Culvert over "state waters"

9 years ago

I need to reconstruct a culvert over a "state waters" stream on my property. I can't get anyone to tell me what, if any permits are required. I am retaining an engineer, however, who says he will get the permits as part of the cost. The stream is only about 3' wide on average, banks about 2' or less deep. What advice can you give me on this project? Thanks!

Featured Answer

Jen

9 years ago

What state are you in? I have experienced a similar situation except it was a bridge. Here, I ended up finding out that the Department of Environment and Conservation was the regulating authority. Same department that handles septic permits. They went through a very simple general permit application process with me which also determined that I did NOT need the more expensive permit. My project was not invasive enough to require the environmental permit.

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Comments (9)

bpath
9 years ago
What does your city tell you?
Lindsy
9 years ago
Have you called the city or county to ask?
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Gracie Morgan
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, I've asked everyone in the county but they send me around in a circle until I come back to person I started with. I'm scared I'll end up with a large fine or in jail.
just_janni
9 years ago
That's why you can hire a professional who can indemnify you against that kind of liability. Ultimately - the code should be available and you COULD navigate it yourself, but hiring the right person will safeguard you. Things like if you are in a watershed? Is it a stream or a wetland? etc etc etc - and some of these definitions are pretty esoteric....
Gracie Morgan
Original Author
9 years ago
That's my plan, jannicone. Thanks! I am wondering what experiences others had legally, and also with the actual construction of the culvert. I'm curious as to how much the cost will be driven up by these issues. I don't know what the cost would be to begin with. To just have the engineer come out and do the assessment is probably going to be $1,500 - $2,000, he said. So I'm preparing for sticker shock.
just_janni
9 years ago
I will be running a (solid) sewage pipe through a wetland (or stream- can't remember how it's defined) and there was no issue - it only needed an alarm at the output to ensure the effluent was getting to the field. We had a septic consultant that was well respected with the county. and we paid a little more than that - but it included the septic design.
Gracie Morgan
Original Author
9 years ago
Georgia.
carsoneray
9 years ago
I live in Georgia. Disturbing water is beyond county level. You will need Environmental Protection Agency (or whatever they are currently calling it). You should have an environmental department in your county or a district office for group of counties that could point you in the right direction. You could also contact someone at local university, preferably UGA or county extension, for direction. But, ultimately, hiring the professional is probably your safest and smartest bet. Disturbing water and/or land within 75ft water gets tricky in a hurry in our state. We own creek frontage but won't be disturbing; our neighbor did, however, build a bridge for his drive, involving EPA. Good luck. No doubt it will be worth it.