Windsor Municipal Code Art. 1 General

Pursuant to authority granted under Section 6026 of the California Water Code, the Windsor Water District hereby assumes the responsibility of regulating the size, location, construction and operation of reservoirs within the District's boundaries or any property owned by the District outside its boundaries.

As used in this chapter:

Reservoir shall mean any above ground or partially above and below ground area surrounded by an earthen dike and created for the purpose of storing or impounding water.

Dam shall mean any reservoir having sides with a maximum height of more than fifteen (15′) feet above the surrounding terrain.

All reservoirs hereafter constructed shall conform to the following minimum standards:

a. The sides of the reservoir shall not exceed a maximum height of fifteen (15′) feet.

b. No reservoir shall have a storage capacity exceeding one thousand five hundred (1,500) acre-feet.

c. The reservoir shall be designed by a registered civil engineer.

d. No reservoir shall be located across an existing stream channel or watercourse.

e. The reservoir shall be constructed in such a way as to meet or exceed geotechnical standards established for its location by any authorized agency of the State of California.

f. The exterior of the reservoir shall be landscaped and maintained in a manner to protect the reservoir and to enhance the surrounding properties.

g. The interior of the reservoir shall be treated in such a way as to prevent seepage of the stored water into the ground water.

a. Permits. Prior to construction of any reservoir, an application shall be made on forms supplied by the District to the General Manager of the District.

b. Content of Application. The application shall include, among other matters that may be required by the General Manager, drawings by a registered civil engineer showing the location, size and construction details of the proposed reservoir. The drawings shall include a detailed topographical map at one (1′) foot intervals showing all trees, watercourses and fault lines or suspected fault lines.

c. The application shall include a focused Environmental Impact Report showing the impact, if any, on the surrounding properties.

d. Once the application is found to be complete, the General Manager shall schedule the matter for review and approval by the Board of Directors at the earliest opportunity.

e. Upon approval by the Board and closure of any applicable protest periods, the General Manager shall designate personnel to supervise the construction, operation, enlargement, replacement and/or removal of the reservoir, as appropriate.

The Board of Directors shall establish fees and charges for processing and supervising applications under this chapter by resolution, which may be changed from time to time, in order to cover the costs of administering this chapter.

All reservoirs shall be operated in such a way as to protect and enhance the environment, protect the health and safety of all persons down stream of such reservoir and prevent the determination of the ground or surface waters within the District and downstream of the District.

The District shall have the right to enter upon any property to inspect the condition and operation of any dam regulated by this chapter.

Failure to properly operate a reservoir within the District boundaries, or to willfully neglect or allow a reservoir to become a hazard to the community of downstream properties, or to comply with the provisions of this chapter, shall be a misdemeanor.