NRS528.0551. Control of erosion: Water breaks and culverts required.

      1.  Except as provided in NRS 528.0552, 528.0553 and 528.0554, water breaks or culverts, or both, shall be constructed for all logging truck roads, tractor skid trails and firebreaks no later than November 15 of each year. Water breaks or culverts, or both, shall:

      (a) Be located in minimal fill areas;

      (b) Be effective in diverting surface water from logging truck roads, tractor skid trails and firebreaks;

      (c) Provide unrestricted discharge into an area having sufficient filter capacity to effectively remove water-borne sediment to prevent a serious risk of causing significant degradation of water quality; and

      (d) Be installed at such intervals as are necessary to reasonably prevent surface water on or from such logging truck roads, tractor skid trails and firebreaks from accumulating in sufficient volume or accelerating to sufficient velocity to cause excessive erosion. The following guidelines shall be considered in determining reasonable water break or culvert intervals:

             (1) On grades of 10 percent or less, intervals of 100 to 200 feet;

             (2) On grades of 11 to 25 percent, intervals of 75 to 150 feet;

             (3) On grades of 26 to 49 percent, intervals of 50 to 100 feet; and

             (4) On grades of 50 percent or more, intervals of 30 to 75 feet.

      2.  Advance flagging of water break or culvert locations shall be provided wherever necessary to insure that the location and spacing of the water breaks or culverts, or both, is adequate to prevent water flow from creating a serious risk of causing significant degradation of water quality.

      3.  On permanent truck roads, water breaks or culverts, or both, shall be cut a minimum of 12 inches into the firm road surface and shall be constructed so that they will not be rendered ineffective by the passage of motorized vehicles.

      (Added to NRS by 1973, 1153)