CESSWI EXAM questions and
CORRECT answers(already
passed)2026-2027
Erosion - answer process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles
detached and transported
Sediment - answer eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - answer deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - answer splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - answer raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface sediments
sheet erosion - answer caused by rain splash detaching soil particles lifting them up and
removing them by shallow "sheets" of water flowing down the sloped soil surface
Rill Erosion - answer as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil surface
Gully Erosion - answer Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows
from several rills come together and form a large channels
,Channel Erosion - answer may become unstable due to increased flows or changes in
upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - answer generally considered due to the influences of climate on the
surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion - answer natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - answer Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - answer problems for down slope
property owners
nuisance problems on streets
clog streams and storm drains
increased turbidity downstream
cover sensitive habitat with sediment
Identify instream damages of sediment - answer destruction of spawning areas, food
sources, habitat
direct toxicity to wildlife
lake degradation
filling of navigation channels
impacts to commercial fisheries
reduction of water storage capacities
Suspended material - answer sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability,
fisheries and habitat
,Name Off stream damages - answer Increased flood hazards
increased water treatment costs
decreased capacity in conveyance facilities
higher infrastructure maintenance costs
What has increased the amount of impervious surface in our watersheds? - answer
Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - answer nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - answer Federal Water Pollution Control Act enacted to restore
and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the US
administered by USEPA
Section 401 - answer water quality certification
requires applicant, including any construction or operation of a facility, to obtain
certification to discharge ANY pollutant.
administered by the State
Section 402 - answer NPDES Regs
, NPDES - answer National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - answer Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - answer Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
Phase I
(1987 - 1992) - answer already covered by NPDES permit
facilities that engage in industrial activity
Large municipal storm systems (>250,000)
Medium municipal storms systems (100 - 250 K)
facilities that EPA said were significant contributors
Storm Water Implementation Rule - answer enacted April 1992, identified minimum
requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
Section 404 - answer regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the US administered
by USACE
CZARA - answer Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) of 1990
requires coastal zone states to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs
section 6217 nonpoint source in coastal areas
stormwater - answer stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage
CORRECT answers(already
passed)2026-2027
Erosion - answer process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles
detached and transported
Sediment - answer eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - answer deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - answer splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - answer raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface sediments
sheet erosion - answer caused by rain splash detaching soil particles lifting them up and
removing them by shallow "sheets" of water flowing down the sloped soil surface
Rill Erosion - answer as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil surface
Gully Erosion - answer Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows
from several rills come together and form a large channels
,Channel Erosion - answer may become unstable due to increased flows or changes in
upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - answer generally considered due to the influences of climate on the
surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion - answer natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - answer Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - answer problems for down slope
property owners
nuisance problems on streets
clog streams and storm drains
increased turbidity downstream
cover sensitive habitat with sediment
Identify instream damages of sediment - answer destruction of spawning areas, food
sources, habitat
direct toxicity to wildlife
lake degradation
filling of navigation channels
impacts to commercial fisheries
reduction of water storage capacities
Suspended material - answer sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability,
fisheries and habitat
,Name Off stream damages - answer Increased flood hazards
increased water treatment costs
decreased capacity in conveyance facilities
higher infrastructure maintenance costs
What has increased the amount of impervious surface in our watersheds? - answer
Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - answer nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - answer Federal Water Pollution Control Act enacted to restore
and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the US
administered by USEPA
Section 401 - answer water quality certification
requires applicant, including any construction or operation of a facility, to obtain
certification to discharge ANY pollutant.
administered by the State
Section 402 - answer NPDES Regs
, NPDES - answer National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - answer Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - answer Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
Phase I
(1987 - 1992) - answer already covered by NPDES permit
facilities that engage in industrial activity
Large municipal storm systems (>250,000)
Medium municipal storms systems (100 - 250 K)
facilities that EPA said were significant contributors
Storm Water Implementation Rule - answer enacted April 1992, identified minimum
requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
Section 404 - answer regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the US administered
by USACE
CZARA - answer Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) of 1990
requires coastal zone states to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs
section 6217 nonpoint source in coastal areas
stormwater - answer stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage
