How do I know if the District received my application?

Upon receipt of an application, the District will send out a receipt notice and permit review schedule to the applicant via mail.

How long does it take for the District to review submitted application materials?

For new applications, the District has up to 15 days to notify the applicant whether or not the application is complete. Once an application is conditionally approved by the Board of Managers at their monthly permit meeting, the District will continue to accept application submittal materials (revised plans, surety, legal forms, etc.) until all pending items are satisfied and the permit can be issued. Review time for these items varies depending on the number of items received from all applicants. The District reviews items on a first submitted, first reviewed basis. In general, submittal items are reviewed by the District within 15 days of submittal.

How long is a permit good for?

Permits are valid for 18 months after the issuance date. Extensions may be given on a case-by-case basis if the applicant requests an extension within 2 weeks of the expiration date.

I want to build a pond. Do I need a permit? What is the process?

Construction of a pond requires a permit from the District. If the pond is proposed to be built in uplands, the District will review the project to make sure it does not alter drainage patterns, drain existing wetlands or lakes, or create erosion and sediment control problems. If the pond is proposed to be built in wetland, then it is possible that the project would be considered a "wetland impact" and require 2:1 replacement. Within certain wetland types, ponds can be designed in such a way as to be exempt from wetland replacement requirements. The Board of Water & Soil Resources has produced a Wildlife Pond Guidance Document to assist landowners and agencies on the design of ponds in wetlands to meet regulatory requirements.

My project involves redevelopment of an existing commercial site. Do I need a permit?

Most commercial redevelopment projects require a permit from the District and some level of stormwater management. If the project results in a site with 1 acre or more of impervious surface, then full rate control, water quality treatment and volume control requirements apply. If the project results in a site with less than 1 acre of impervious surface, then rate control and water quality treatment requirements may be waived if volume control requirements are incorporated to the maximum extent possible.

These requirements apply to the redevelopment area only, unless more than 50% of the site is redeveloped. If more than 50% of the site is redeveloped, then the above stormwater management requirements apply to the entire site.

The City has already approved my project, do I still need a permit from the District?

Yes. The District's permitting process is completely separate from any other local government or regulatory agency process. The District reviews applications for compliance with our rules and independent of other permit reviews. Applicants can choose to apply for a permit at the same time as applying to the City or other regulatory agency or they can apply for one first and then the other. Some Cities require that a project be approved by the Rice Creek Watershed District before they issue a final project approval.

What are the District's rules for construction of municipal roads?

The District requires municipalities to obtain a permit whenever road projects entail the construction of a new roadway or when the project involves any reconfiguration of existing stormwater systems and/or amending the road bed itself. The purpose of this requirement is to install water quality treatment mechanisms that are in alignment with current Federal and state laws in situations where little, if any, stormwater treatment currently exists. This is in keeping with the District's charter to ensure the conservation and restoration of our water resoruces.