Orange County, NY Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Article 15, Title 5 Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Implementing Regulations, 6NYCRR PART 608. The protection of New York's diverse water resources ensures that our rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds continue to provide essential ecological and commercial services. Preserving fish and wildlife habitat, safeguarding our drinking water, and allowing industrial and agricultural ventures to responsibly flourish are maintained through Article 15, Title 5 of the ECL. NYSDEC Protection of Waters (POW) regulatory program establishes and enforces regulations that: are compatible with the preservation, protection and enhancement of the present and potential values of the water resources; protect the public health and welfare; and are reasonably consistent with the state's social and economic development. Disturbance of The Bed or Banks of a Protected Stream or Other Watercourse - Required for disturbing the bed or banks of a stream with a classification of AA, A or B, or with a classification of C with a standard of (T) or (TS). "Banks" means that land area immediately adjacent to and which slopes toward the bed of a watercourse and which is necessary to maintain the integrity of the watercourse. A bank will not be considered to extend more than 50 feet horizontally from the mean high water line; with the following exception: Where a generally uniform slope of 45 degrees (100%) or greater adjoins the bed of a watercourse, the bank is extended to the crest of the slope or the first definable break in slope, either a natural or constructed (road, or railroad grade) feature lying generally parallel to the watercourse. Some examples of activities requiring this permit are: placement of structures in or across a stream (i.e., bridges, culverts or pipelines); fill placement for bank stabilization or to isolate a work area (i.e., rip-rap or coffer dams); excavations for gravel removal or as part of a construction activity; lowering stream banks to establish a stream crossing; utilization of equipment in a stream to remove debris or to assist in-stream construction.