Stream buffer 20131108

City of Peoria City of Peoria

Stream Stream Buffer/Storm Water ManagementBuffer/Storm Water Management

Greenways Workshop at Davis Lodge

Friday, November 8, 2013

Jane Gerdes, P.E., Civil Engineer 1

What is a Stream Buffer?What is a Stream Buffer?

�� A buffer for a stream A buffer for a stream system shall consist system shall consist of a protective, of a protective, forested and/or forested and/or vegetated strip of vegetated strip of vegetated strip of vegetated strip of land extending along land extending along both sides of a both sides of a stream, and its stream, and its adjacent floodway adjacent floodway and slopes. and slopes.

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What are Benefits of Stream Buffer?What are Benefits of Stream Buffer?

Officially:Officially:�� to protect propertyto protect property

�� to protect water qualityto protect water quality

�� to protect riparian and to protect riparian and aquatic ecosystemsaquatic ecosystems

�� to provide for the to provide for the environmentally sound environmentally sound use of land resourcesuse of land resources

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What are Benefits of Stream Buffer?What are Benefits of Stream Buffer?

Also:Also:

�� Erosion controlErosion control

�� Flood managementFlood management

�� Growth management Growth management �� Growth management Growth management

tooltool

�� Aesthetic value Aesthetic value

�� Recreational Recreational

opportunitiesopportunities

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What led Peoria to Develop a Stream What led Peoria to Develop a Stream

Buffer Ordinance?Buffer Ordinance?

Structural FailureStructural Failure

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Unstable SlopesUnstable Slopes

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Problems Waiting to Happen!Problems Waiting to Happen!

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Creeks with no Environmental or Creeks with no Environmental or

Aesthetic BenefitsAesthetic Benefits

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Floodplain Floodplain

Encroachment/RestrictionEncroachment/Restriction

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The ProcessThe Process

�� Model OrdinanceModel Ordinance

�� Informational public Informational public

meetingsmeetings

�� Stream Buffer CommitteeStream Buffer Committee�� Stream Buffer CommitteeStream Buffer Committee

�� Research of other ordinancesResearch of other ordinances

�� Final Ordinance approved on Final Ordinance approved on

February 1, 2005February 1, 2005

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Peoria’s Stream Buffer OrdinancePeoria’s Stream Buffer Ordinance

�� Applies to all proposed development except:Applies to all proposed development except:�� Previous plats/plansPrevious plats/plans

�� Unexpired building permitsUnexpired building permits

�� Existing buildingsExisting buildings

�� Agricultural operationsAgricultural operations

�� IL RiverIL River�� IL RiverIL River

�� 30 feet to 50 feet in width 30 feet to 50 feet in width –– each side of streameach side of stream

�� Must include 100Must include 100--year floodplainyear floodplain

�� Alternative complianceAlternative compliance

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Buffer ManagementBuffer Management

�� Allowable practices and uses:Allowable practices and uses:

�� Flood control structuresFlood control structures

�� UtilitiesUtilities

�� Biking and hiking pathsBiking and hiking paths�� Biking and hiking pathsBiking and hiking paths

�� Road CrossingsRoad Crossings

�� Recreational and park facilitiesRecreational and park facilities

�� Sanitary and storm water sewersSanitary and storm water sewers

�� Selective tree and vegetation clearingSelective tree and vegetation clearing

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ExampleExample–– Traditional Compliance Traditional Compliance

Hunters TrailHunters Trail

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Hunters TrailHunters Trail

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Hunters Hunters Trail Trail -- 20072007

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Hunters Hunters Trail Trail -- 20132013

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ExampleExample–– Alternative ComplianceAlternative Compliance

Attingham ParkAttingham Park

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Attingham ParkAttingham Park

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AttinghamAttingham Park Park -- 20072007

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ExampleExample–– Home ConstructionHome Construction

Stonehenge Subdivision Stonehenge Subdivision -- 20132013

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Stream Buffer Stream Buffer -- EnforcementEnforcement

�� Building InspectorsBuilding Inspectors

�� Citizen complaintsCitizen complaints

�� Fines of up to $1,000 per Fines of up to $1,000 per �� Fines of up to $1,000 per Fines of up to $1,000 per

day per violationday per violation

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Stream Buffer Stream Buffer -- What What We’ve LearnedWe’ve Learned

�� Public vs. private Public vs. private ownershipownership

�� Rear yard setback waiverRear yard setback waiver

Standard boundary Standard boundary �� Standard boundary Standard boundary markermarker

�� Gravity flow drainage Gravity flow drainage systemssystems

�� Additional educationAdditional education

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Questions?Questions?

Thanks so much for inviting me today!Thanks so much for inviting me today!

Jane Jane GerdesGerdes, , [email protected]@peoriagov.org, ,

309309--494494--8819881927

Technology

Stream buffer 20131108