Natural Resources Conservation Service Agriculture Handbook, “Ponds-Planning, Design, Construction”.

19. Delaware County shall not be held responsible for technical design of the pond and will issue Waiver of Liability upon permit issuance.

Section 2. Completion Standards.

  1. Completion consideration includes the following criteria:
    1. Structure
      1. Pipes and Infrastructure
      2. Spillways
      3. Pond Dam
    2. Vegetation to aid in the prevention of soil erosion; Will need 70% uniform coverage without signs of erosion on pond banks.
  2. Upon completion, with Final Approval from all departments involved in permit issuance, the permit will then be considered closed.
  3. If the pond is not maintained after completion, the Delaware County officials who were involved in permit issuance maintain the right to take corrective action through fines and increasing levels of consequence based on the level of neglect, which will be decided by said board.

Section 3. Decommissioning Existing Pond.

Delaware County requires permitting for the decommissioning of an already existing private pond that is over 1000 sq. ft. in surface area. When a Decommission Pond Permit is applied for, the Delaware County Building Commissioner, Stormwater Management, County Surveyor, Highway Engineer, Floodplain Administrator, and Health Department will review the application prior to approval.

The Decommission Pond Permit will require:

  1. Decommission Plan
  2. Erosion Control Plan
  3. Site Restoration Plan
    1. Including fill and seal materials

Upon application review, it will be determined if state-level environmental agencies should be notified before the decommissioning process.

Section 4. Future Maintenance

  1. Upon Completion, after the permit is closed, it will remain the property owner’s responsibility to maintain the pond. This includes but is not exclusive to:
    1. Sediment/Debris accumulation: monitoring and maintaining ponds original capacity will prevent unwanted flooding outside the pond
    2. Vegetation: no bare areas on pond banks or unwanted vegetation within the pond to help reduce (a).
    3. Dam stability/safety: no leaks or sloughing on the downstream side of the dam or embankment for the pond.