Department of
Community Development
Stormwater Management
What is Fluvial Geomorphology?
What is a Constructed Wetland?
What is a Riparian Management Zone?
What is a Riparian Zone?
What is a Riparian Buffer?
Will Stormwater Management prevent flooding?
What type of facilities are built?
Who owns them?
How often are they maintained?
What is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Program?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fluvial Geomorphology?
Fluvial means, produced by or found in a river or stream; and Geomorphology is the study of the natural relationship between a stream and its bank and bed. Forced into an unnatural position, the streambanks and bed will erode. Shaped to match the water flow, the stream remains more stable.
What is a Constructed Wetland?
Wetlands that are specifically constructed to intercept the chemically loaded discharge from field drainage tiles.
What is a Riparian Management Zone?
Land and vegetation areas next to lakes and streams where management practices are modified to protect water quality, fish, and other aquatic resources. These areas are complex ecosystems that provide food, habitat, and movement corridor for both aquatic and terrestrial communities.
What is a Riparian Zone?
The zones of direct interaction between terrestrial and stream systems. Areas which directly influence stream channels and lakes and the ecosystem within them.
What is a Riparian Buffer?
The immediate area adjacent to the stream.
Will Stormwater Management prevent flooding?
Yes, if we can help maintain our storm inlets and protect our streams, flooding will be less likely to occur. Stormwater Management is required so that post-development runoff does not exceed pre-development. In other words, no additional water flows off the property after development.
What type of facilities are built?
There are many facilities such as, ponds, tanks, channels, riparian buffers, storm water barrels, private rainspouts, storm sewer, manholes, and inlets.
Who owns them?
These facilities are either public or privately owned and maintained. The publicly owned facilities are maintained by the Township, the privately owned facilities are generally owned by Homeowners Associations, if not private individuals.
How often are they maintained?
Generally these facilities are maintained every six months.
What is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Program?
Mandated by Congress under the Clean Water Act, the NPDES Storm Program is a comprehensive two-phased national program for addressing the non-agricultural sources of storm water discharges, which adversely affect the quality of our nation's waters. The Program uses the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting mechanism to require the implementation of controls designed to prevent harmful pollutants from being washed by storm water runoff into local water bodies.
*Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Township of Upper St. Clair · 1820 McLaughlin Run Road · Upper St.Clair, Pennsylvania 15241
Department of Planning and Community Development · Phone: 412.831.9000 Ext. 501 · Fax (ComDev): 412.854.0773
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