Storm water management program
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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is overseeing a federally mandated
program to control stormwater runoff and protect waterways. Permits are required for stormwater discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in urbanized areas and for construction activities disturbing one or more acres. The Town is required to develop a comprehensive stormwater management program. Water from rain or melting snow runs off land, carrying litter, soil, bacteria and other pollutants into our waters. Large amounts of stormwater rushing off paved surfaces can flood yards, streets and basements. The goal of the NYSDEC’s stormwater program is to correct these problems; which in turn will protect and restore our valuable environmental resources. The Town has designated the Code Enforcement Officer as their stormwater contact. For more information on the stormwater requirements please contact the Code Enforcement Officer at: 315-677-5371. The Code Enforcement Office should be contacted for construction related stormwater questions or if you see any sources of stormwater pollution. There are many simple actions that you can take as a LaFayette resident to help reduce the generation of stormwater pollution and its impacts. Below are some things things you can do (for more information visit: www.cnyrpdb.org/stormwater):
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The Town of LaFayette is a long-standing member of the CNY Stormwater Coalition, a 30-member intermunicipal organization that is committed to water quality improvement and protection.
The CNY Stormwater Coalition believes that everyone has a role in keeping our surface waters clean and healthy. As an organization, we are committed to providing information that supports water protection through informed personal choices. To be effective, we need to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete our online survey. Your responses will help us deliver useful and interesting information in a format that meets your lifestyle and addresses your interests. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete but will help us shape our education program for years to come. Thank you in advance for participating in our survey. Click HERE to participate in the survey. |
The Town was required to pass two new ordinances to address stormwater. These ordinances prohibit illicit discharges to
municipal storm and sewer systems and establish the stormwater requirements for new construction projects within Marcellus.
Soil that enters streams and lakes as sediment reduces water clarity and covers fish spawning beds, leading to a decline in
numbers of fish and other aquatic creatures. Large amounts of sediment can lead to streams jumping their banks and causing
flooding. Rainwater that runs off pavement and lawns also picks up pollutants such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which when
introduced to lakes cause outbreaks of dense aquatic plant growth and algae or “pond scum”. The water can also carry oil, trash, pesticides, and other chemicals, as well as bacteria or disease pathogens, to streams and lakes. The addition of rooftops and paved or concrete surfaces to an area also causes less rainwater to filter naturally into the ground. This means that more
water runs directly off the surface into the nearest body of water, often causing flooding.
The Stormwater Management and Erosion and Sediment Control Local Law requires anyone who is developing land, and will be excavating or moving earth totaling more than half an acre, to obtain a permit from the Town. The laws are intended to reduce the movement of sediment from construction sites to bodies of water by rainfall. As a condition of the new permit that developers must obtain, they must install special structures and abide by certain “best management practices” to ensure that soil is not washed off the site. On many sites, including all commercial and multi-family housing construction projects over half an acre as well as single-family housing sites greater than five acres, the installation of permanent ponds, basins, and other features is required to improve water quality. These ponds also provide storage of excess rainwater during heavy storms or snowmelts to prevent flooding. These structures must be designed to certain standards designated by the State of New York. The Planning Board will review all development proposals to determine whether or not they comply with the law. The Code Enforcement Officer will inspect sites that have, or need, permits.
municipal storm and sewer systems and establish the stormwater requirements for new construction projects within Marcellus.
Soil that enters streams and lakes as sediment reduces water clarity and covers fish spawning beds, leading to a decline in
numbers of fish and other aquatic creatures. Large amounts of sediment can lead to streams jumping their banks and causing
flooding. Rainwater that runs off pavement and lawns also picks up pollutants such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which when
introduced to lakes cause outbreaks of dense aquatic plant growth and algae or “pond scum”. The water can also carry oil, trash, pesticides, and other chemicals, as well as bacteria or disease pathogens, to streams and lakes. The addition of rooftops and paved or concrete surfaces to an area also causes less rainwater to filter naturally into the ground. This means that more
water runs directly off the surface into the nearest body of water, often causing flooding.
The Stormwater Management and Erosion and Sediment Control Local Law requires anyone who is developing land, and will be excavating or moving earth totaling more than half an acre, to obtain a permit from the Town. The laws are intended to reduce the movement of sediment from construction sites to bodies of water by rainfall. As a condition of the new permit that developers must obtain, they must install special structures and abide by certain “best management practices” to ensure that soil is not washed off the site. On many sites, including all commercial and multi-family housing construction projects over half an acre as well as single-family housing sites greater than five acres, the installation of permanent ponds, basins, and other features is required to improve water quality. These ponds also provide storage of excess rainwater during heavy storms or snowmelts to prevent flooding. These structures must be designed to certain standards designated by the State of New York. The Planning Board will review all development proposals to determine whether or not they comply with the law. The Code Enforcement Officer will inspect sites that have, or need, permits.
Town Of LaFayette | 2577 US Route 11 | P.O. Box 193 |LaFayette, NY 13084
Phone: (315) 677-3674 | Fax: (315) 677-7806
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9:00 am - 4:00 pm | Closed Fridays May - October | Tuesdays: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm or by appointment
[email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected]
Phone: (315) 677-3674 | Fax: (315) 677-7806
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9:00 am - 4:00 pm | Closed Fridays May - October | Tuesdays: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm or by appointment
[email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected]