For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions describe
the meaning of the terms used in this chapter:
ADMINISTRATION
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Water Management
Administration (WMA).
ADVERSE IMPACT
Any deleterious effect on waters or wetlands, including their quality,
quantity, surface area, 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.
AGRICULTURAL LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Those methods and procedures used in the cultivation of land in order
to further crop and livestock production and conservation of related soil
and water resources.
APPLICANT
Any person, firm, or governmental agency who or which executes the
necessary forms to procure official approval of a project or a permit to carry
out construction of a project.
AQUIFER
A porous water-bearing geologic formation generally restricted to
materials capable of yielding an appreciable supply of water.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP)
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.
CHANNEL PROTECTION STORAGE VOLUME (Cpv)
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.
CLEARING
The removal of trees and brush from the land but shall not include
the ordinary mowing of grass.
DESIGN MANUAL
The 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and II, that
serves as the official guide for stormwater management principles, methods,
and practices.
[Amended 7-14-2003 by Ord. No. 247]
DETENTION STRUCTURE
A permanent structure for the temporary storage of runoff, which
is designed so as not to create a permanent pool of water.
DEVELOP LAND
To change the runoff characteristics of a parcel of land in conjunction
with residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional construction or
alteration.
DIRECT DISCHARGE
The concentrated release of stormwater to tidal waters or vegetated
tidal wetlands from new development or redevelopment projects in the Critical
Area.
DRAINAGE AREA
That area contributing runoff to a single point measured in a horizontal
plane, which is enclosed by a ridgeline.
EASEMENT
A grant or reservation by the owner of land for the use of such land
by others for a specific purpose or purposes, and which must be included in
the conveyance of land affected by such easement.
EXEMPTION
Those land development activities that are not subject to the stormwater
management requirements contained in this chapter.
EXTENDED DETENTION
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
BMP's are specified in the Design Manual.
EXTREME FLOOD VOLUME (Qf)
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.
FLOW ATTENUATION
Prolonging the flow time of runoff to reduce the peak discharge.
GRADING
Any act by which soil is cleared, stripped, stockpiled, excavated,
scarified, filled or any combination thereof.
INFILTRATION
The passage or movement of water into the soil surface.
OVERBANK FLOOD PROTECTION VOLUME (Qp)
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.
RECHARGE VOLUME (Rev)
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.
REDEVELOPMENT
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 multifamily residential.
RETENTION STRUCTURE
A permanent structure that provides for the storage of runoff by
means of a permanent pool of water.
RETROFITTING
The construction of a structural BMP in a previously developed area,
the modification of an existing structural BMP, or the implementation of a
nonstructural practice to improve water quality over current conditions.
SEDIMENT
Soils or other surficial materials transported or deposited by the
action of wind, water, ice, or gravity as a product of erosion.
SITE[Amended 7-14-2003 by Ord. No.
247]
A.
For "new development," any tract, lot, or parcel of land or combination
of tracts, lots or parcels of land, which are in one ownership, or contiguous
and in diverse ownership where development is to be performed as a unit, subdivision
or project.
B.
For "redevelopment," the area of new construction as shown on an approved
site plan; or the original parcel. Final determination of the applicable area
shall be made by the Town Engineer.
STABILIZATION
The prevention of soil movement by any of various vegetative and/or
structural means.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
A.
For quantitative control, a system of vegetative and structural measures
that controls the increased volume and rate of surface runoff caused by man-made
changes to the land; and
B.
For qualitative control, a system of vegetative, structural, and other
measures that reduces or eliminates pollutants that might otherwise be carried
by surface runoff.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
A set of drawings or other documents submitted by a person as a prerequisite
to obtaining a stormwater management approval, which contains all of the information
and specifications pertaining to stormwater management.
STRIPPING
Any activity which removes the vegetative surface cover, including
tree removal, clearing, grubbing and storage or removal of topsoil.
TOWN
The Commissioners of Ridgely, a Maryland municipal corporation.
TOWN ENGINEER
A licensed, professional engineer selected by the Town to assist
it with the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. The Commissioners,
by resolution, may designate another Town official to perform ministerial
actions hereunder which do not require technical expertise.
VARIANCE
The modification of the minimum stormwater management requirements
for specific circumstances such that strict adherence to the requirements
would result in necessary hardship and not fulfill the intent of the Ordinance.
WAIVER
The relinquishment from stormwater management requirements by the
Town Engineer for a specific development on a case-by-case review basis.
WATERCOURSE
Any natural or artificial stream, river, creek, ditch, channel, canal,
conduit, culvert, drain, waterway, gully, ravine or wash, in and including
any adjacent area that is subject to inundation from overflow or floodwater.
WATER QUALITY VOLUME (WQv)
The volume needed to capture and treat runoff from 90% of the average
annual rainfall at a development site. Methods for calculating the water quality
volume are specified in the Design Manual.
[Amended 7-14-2003 by Ord. No. 247]
WATERSHED
The total drainage area contributing runoff to a single point.