Management of Water and Sediment
in Geauga County
Few activities cause the magnitude
of soil disturbance in urbanized areas that construction site do.
Soil erosion and the resulting sedimentation are a leading cause of water
quality problems in Geauga County. In order to protect the County's
resources, the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District implements the Geauga
County Water Management and Sediment Control Regulations.
Geauga County was the first county
in Ohio to have these regulations. They were adopted in 1979 by the Geauga
County Commissioners. The purpose of the regulations is to protect the
county’s water resources by ensuring that the proper stormwater and
erosion and sediment control measures are in place. Erosion and sediment
control measures are called Best Management Practices (BMP’s), and when
installed and maintained correctly they help prevent soil from leaving the
site. Stormwater control measures ensure that the volume of stormwater
runoff remains the same as before development occurs.
The regulations currently state:
-
All construction sites where earth disturbing
activities are proposed on land disturbing one acre or more, or where
earth disturbing activities are proposed on sublots within platted
subdivisions, must submit a Water Management and Sediment Control (WMSC) Plan.
-
All Geauga County residents are
responsible for knowing and complying with the regulations whether or
not a plan is required.
The District inspects construction sites to
ensure that they are adhering to the rules established in the Water Management
and Sediment Control Regulations. The District has the authority to issue
a stop work order to gain compliance with the aforementioned regulations.
Site Review Process:
The District staff works diligently
to review plans and perform site inspections to ensure that these erosion
and sediment control measures are in place. The Urban Program helps
achieve a balance between development and nature; therefore, preserving
the integrity of Geauga County’s natural resources. Click on the
links below to learn more about the site review process.
As-built
Certification
Erosion and Sediment
Control Details
Entire Huff and Angel
Document
Individual Lot
Construction
Plan
Applications
Rainfall
Depths and Return Period
Data
(for
use in Stormwater Calculations for WMSC regulation compliance excerpt from
Huff and Angel)
Sample
Inspection & Maintenance Agreement for
Subdivisions
or Non-Subdivisions
Sample
Drainage Maintenance District Declaration of Restrictions for Subdivisions
Site
Plan Check List
Sample
Plan Notes
Water Management
Plan Review, Filing and Inspections Fees
WMSC
Plan Exemption Form
