PERMITTING An economically important program at the District is permitting. Pennsylvania Chapter 105 (Water Obstruction & Encroachments) and Pennsylvania Chapter 102/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) are the two programs in which permits are issued through the District office. Keeping permitting at the local level ensures that applications are processed in a timely manner, allowing important development projects to move forward on schedule, which drives sustained economic development in the county. In 2020, the District processed 62 total permit applications in both program areas.
Permitting Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment
Pennsylvania’s Dam Safety and Encroachments Act (25 PA Administrative Code Chapter 105): Every year, the District processes dozens of permit applications for activities that may impact a waterway such as a stream, wetland, floodway, or other body of water. This is crucial to ensure that projects do not have negative impacts on waterways while reducing flood risk. • Chapter 105 General permits are needed for any work that impacts a stream. • This type of work includes construction, stream crossing culverts, retaining walls, fish habitat structures, agricultural crossings, utility line crossings, and other obstructions and encroachments. • Chapter 105 general permits protect and prevent aquatic ecosystems and wetlands from any threats that these encroachments may present, such as sedimentation and barriers to aquatic organism passage.
Acknowledged Chapter 105 Permits • GP1: 3 (fish habitat enhancement structures) • GP2: 1 (small docks and boat launching ramps) • GP3: 3 (bank rehab/protection, gravel bar removal)
• GP4: 2 (intake/outfall structures) • GP5: 39 (utility line stream crossing) • GP7: 6 (minor road crossing) • GP8: 8 (temporary road crossing) • GP9: 1 (agricultural activities)
Unpermitted stream crossing that was installed correctly
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2021 Annual Report
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