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    City of Fayetteville


    The City of Fayetteville has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing in watersheds within this jurisdiction.  The City of Fayetteville is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The City of Fayetteville will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Fayetteville, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The City of Fayetteville has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.

    Excerpt from the City of Fayetteville Drainage Criteria Manual

    SECTION 4.5. STORMWATER QUALITY BMP LONG TERM MAINTENANCE

    Each water quality BMP installed on a site requires regular maintenance to ensure that it functions properly. A BMP-specific maintenance agreement for each development site is required. The maintenance agreement consists of the following:

    1. An Inspection and Maintenance Agreement signed by the developer or BMP owner.
    2. A long term maintenance plan written by the engineer or site designer that includes a description of the stormwater system and its components, inspection priorities and schedule for each component, and BMP schematics for each BMP. The plan should also include requirements for the proper disposal of any materials removed from the BMP during maintenance; and
    3. A drawing of easements on a plat or a system location map to enable the City to locate BMPs as needed.

    The maintenance agreement and its attachments must be submitted for review by the City with the site plans. After the plans and the agreement are approved, the property owner shall record the maintenance agreement and its attachments with the register of deeds. The property owner, under the maintenance agreement, shall be responsible for inspecting and maintaining the BMPs and for turning in inspection reports annually to show that the facilities have been inspected and maintained.

    SECTION 8.4. POST-CONSTRUCTION SITE STABILIZATION STANDARDS

    Revegetation of disturbed areas shall be performed as soon after the completion of construction activities as is practicable. The area of disturbance at any one time shall be limited to 20 acres. No additional area may be open without the permission of the City Engineer until the previously disturbed areas have been temporarily or permanently stabilized. Revegetation shall be required to meet the following performance standards prior to issuance of the Final Plat or Certificate of Occupancy:

    1. Topsoil: A minimum of 4 inches of topsoil shall be required in areas to be revegetated. Any application of topsoil and seeding under the drip line of a tree should be minimized to 3 inches so as not to damage the root system of the tree.
    2. Zero to 10% grade: Revegetation shall be a minimum of seeding and mulching. Said seeding shall provide complete and uniform coverage that minimizes erosion and runoff in no more than two growing seasons.
    3. 10:1 up to 4:1 grade: Revegetation shall be a minimum of hydroseeding with mulch and fertilizer, or staked sod, or groundcover. Said planting shall provide complete and uniform coverage that minimizes erosion and runoff in no more than two growing seasons.
    4. 4:1 to 3:1 grade: The slope shall be covered with landscape fabric and hydro-seeded with mulch and fertilizer or staked sod groundcover. Said planting shall provide complete and uniform coverage in no more than two growing seasons.
    5. Steeper than 3:1 grade: The slope shall be stabilized with one or more of the following:
    • Retaining Walls,
    • Cribbing with landscaping fabric,
    • Terracing with groundcover,
    • Riprap,
    • Staked Sod (up to 2:1 slope), or
    • If cribbing, terracing, or rip rap are used, the slope stability and erodibility characteristics must be equivalent to or better than its predevelopment state.
    1. Hillside/Hilltop Overlay District: Revegetation of lands within the Hillside/ Hilltop Overlay District shall be planted immediately after the physical alteration of the land with complete and uniform ground cover. Sod, erosion fabric, herbaceous groundcover (in wooded areas), and/or a hydroseed with warm season grasses is required. Revegetation requirements shall be met prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy. Cut and Fill tie-back slopes shall be re-vegetated with appropriate tree species to achieve a minimum of 25% tree canopy at maturity.

    Land shall be revegetated and restored as close as practically possible to its original conditions so far as to minimize runoff and erosion are concerned. Previously forested areas shall follow the City’s Landscape Manual for mitigation of forested areas.

    1. Flexible Down Drain: This is a temporary structure used to convey stormwater from one elevation to another without causing erosion. It is made of heavy-duty fabric or other material that can be removed when the permanent water disposal system is installed.

    Water Control:

    1. Subsurface Drains: Subsurface drains used to remove excess groundwater are sometimes required at the base of fill slopes or around building foundations. When heavy grading is done and natural water channels are filled, the subsurface drains may be used to prevent accumulation of groundwater. Subsurface drains may be needed in vegetated channels to lower a high water table and to improve drainage conditions so vegetation can be established and maintained.

    Supplemental Documents:

    City of Fayetteville Drainage Improvement Plan

    City of Fayetteville Stormwater Management Plan

    State of Arkansas Documents:

    ADEQ Stormwater Website

    ARR150000 Construction Stormwater Permit Fact Sheet