Questions & Answers

1.  What is a watershed?

Watersheds are areas encompassed by nature's boundaries in which the surface runoff flows to water supply reservoirs, by way of surface flow, streams, and creeks.


2.  What is the difference between a general watershed area and a watershed critical area?

Watershed critical areas cover the most sensitive portion of the watershed adjacent to a water supply intake or reservoir where risk associated with pollution is the greatest.  The general watershed area covers the remainder of the watershed draining to the reservoir or intake.


3.  What is built-upon area?  How do I calculate percent built-upon area? 

Built-upon area is the portion of a property that is covered by impervious or partially impervious surface including buildings, pavement, gravel, and recreation facilities.  To calculate built-upon area, add the square footage of all surfaces covered by building, asphalt, gravel, concrete, and divide by the area of the tract of land.


4.  Is a gravel drive considered built-upon area?

Yes.  Gravel is considered to be an impervious surface.


5.  What constitutes land disturbance?

Any use of, or operations on, the land by any person in residential, industrial, educational, institutional, or commercial development, highway and road construction and maintenance that results in a change in the natural cover or topography and that may cause or contribute to sedimentation.


6.  What is a BMP?

A BMP, or Best Management Practice, is a structural or nonstructural practice used to reduce nonpoint source pollution to receiving waters in order to achieve water quality protection goals.


7.  Who maintains my drainage easement?

Maintenance of drainage easements is the responsibility of the property owner.


8.  What is a stream buffer?

Stream buffers are natural or vegetated areas through which stormwater runoff flows in a diffuse manner so that the runoff does not become channelized and which provides for infiltration of the runoff and filtering of pollutants.


9.  Is my property located in a water supply watershed?  Which one?

To find out if your property is located within a watershed you may call the Rockingham County Planning Department.


10.  Why be concerned about stormwater?

Water pollution hurts everybody.  Sediment is one of the top 3 pollutants in the state.  Reducing flooding problems is a by-product of water quality management.


11.  Can I build in a drainage easement?

No.  Exceptions are made for minor encroachments such as driveways and utilities.


12.  What is a floodplain?

Floodplains are the flat or low areas adjacent to the channel of a river, stream, or watercourse, lake or other body of standing water, which has been or may be covered by floodwater.


13.  How do I get a floodplain certificate for a home mortgage?

Floodplain certificates for a home mortgage can be obtained by contacting a professional land surveyor.  Many mortgage companies rely on national certification companies to determine floodplain location.


       Rockingham County North Carolina
      Contact Us
      Rockingham County Government
      371 NC Hwy 65
      Reidsville NC 27320
      Phone: 336.342.8100
      Fax: 336.342.8105