CPESC FINAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ 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
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ 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
