Definitions.
The terms used in this chapter have the meaning set forth below:
"Applied water"
means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system
to the landscape.
"Automatic irrigation controller"
means an automatic timing device used to remotely control
valves that operate an irrigation system. Automatic irrigation controllers
schedule irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based)
or soil moisture data.
"Backflow prevention device"
means a safety device used to prevent pollution or contamination
of the water supply due to the reverse flow of water from the irrigation
system.
"Certified irrigation designer"
means a person certified to design irrigation systems by
an accredited academic institution a professional trade organization
or other program such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
WaterSense irrigation designer certification program and irrigation
association's certified irrigation designer program.
"Certified landscape irrigation auditor"
means a person certified to perform landscape irrigation
audits by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade
organization or other program such as the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's WaterSense irrigation auditor certification program and irrigation
association's certified landscape irrigation auditor program.
"Check valve" or "anti-drain valve"
means a valve located under a sprinkler head, or other location
in the irrigation system, to hold water in the system to prevent drainage
from sprinkler heads when the sprinkler is off.
"Drip irrigation"
means any non-spray low volume irrigation system utilizing
emission devices with a flow rate measured in gallons per hour. Low
volume irrigation systems are specifically designed to apply small
volumes of water slowly at or near the root zone of plants.
"Emitter"
means a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water
slowly from the system to the soil.
"Established landscape"
means the point at which plants in the landscape have developed
significant root growth into the soil. Typically, most plants are
established after one or two years of growth.
"Establishment period of the plants"
means the first year after installing the plant in the landscape
or the first two years if irrigation will be terminated after establishment.
Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth.
"ET adjustment factor (ETAF)"
means a factor of 0.7, that, when applied to reference evapotranspiration,
adjusts for plant factors and irrigation efficiency, two major influences
upon the amount of water that needs to be applied to the landscape.
A combined plant mix with a site-wide average of 0.5 is the basis
of the plant factor portion of this calculation. For purposes of the
ETAF, the average irrigation efficiency is 0.71. Therefore, the ET
Adjustment Factor is (0.7)=(0.5/0.71). ETAF for a Special Landscape
Area shall not exceed 1.0. ETAF for existing non-rehabilitated landscapes
is 0.8.
"Evapotranspiration rate"
means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil
and other surfaces and transpired by plants during a specified time.
"Flow rate"
means the rate at which water flows through pipes, valves
and emission devices, measured in gallons per minute, gallons per
hour, or cubic feet per second.
"Hardscapes"
means any durable material (pervious and non-pervious)
"Homeowner-provided landscaping"
means any landscaping either installed by a private individual
for a single-family residence or installed by a licensed contractor
hired by a homeowner. A homeowner, for purposes of this chapter, is
a person who occupies the dwelling he or she owns. This excludes speculative
homes, which are not owner-occupied dwellings.
"Hydrozone"
means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with
similar water needs. A hydrozone may be irrigated or non-irrigated.
"Infiltration rate"
means the rate of water entry into the soil expressed as
a depth of water per unit of time (e.g., inches per hour)
"Invasive plant species"
means species of plants not historically found in California
that spread outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental
or economic resources. Invasive species may be regulated by county
agricultural agencies as noxious species. "Noxious weeds" means any
weed designated by the weed control regulations in the Weed Control
Act and identified on a regional district noxious weed control list.
Lists of invasive plants are maintained at the California Invasive
Plant Inventory and U.S.D.A. invasive and noxious weeds database.
"Irrigation audit"
means an in-depth evaluation of the performance of an irrigation
system conducted by a certified landscape irrigation auditor. An irrigation
audit includes, but is not limited to: inspection, system tune-up,
system test with distribution uniformity or emission uniformity, reporting
overspray or runoff that causes overland flow, and preparation of
an irrigation schedule.
"Irrigation efficiency" (IE)
means the measurement of the amount of water beneficially
used divided by the amount of water applied. Irrigation efficiency
is derived from measurements and estimates of irrigation system characteristics
and management practices. The minimum average irrigation efficiency
for purposes of this chapter is 0.71. Greater irrigation efficiency
can be expected from well designed and maintained systems.
"Irrigation survey"
means an evaluation of an irrigation system that is less
detailed than an irrigation audit. An irrigation survey includes,
but is not limited to: inspection, system test, and written recommendations
to improve performance of the irrigation system.
"Landscape area"
means all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features
in a landscape design plan subject to the maximum applied water allowance
calculation. The landscape area does not include footprints of buildings
or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios,
gravel or stone walks, other pervious or non-pervious hardscapes,
and other non-irrigated areas designated for non-development (e.g.,
open spaces and existing native vegetation)
"Landscape contractor"
means a person licensed by the state of California to construct,
maintain, repair, install, or subcontract the development of landscape
systems.
"Landscape project"
means total area of landscape in a project as defined in
"landscape area" for the purposes of this chapter, meeting requirements
under Section 17.41.10(B)
"Lateral line"
means the water delivery pipeline that supplies water to
the emitters or sprinklers from the valve.
"Local water purveyor"
means any entity, including a public agency, city, county,
or private water company that provides retail water service.
"Low volume irrigation"
means the application of irrigation water at low pressure
through a system of tubing or lateral lines and low-volume emitters
such as drip, drip lines, and bubblers. Low volume irrigation systems
are specifically designed to apply small volumes of water slowly at
or near the root zone of plants.
"Main line"
means the pressurized pipeline that delivers water from the
water source to the valve or outlet.
"Maximum applied water allowance (MAWA)"
means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established
landscaped area as specified in Section 17.41.10(H). It is based upon
the area's reference evapotranspiration, the ET adjustment factor,
and the size of the landscape area. The estimated total water use
shall not exceed the maximum applied water allowance. Special landscape
areas, including recreation areas, areas permanently and solely dedicated
to edible plants such as orchards and vegetable gardens, and areas
irrigated with recycled water are subject to the MAWA with an ETAF
not to exceed 1.0.
"Microclimate"
means the climate of a small, specific area that may contrast
with the climate of the overall landscape area due to factors such
as wind, sun exposure, plant density, or proximity to reflective surfaces.
"Mined-land reclamation projects"
means any surface mining operation with a reclamation plan
approved in accordance with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act
of 1975.
"Mulch"
means any organic material such as leaves, bark, straw, compost,
or inorganic mineral materials such as rocks, gravel, and decomposed
granite left loose and applied to the soil surface for the beneficial
purposes of reducing evaporation, suppressing weeds, moderating soil
temperature, and preventing soil erosion.
"New construction"
means, for the purposes of this chapter, a new building with
a landscape or other new landscape, such as a park, playground, or
greenbelt without an associated building.
"Operating pressure"
means the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system
are designed by the manufacturer to operate.
"Overspray"
means the irrigation water which is delivered beyond the
target area.
"Permit"
means an authorizing document issued by local agencies for
new construction or rehabilitated landscapes.
"Pervious"
means any surface or material that allows the passage of
water through the material and into the underlying soil.
"Plant factor" or "plant water use factor"
is a factor, when multiplied by ETo, estimates the amount
of water needed by plants. For purposes of this chapter, the plant
factor range for low water use plants is 0 to 0.3, the plant factor
range for moderate water use plants is 0.4 to 0.6, and the plant factor
range for high water use plants is 0.7 to 1.0. Plant factors cited
in this chapter are derived from the Department of Water Resources
2000 publication "Water Use Classification of Landscape Species".
"Project applicant"
means the individual or entity submitting a landscape documentation
package required under Section 17.41.10(G), to request a permit, plan
check, or design review from the city of Crescent City. A project
applicant may be the property owner or his or her designee.
"Record drawing" or "as-builts"
means a set of reproducible drawings which show significant
changes in the work made during construction and which are usually
based on drawings marked up in the field and other data furnished
by the contractor.
"Recreational area"
means areas dedicated to active play such as parks, sports
fields, and golf courses where turf provides a playing surface.
"Reference evapotranspiration" or "ETo"
means a standard measurement of environmental parameters
which affect the water use of plants. ETo is expressed in inches per
day, month, or year as represented in Appendix A, and is an estimate
of the evapotranspiration of a large field of four- to seven-inch
tall, cool-season grass that is well watered. Reference evapotranspiration
is used as the basis of determining the maximum applied water allowance
so that regional differences in climate can be accommodated.
"Rehabilitated landscape"
means any re-landscaping project that requires a permit,
plan check, or design review, meets the requirements of Section 17.41.10(B),
and the modified landscape area is equal to or greater than two thousand
five hundred square feet, is fifty percent of the total landscape
area, and the modifications are completed within one year.
"Runoff"
means water which is not absorbed by the soil or landscape
to which it is applied and flows from the landscape area. For example,
runoff may result from water that is applied at too great a rate (application
rate exceeds infiltration rate) or when there is a slope.
"Soil texture"
means the classification of soil based on its percentage
of sand, silt, and clay.
"Special landscape area" (SLA)
means an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible
plants, areas irrigated with recycled water, water features using
recycled water and areas dedicated to active play such as parks, sports
fields, golf courses, and where turf provides a playing surface.
"Station"
means an area served by one valve or by a set of valves that
operate simultaneously.
"Swing joint"
means an irrigation component that provides a flexible, leak-free
connection between the emission device and lateral pipeline to allow
movement in any direction and to prevent equipment damage.
"Turf"
means a ground cover surface of mowed grass. Annual bluegrass,
Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue
are cool-season grasses. Bermudagrass, Kikuyugrass, Seashore Paspalum,
St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalo grass are warm-season
grasses.
"Valve"
means a device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation
system.
"Water feature"
means a design element where open water performs an aesthetic
or recreational function. Water features include ponds, lakes, waterfalls,
fountains, artificial streams, spas, and swimming pools (where water
is artificially supplied). The surface area of water features is included
in the high water use hydrozone of the landscape area. Constructed
wetlands used for on-site wastewater treatment or stormwater best
management practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water
treatment or stormwater retention are not water features and, therefore,
are not subject to the water budget calculation.
"WUCOLS"
means the water use classification of landscape species published
by the University of California Cooperative Extension, the Department
of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation, 2000.
Note—Authority Cited: Section 65595, Government
Code.
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