
gutters, as well as all watercourses, water bodies and wetlands.
EARTH DISTURBANCE (or EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY)
A construction or other human activity which disturbs the
surface of the land, including, but not limited to, clearing and grubbing;
grading; excavations; embankments; road maintenance; land development;
building construction; and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or
storing of soil, rock, or earth materials.
EASEMENT
A right of use granted by a landowner to allow a grantee
the use of the designated portion of land for a specified purpose,
such as for stormwater management or other drainage purposes.
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency.
EROSION
The process by which the surface of the land, including water/stream
channels, is worn away by water, wind, or chemical action.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT (E&S) CONTROL PLAN
A plan required by the conservation district or the municipality
to minimize accelerated erosion and sedimentation, and that must be
prepared and approved per the applicable requirements.
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (ET)
The combined processes of evaporation from the water or soil
surface and transpiration of water by plants.
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FIRST-ORDER STREAM
Uppermost perennial tributary in a watershed that has not
yet confluenced with another perennial stream. The confluence of two
first-order streams forms a second-order stream.
FLOOD
A temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of
land areas from the overflow of streams, rivers, and other waters
of this commonwealth.
FLOODPLAIN
Any land area susceptible to inundation by water from any
natural source or delineated by applicable FEMA maps and studies as
being a special flood hazard area.
FLOODWAY
The channel of the watercourse and those portions of the
adjoining floodplains that are reasonably required to carry and discharge
the 100-year flood (also called the "base flood" or "1% annual chance
flood"). Unless otherwise specified, the boundary of the floodway
is as indicated on maps and flood insurance studies provided by FEMA.
In an area where no FEMA maps or studies have defined the boundary
of the 100-year floodway, it is assumed, absent evidence to the contrary,
that the floodway extends from the center line of the stream and to
50 feet beyond the top of the bank of the stream on both sides.
FOREST MANAGEMENT/TIMBER OPERATIONS
Planning and activities necessary for the management of forest
lands. These include timber inventory, preparation of forest management
plans, silvicultural treatment, cutting budgets, logging road design
and construction, timber harvesting, site preparation, and reforestation.
FREEBOARD
A vertical distance between the design high-water elevation
and the elevation of the top of a dam, levee, tank, basin, swale,
or diversion berm. The space is required as a safety margin in a pond
or basin.
GEOTEXTILE
A fabric manufactured from synthetic fiber that is used to
achieve specific objectives, including infiltration, separation between
different types of media (i.e., between soil and stone), or filtration.
GRADE/GRADING
A.
(Noun) A slope, usually of a road, channel, or natural ground,
specified in percent and shown on plans as specified herein.
B.
(Verb) To finish the surface of a roadbed, the top of an embankment,
or the bottom of an excavation.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes
to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or reuse stormwater on the site where
it is generated.
GROUNDWATER
Water that occurs in the subsurface and fills or saturates
the porous openings, fractures and fissures of underground soils and
rock units.
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
The replenishment of existing natural groundwater supplies
from infiltration of rain or overland flow.
HEC-1
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center
(HEC) hydrologic runoff model.
HEC-HMS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center
(HEC) Hydrologic Modeling System (HMS).
HIGH TUNNEL
A structure which meets the following:
A.
Is used for the production, processing, keeping, storing, sale or shelter of an agricultural commodity as defined in Section
2 of the Act of December 19, 1974 (P.L. 973, No. 319), known as the "Pennsylvania Farmland and Forest Land Assessment Act of 1974," or for the storage of agricultural equipment or supplies;
and
B.
Is constructed with all the following:
(1)
Has a metal, wood, or plastic frame;
(2)
When covered, has a plastic, woven textile, or other flexible
covering; and
(3)
Has floor made of soil, crushed stone, matting, pavers, or floating
concrete slab
HOTSPOTS
Areas where prior or existing land use or activities can
potentially generate highly contaminated runoff with concentrations
of pollutants in excess of those typically found in stormwater.
HYDROGRAPH
A graph of discharge versus time for a selected point in
the drainage system.
HYDROLOGIC REGIME
The hydrologic system, cycle or balance that sustains the
quality and quantity of stormwater, stream baseflow, storage, and
groundwater supplies under natural conditions.
HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUP (HSG)
A classification of soils by the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) into four runoff potential groups. The groups range
from A soils, which are very permeable and produce little runoff,
to D soils, which are not very permeable and produce much more runoff.
HYDROLOGY
The study of the properties, distribution, circulation and
effects of water on the earth's surface, soil and atmosphere.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that has been compacted or covered with a layer
of material so that it prevents or is resistant to infiltration of
water, including but not limited to structures such as roofs, buildings,
storage sheds; other solid, paved, or concrete areas such as streets,
driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, patios, decks (all types), swimming
pools (including water surface), tennis or other paved courts; or
athletic playfields comprised of synthetic turf materials. For the
purposes of determining compliance with this chapter, compacted soils
or stone surfaces used for vehicle parking and movement shall be considered
impervious. Uncompacted gravel areas with no vehicular traffic, such
as gardens, walkways, or patio areas, shall be considered pervious
per review by the Municipal Engineer. Surfaces that were designed
to allow infiltration (i.e., pavers and areas of porous pavement)
are not to be considered impervious surface if designed to function
as a BMP and will be considered on a case-by-case basis per review
by the Municipal Engineer, based on appropriate documentation and
condition of the material. Additionally, for the purposes of determining
compliance with this chapter, the total horizontal projection area
of all ground-mounted and freestanding solar collectors, including
solar photovoltaic cells, panels, and arrays, shall be considered
pervious so long as the designs note that natural vegetative cover
will be preserved and/or restored underneath the solar photovoltaic
cells, panels, and arrays, and the area disturbed is planned as a
vegetated pervious surface as approved by the Municipal Engineer.
INFILTRATION
Movement of surface water into the soil, where it is absorbed
by plant roots, evaporated into the atmosphere, or percolated downward
to recharge groundwater.
INFILTRATION FACILITY
A stormwater BMP designed to collect and discharge runoff
into the subsurface in a manner that allows infiltration into underlying
soils and groundwater (e.g., french drains, seepage pits, or seepage
trenches, etc.).
INTENSITY
The depth of accumulated rainfall per unit of time.
INTERMITTENT STREAM
A defined channel in which surface water is absent during
a portion of the year, in response to seasonal variations in precipitation
or groundwater discharge.
INVERT
The lowest surface, the floor or bottom of a culvert, pipe,
drain, sewer, channel, basin, BMP, or orifice.
KARST
A type of topography that is formed over limestone or other
carbonate rock formations by dissolving or solution of the rock by
water, and that is characterized by closed depressions, sinkholes,
caves, a subsurface network of solution conduits and fissures through
which groundwater moves, and no perennial surface drainage features.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities:
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 residential or nonresidential buildings,
whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential
building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or
tenure; or
(2)
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially
or cumulatively, 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.
C.
Development in accordance with § 503(1.1) of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code (as amended).
LANDOWNER
The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land including
the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such
option or contract is subject to any condition), a lessee if they
are authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the landowner,
or other person having a proprietary interest in the land.
LEVEL SPREADER
A low earthen berm constructed perpendicular to the direction
of slope and extending across the width of the slope for the purpose
of intercepting surface runoff and spreading it behind the berm to
enhance infiltration and reduce erosion and runoff from the slope.
The purpose of a level spreader is to prevent concentrated, erosive
flows from occurring and to spread out stormwater runoff uniformly
over the ground as sheet flow.
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL
A Pennsylvania registered professional engineer, registered
landscape architect, registered professional land surveyor, or registered
professional geologist, or any person licensed by the Pennsylvania
Department of State or qualified by law to perform the work required
by the chapter within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
LIMITING ZONE
A soil horizon or condition in the soil profile or underlying
strata that includes one of the following:
A.
A seasonal high-water table, whether perched or regional, determined
by direct observation of the water table or indicated by other subsurface
or soil conditions.
B.
A rock with open joints, fracture or solution channels, or masses
of loose rock fragments, including gravel, with insufficient fine
soil to fill the voids between the fragments.
C.
A rock formation, other stratum, or soil condition that is so
slowly permeable that it effectively limits downward passage of water.
LOADING
The total amount (generally measured in pounds or kilograms
per acre per year) of material (sediment, nutrients, oxygen-demanding
material, or other chemicals or compounds) brought into a lake, stream
or water body by inflowing streams, runoff, direct discharge through
pipes, groundwater, the air (aerial or atmospheric deposition) and
other sources over a specific period of time (often annually).
LOW-IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID)
Site design approaches and small-scale stormwater management
practices that promote the use of natural systems for infiltration,
evapotranspiration, and reuse of rainwater. LID can be applied to
new development, urban retrofits, and revitalization projects. LID
utilizes design techniques that infiltrate, filter, provide evapotranspiration
and store runoff close to its source. Rather than rely on costly large-scale
conveyance and treatment systems, LID addresses stormwater through
a variety of small, cost-effective landscape features located on-site.
MAINTENANCE
The action taken to restore or preserve the as-built functional
design of any stormwater management facility or system.
MFEMP
Mushroom farm environmental management plan.
MPC
Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq., as amended, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
Act 247.
MS4
Municipal separate storm sewer system.
MUNICIPAL ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed as such in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, duly appointed as the engineer for a municipality,
planning agency, or joint planning commission.
MUNICIPALITY
The Borough of Honey Brook, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
NEW DEVELOPMENT
Any regulated activity involving placement or construction
of new impervious surface or grading over existing pervious land areas
not classified as redevelopment as defined in this chapter.
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION
Pollution that enters a water body from diffuse origins in
the watershed and does not result from discernible, confined, or discrete
conveyances.
NONSTORMWATER DISCHARGES
Water flowing in stormwater collection facilities, such as
pipes or swales, which is not the result of a rainfall event or snowmelt.
NONSTRUCTURAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Passive, site design approaches or regulatory approaches
that positively impact water quality and reduce or minimize the generation
of stormwater runoff without requiring the construction of specific
or discrete stormwater management control facilities.
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, the federal
government's system for issuance of permits under the Clean Water
Act, which is delegated to PADEP in Pennsylvania. Created in 1972
under the Clean Water Act to authorize discharges to local receiving
waters only pursuant to governmental permits, in an effort to reduce
point source and nonpoint source pollutants.
NRCS
Natural Resource Conservation Service (previously Soil Conservation
Service, SCS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
OPEN CHANNEL
Any natural or man-made watercourse or conduit in which water
flows with a free surface.
OPEN VEGETATED CHANNEL
Also known as swales, grass channels, and biofilters. These
systems are used for the conveyance, retention, infiltration, and
filtration of stormwater runoff.
PADEP
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
PARENT TRACT
The parcel of land from which a land development or subdivision
originates, determined from the date of municipal adoption of this
chapter.
PEAK DISCHARGE
The maximum rate of stormwater runoff from a specific storm
event.
PENNDOT
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
PERCOLATION RATE
The rate of movement of water under hydrostatic pressure
through interstices of rock or soil. For stormwater analysis, it is
typically measured as a distance per unit of time (e.g., inches per
hour).
PET
A domesticated animal (other than a disability assistance
animal) kept for amusement or companionship.
POINT SOURCE
Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance including,
but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, or conduit from
which stormwater is or may be discharged, as defined in state regulations
at 25 Pa. Code § 92.1.
POST-CONSTRUCTION
Period after construction during which disturbed areas are
stabilized, stormwater controls are in place and functioning, and
all proposed improvements approved by the municipality are completed.
PREDEVELOPMENT
Ground cover conditions assumed to exist within the proposed
disturbed area prior to commencement of the regulated activity for
the purpose of calculating the predevelopment water quality volume,
infiltration volume, and peak flow rates as required in this chapter.
PRETREATMENT
Techniques employed in stormwater BMPs to provide storage
or filtering, or other methods to trap or remove coarse materials
and other pollutants before they enter the stormwater system but may
not necessarily be designed to meet the entire water quality volume
requirements of this chapter.
RATE
Volume per unit of time.
RECEIVING WATERS
Any water bodies, watercourses or wetlands into which surface
waters flow.
RECHARGE
The replenishment of groundwater through the infiltration
of rainfall, other surface waters, or land application of water or
treated wastewater.
REDEVELOPMENT
Any regulated activity that involves demolition, removal,
reconstruction, or replacement of existing impervious surface(s).
REGULATED ACTIVITY
Any earth disturbance activity(ies) or any activity that
involves the alteration or development of land in a manner that may
affect stormwater runoff.
REGULATED IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
Proposed impervious surface as part of a current proposed
activity and all existing impervious surfaces installed after February
2, 2009, as part of previous activity. Also see "impervious surface"
definition.
RETENTION BASIN
An impoundment that is designed to temporarily detain a certain
amount of stormwater from a catchment area and which may be designed
to permanently retain stormwater runoff from the catchment area; retention
basins always contain water.
RETENTION or TO RETAIN
The prevention of direct discharge of stormwater runoff into
surface waters or water bodies during or after a storm event by permanent
containment in a pond or depression; examples include systems which
discharge by percolation to groundwater, exfiltration, and/or evaporation
processes and which generally have residence times of less than three
days.
RETENTION VOLUME/REMOVED RUNOFF
The volume of runoff that is captured and not released directly
into the surface waters of the commonwealth during or after a storm
event.
RETURN PERIOD
The average interval, in years, within which a storm event
of a given magnitude can be expected to occur one time. For example,
the twenty-five-year return period rainfall would be expected to occur
on average once every 25 years; or, stated in another way, the probability
of a twenty-five-year storm occurring in any one year is 0.04 (i.e.,
a 4% chance).
RIPARIAN
Pertaining to anything connected with or immediately adjacent
to the banks of a stream or other body of water.
RIPARIAN BUFFER
An area of land adjacent to a body of water and managed to
maintain vegetation to protect the integrity of stream channels and
shorelines, to reduce the impact of upland sources of pollution by
trapping, filtering, and converting sediments, nutrients, and other
chemicals, and to supply food, cover, and thermal protection to fish
and other aquatic species and wildlife.
RUNOFF
Any part of precipitation that flows over the land surface.
SALDO
See "subdivision and land development ordinance."
SCS
Soil Conservation Service, now known as the "Natural Resources
Conservation Service."
SEDIMENT
Soil or other materials transported by, suspended in, or
deposited by surface water as a product of erosion.
SEDIMENTATION
Occurs when sediment particles that have been suspended within
flowing water are deposited on the stream bottom or floodplain.
SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM
A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with
drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters,
ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains) primarily used for collecting
and conveying stormwater runoff.
SHEET FLOW
A flow process associated with broad, shallow water movement
on sloping ground surfaces that is not channelized or concentrated.
SITE
Total area of land in the municipality where any proposed
regulated activity, as defined in this chapter, is planned, conducted,
or maintained or that is otherwise impacted by the regulated activity.
SOIL COVER COMPLEX METHOD
A method of runoff computation developed by NRCS that is
based on relating soil type and land use/cover to a runoff parameter
called curve number (CN).
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA
Those areas identified by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), Federal Insurance Administration (FIA), as floodway
area (FW), flood fringe area (FF), and general floodplain area (FA);
where determined by the Honey Brook Borough, identified alluvial soils
may be included as well.
STATE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
The regulatory requirements to protect, maintain, reclaim,
and restore water quality under Pennsylvania Code Title 25 and the
Clean Streams Law.
STORM EVENT
The storm of a specific duration, intensity, and frequency.
STORMWATER
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from
precipitation or snow or ice melt.
STORMWATER CONTROL MEASURE
Physical features used to effectively control, minimize,
and treat stormwater runoff. [See "BMP (best management practice)."]
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
Any feature, natural or man-made, that, due to its condition,
design, or construction, conveys, stores, or otherwise affects stormwater
runoff quality, rate, or quantity, including best management practices
and stormwater control measures. Typical stormwater management facilities
include, but are not limited to, detention and retention basins, open
channels, storm sewers, pipes, and infiltration facilities.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT (SWM) SITE PLAN
The plan prepared by the applicant or its representative, in accordance with the requirements of Part
4 of this chapter, indicating how stormwater runoff will be managed at a particular site in accordance with this chapter, and including all necessary design drawings, calculations, supporting text, and documentation to demonstrate that chapter requirements have been met, herein referred to as "SWM site plan." All references in this chapter to "final" or "approved" SWM site plans shall incorporate the approved SWM site plan and all subsequent approved revisions thereto.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract, or parcel of
land as defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247 (as amended).
SUBGRADE
The top elevation of graded and compacted earth underlying
roadway pavement.
SWALE
An artificial or natural waterway or low-lying stretch of
land that gathers and conveys stormwater or runoff, and is generally
vegetated for soil stabilization, stormwater pollutant removal, and
infiltration.
TOP-OF-BANK
Highest point of elevation of the bank of a stream or channel
cross-section at which a rising water level just begins to flow out
of the channel and into the floodplain.
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture.
USDOT FHWA
United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway
Administration.
WATER BODY
Any natural or artificial pond, lake, reservoir, or other
area which ordinarily or intermittently contains water and which has
a discernible shoreline and receives surface water flow.
WATER TABLE
The uppermost level of saturation of pore space or fractures
by groundwater. "Seasonal high-water table" refers to a water table
that rises and falls with the seasons due either to natural or man-made
causes.
WATERCOURSE
A channel or conveyance of surface water having a defined
bed and banks, whether natural or artificial, with perennial or intermittent
flow.
WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Any and all rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments,
ditches, watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, wetlands,
ponds, springs, and all other bodies or channels of conveyance of
surface and underground water, or parts thereof, whether natural or
artificial, within or on the boundaries of the commonwealth.
WATERSHED
Region or area drained by a river, watercourse, or other
body of water, whether natural or artificial.
WETLAND
Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water
or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support,
and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation
typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands
generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, fens, and similar areas.
WOODS
Any land area of at least 0.25 acre with a natural or naturalized
ground cover (excluding manicured turf grass) and that has an average
density of two or more viable trees per 1,500 square feet with a DBH
of six inches or greater and where such trees existed at any time
within three years of the time of land development application submission
of the proposed project. The land area to be considered woods shall
be measured from the outer drip lines of the outer trees.