CPESC Practice Questions With
Complete Solutions
Erosion correct answer: process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles detached and transported
Sediment correct answer: eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation correct answer: deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion correct answer: splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion correct answer: raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface sediments
sheet erosion correct 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 correct answer: as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil surface Gully Erosion correct answer: Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows from several rills come together
and form a large channels
Channel Erosion correct answer: may become unstable due to increased flows or changes in upstream sediment load
Natural erosion correct answer: generally considered due to the influences of climate on the surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion correct answer: natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? correct answer: Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion correct 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 correct 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 correct answer: sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability, fisheries and habitat
Name Off stream damages correct 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? correct answer: Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include correct answer: nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) correct 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 correct 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 correct answer: NPDES Regs
NPDES correct answer: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 correct answer: Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP correct answer: Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
Phase I
(1987 - 1992) correct 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 correct answer: enacted April 1992, identified minimum requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
Section 404 correct answer: regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the US administered by USACE
Complete Solutions
Erosion correct answer: process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles detached and transported
Sediment correct answer: eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation correct answer: deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion correct answer: splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion correct answer: raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface sediments
sheet erosion correct 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 correct answer: as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil surface Gully Erosion correct answer: Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows from several rills come together
and form a large channels
Channel Erosion correct answer: may become unstable due to increased flows or changes in upstream sediment load
Natural erosion correct answer: generally considered due to the influences of climate on the surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion correct answer: natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? correct answer: Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion correct 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 correct 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 correct answer: sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability, fisheries and habitat
Name Off stream damages correct 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? correct answer: Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include correct answer: nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) correct 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 correct 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 correct answer: NPDES Regs
NPDES correct answer: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 correct answer: Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP correct answer: Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
Phase I
(1987 - 1992) correct 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 correct answer: enacted April 1992, identified minimum requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
Section 404 correct answer: regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the US administered by USACE
