CESSWI COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
2026 FULL SOLUTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉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
2026 FULL SOLUTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉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
