Erosion and Sediment Control
Certification Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
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1. Which statement best distinguishes erosion control from sediment
control on a construction site?
A. Erosion control removes sediment after it enters a drainage system, while
sediment control prevents rainfall from occurring on disturbed soil.
B. Erosion control primarily prevents or reduces soil detachment and
transport at its source, while sediment control captures or retains sediment
after it has been mobilized.
C. Erosion control applies only to permanent post-construction facilities,
while sediment control applies only during excavation.
D. Erosion control and sediment control are interchangeable terms because
both have exactly the same function.
B. Erosion control primarily prevents or reduces soil detachment and
transport at its source, while sediment control captures or retains
sediment after it has been mobilized.
Erosion control is generally the first line of defense because preventing soil
particles from becoming detached reduces the amount of sediment that
downstream controls must capture. Sediment controls such as silt fences,
,sediment traps, and sediment basins are intended to intercept and retain
sediment that has already become entrained in runoff.
2. A contractor has cleared a large portion of a construction site and a
significant rainstorm is forecast within 24 hours. Which action would
generally provide the most effective immediate protection against
erosion on exposed soil?
A. Installing additional inlet protection at every downstream storm drain
while leaving the exposed soil untreated
B. Increasing the number of construction vehicles traveling over the exposed
soil
C. Applying an appropriate temporary stabilization measure such as mulch,
erosion-control blanket, or temporary seeding where conditions permit
D. Removing all existing vegetation from the site so runoff can drain more
quickly
C. Applying an appropriate temporary stabilization measure such as mulch,
erosion-control blanket, or temporary seeding where conditions permit
Temporary stabilization protects exposed soil from raindrop impact and
reduces runoff-driven detachment and transport. EPA construction
stormwater requirements emphasize stabilization of disturbed areas and
effective erosion and sediment controls rather than relying solely on
downstream sediment capture.
3. Which type of erosion occurs when raindrops strike exposed soil and
detach individual soil particles?
A. Splash erosion
B. Gully erosion
C. Channel erosion
D. Mass wasting
A. Splash erosion
,Splash erosion is initiated directly by the impact of falling raindrops on
exposed soil. The impact can detach particles and disrupt soil aggregates,
after which the loosened material may be transported by subsequent
surface runoff.
4. Sheet erosion is best described as which of the following?
A. Removal of soil by a concentrated, well-defined channel
B. Uniform removal of a relatively thin layer of soil by shallow overland flow
C. Failure of an entire soil slope along a deep rotational surface
D. Deposition of sediment behind a check dam
B. Uniform removal of a relatively thin layer of soil by shallow overland
flow
Sheet erosion occurs when runoff moves broadly across a soil surface
without becoming concentrated into defined channels. It can be difficult to
recognize initially because the soil loss may be relatively uniform rather
than forming obvious rills or gullies.
5. Which condition most strongly promotes the development of rill
erosion on a construction site?
A. Concentration of shallow surface runoff into small channels
B. Complete stabilization of the soil with established vegetation
C. Installation of a properly functioning sediment basin
D. Reduction of runoff velocity through a vegetated buffer
A. Concentration of shallow surface runoff into small channels
Rills develop when sheet flow becomes concentrated enough to cut small,
identifiable channels into exposed soil. If unchecked, rills can enlarge and
develop into more severe gully erosion.
6. Which statement best describes gully erosion?
, A. It is limited to erosion caused directly by raindrop impact.
B. It consists of sediment deposition in a storm drain inlet.
C. It occurs when concentrated runoff forms channels large enough that
they generally cannot be removed easily by ordinary tillage or surface
grading.
D. It occurs only beneath paved surfaces.
C. It occurs when concentrated runoff forms channels large enough that
they generally cannot be removed easily by ordinary tillage or surface
grading.
Gully erosion represents a more advanced form of concentrated-flow
erosion than rilling. Once gullies develop, simply spreading seed or mulch
over the disturbed area may be inadequate because the underlying
drainage and channel stability problems must also be corrected.
7. Which soil characteristic generally makes a soil particularly susceptible
to detachment and transport by runoff when it is poorly protected?
A. High resistance to dispersion and strong aggregation
B. Fine particles that can readily remain suspended in water
C. Complete cementation of soil particles
D. Permanent vegetative cover
B. Fine particles that can readily remain suspended in water
Fine soil particles such as silt and clay can be readily transported by runoff
and may remain suspended for substantial distances. This is one reason
construction sites with exposed fine-grained soils can generate highly
turbid discharges.
8. What is the primary purpose of a construction entrance or track-out
control?
A. To increase the amount of sediment carried from the site onto public
roads
B. To prevent or minimize vehicles tracking soil and sediment onto paved
Certification Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf.
1. Which statement best distinguishes erosion control from sediment
control on a construction site?
A. Erosion control removes sediment after it enters a drainage system, while
sediment control prevents rainfall from occurring on disturbed soil.
B. Erosion control primarily prevents or reduces soil detachment and
transport at its source, while sediment control captures or retains sediment
after it has been mobilized.
C. Erosion control applies only to permanent post-construction facilities,
while sediment control applies only during excavation.
D. Erosion control and sediment control are interchangeable terms because
both have exactly the same function.
B. Erosion control primarily prevents or reduces soil detachment and
transport at its source, while sediment control captures or retains
sediment after it has been mobilized.
Erosion control is generally the first line of defense because preventing soil
particles from becoming detached reduces the amount of sediment that
downstream controls must capture. Sediment controls such as silt fences,
,sediment traps, and sediment basins are intended to intercept and retain
sediment that has already become entrained in runoff.
2. A contractor has cleared a large portion of a construction site and a
significant rainstorm is forecast within 24 hours. Which action would
generally provide the most effective immediate protection against
erosion on exposed soil?
A. Installing additional inlet protection at every downstream storm drain
while leaving the exposed soil untreated
B. Increasing the number of construction vehicles traveling over the exposed
soil
C. Applying an appropriate temporary stabilization measure such as mulch,
erosion-control blanket, or temporary seeding where conditions permit
D. Removing all existing vegetation from the site so runoff can drain more
quickly
C. Applying an appropriate temporary stabilization measure such as mulch,
erosion-control blanket, or temporary seeding where conditions permit
Temporary stabilization protects exposed soil from raindrop impact and
reduces runoff-driven detachment and transport. EPA construction
stormwater requirements emphasize stabilization of disturbed areas and
effective erosion and sediment controls rather than relying solely on
downstream sediment capture.
3. Which type of erosion occurs when raindrops strike exposed soil and
detach individual soil particles?
A. Splash erosion
B. Gully erosion
C. Channel erosion
D. Mass wasting
A. Splash erosion
,Splash erosion is initiated directly by the impact of falling raindrops on
exposed soil. The impact can detach particles and disrupt soil aggregates,
after which the loosened material may be transported by subsequent
surface runoff.
4. Sheet erosion is best described as which of the following?
A. Removal of soil by a concentrated, well-defined channel
B. Uniform removal of a relatively thin layer of soil by shallow overland flow
C. Failure of an entire soil slope along a deep rotational surface
D. Deposition of sediment behind a check dam
B. Uniform removal of a relatively thin layer of soil by shallow overland
flow
Sheet erosion occurs when runoff moves broadly across a soil surface
without becoming concentrated into defined channels. It can be difficult to
recognize initially because the soil loss may be relatively uniform rather
than forming obvious rills or gullies.
5. Which condition most strongly promotes the development of rill
erosion on a construction site?
A. Concentration of shallow surface runoff into small channels
B. Complete stabilization of the soil with established vegetation
C. Installation of a properly functioning sediment basin
D. Reduction of runoff velocity through a vegetated buffer
A. Concentration of shallow surface runoff into small channels
Rills develop when sheet flow becomes concentrated enough to cut small,
identifiable channels into exposed soil. If unchecked, rills can enlarge and
develop into more severe gully erosion.
6. Which statement best describes gully erosion?
, A. It is limited to erosion caused directly by raindrop impact.
B. It consists of sediment deposition in a storm drain inlet.
C. It occurs when concentrated runoff forms channels large enough that
they generally cannot be removed easily by ordinary tillage or surface
grading.
D. It occurs only beneath paved surfaces.
C. It occurs when concentrated runoff forms channels large enough that
they generally cannot be removed easily by ordinary tillage or surface
grading.
Gully erosion represents a more advanced form of concentrated-flow
erosion than rilling. Once gullies develop, simply spreading seed or mulch
over the disturbed area may be inadequate because the underlying
drainage and channel stability problems must also be corrected.
7. Which soil characteristic generally makes a soil particularly susceptible
to detachment and transport by runoff when it is poorly protected?
A. High resistance to dispersion and strong aggregation
B. Fine particles that can readily remain suspended in water
C. Complete cementation of soil particles
D. Permanent vegetative cover
B. Fine particles that can readily remain suspended in water
Fine soil particles such as silt and clay can be readily transported by runoff
and may remain suspended for substantial distances. This is one reason
construction sites with exposed fine-grained soils can generate highly
turbid discharges.
8. What is the primary purpose of a construction entrance or track-out
control?
A. To increase the amount of sediment carried from the site onto public
roads
B. To prevent or minimize vehicles tracking soil and sediment onto paved
