Purpose / Objective:
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In the state of Maryland, a Permit issued by the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) is required to construct, reconstruct, change, or repair any reservoir, dam, or waterway obstruction, unless it is exempt or unless it can be reviewed and approved through the Cecil Soil Conservation District (CSCD).
The watershed size, embankment/dam height, storage, and hazard classification will determine the reviewing and approval authority. Some small water impoundments, micro-ponds, Environmental Site Design Facilities (ESD), etc.) are exempt from needing Small Pond approval from MDE or CSCD. Those small impoundments will have small watersheds, shallow earth embankments/dams, and small storage reservoirs, and are classified as low hazard structures. In these cases, your local stormwater management approval authority will typically review and approve those small water impoundments.
To determine whether your water impoundment is either 1) exempt, 2) requires CSCD approval, or 3) requires a permit from MDE, use the February 25, 2025, MDE Stormwater, Dam Safety, and Flood Management Program Flow Chart for Determining Embankment Design Category and Approval Authority. CSCD has created a document CSCD Step by Step Decision Aid that moves through the flow chart in a step-by-step method to perform the same evaluation.
In all cases, where MDE or CSCD must review and approve plans and computations for technical compliance, follow requirements in the USDA NRCS MD Conservation Practice Standard POND CODE 378 dated January 2000 which is incorporated by reference in The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.17.02.01-1(B.(2)), and MDE policies and procedures.
CSCD Small Pond Review Process:
After your Engineer has determined the water impoundment qualifies as a Small Pond and can be reviewed and approved through CSCD, provide the following items directly to CSCD:
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One (1) hard copy of completed Application for CSCD Small Pond Review
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One (1) hard copy of CSCD Step By Step Decision Aid completed to Determine Embankment Design Category and Approval Authority for each pond designed for the project
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One (1) hard copy of completed Checklist for MD-378 Small Pond Review
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One (1) hard copy of Preliminary/Final plan phase Small Pond Construction Plans
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One (1) hard copy of Preliminary/Final plan phase Small Pond Design Report/Analysis
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One (1) hard copy of Geotechnical Subsurface Evaluation
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One (1) hard copy of the Dam Breach Analysis (see MDE Breach Analysis Guidance for Breach Analysis requirements)
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One (1) hard copy of the Pond Summary Sheet for Each Pond
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Provide digital copies to CSCD of everything that was submitted above
(A checklist containing this list can be found at Checklist for 1st Submittal Review)
CSCD will review the items submitted and if the submittal is complete and the design meets all applicable standards and specifications, CSCD will issue a Conditional Approval Letter. Approval signatures will be affixed onto the Final Plans on condition that all comments from all reviewing agencies have been addressed, and CSCD has received, completed and executed
If the submittal is incomplete and/or the design does not meet all applicable standards and specifications, CSCD will return a digital comment package to the engineer with a comment letter, marked up plans, and attachments as necessary. The Engineer will be asked to address all CSCD comments and return hard copies of anything that was revised and any new items requested. Again, your Engineer will be asked to provide digital copies of everything submitted as well. This process will repeat until all CSCD comments are satisfactorily addressed and a Conditional Approval Letter can be issued.
Please be advised if plans are dropped off after 2:30 pm the packet will not be checked in until the next business day. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
All Small Pond Design Plans and Documents should be submitted for review and approval to the following address:
Cecil Soil Conservation District
105 Chesapeake Blvd., Suite B-3
Elkton, MD 21921
Phone: (410) 398-4411, ext. 3
CECIL SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT SMALL POND APPROVAL PROCESS MANUAL:
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This Manual contains the documents already linked to along with some additional documents your Engineer will find useful. Documents included are:
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Small Pond Approval Final Submission Documents
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Construction Monitoring Notification
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As-Built Submission Documents
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Plan Notes & Certifications Required On Plans
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CSCD Small Pond Approval Signature Block
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CSCD Small Pond As-Built Acceptance Signature Block
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Example Tables To Be Provided On Plans
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
If you have any questions or comments regarding Small Pond Reviews and Approvals please contact the
Cecil Soil Conservation District at 410-398-4411 x 3 or by the links below:
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Gerry P. Powell, M.CE., P.E.