Certified Storm Water Operator Exam(CSWO) 2025-2026 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+ | ASSURED SUCCESS
Erosion is the process where soil particles are ______________ or ____________ and put in
motion. (Unit 1) - correct answer Dislodged; detached
Sedimentation is the process whereby detached particles are ___________________
elsewhere. (Unit 1) - correct answer Deposited
Sediment is solid ________________ or _______________ particulate matter that has been
removed from its site of origin by ___________, _____________, or ______________ and
deposited elsewhere. (Unit 1) - correct answer Mineral; organic; water; wind; gravity
Accelerated erosion is a speeding up of erosion due to ___________activity. (Unit 1) - correct
answer Human
Major erosive forces are water and ___________. (Unit 1) - correct answer Wind
In some areas, more soil is lost from ______________ erosion than from water erosion. (Unit 1)
- correct answer Wind
The effects of _____________ erosion are usually more visible than _____________ erosion.
(Unit 1) - correct answer Water; wind
The three categories of overland erosion are: (Unit 1) - correct answer Sheet, rill, gully
_____________ erosion is the removal of a uniform layer of soil from rain-splash and storm
water runoff. (Unit 1) - correct answer Sheet
The ____________ of erosion defines the difference between rills and gullies. (Unit 1) - correct
answer Depth
The physical factors affecting erosion are: (Unit 1) - correct answer Climate, vegetative cover,
soils, slope.
Erosion and sedimentation may cause:
-Loss of ___________ _______________
-__________________ damage to roads, buildings or bridges.
-___________________, resulting in reduction of fish _______________ _________, reduced
_____________ or _______________ _______________ capacity, and ______________ costs
to maintain ______________.
-_________________ loading. (Unit 1) - correct answer - fertile topsoil
- Structural
- Deposition; spawning areas; channel; storm drain; increased; turbidity
- Pollutant
, Certified Storm Water Operator Exam(CSWO) 2025-2026 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+ | ASSURED SUCCESS
The climatic factors that strongly influence erosion and runoff are _______________ amount,
_______________, and ________________. (Unit 1) - correct answer Rainfall, frequency,
intensity.
Soil properties influencing erodibility include: (Unit 1) - correct answer Texture, structure,
cohesion, natural drainage class
Texture refers to the ___________ or _____________________ of ____________ of soil
particles in soil. (Unit 1) - correct answer Size; combination of sizes
Structure refers to the degree to which individual soil particles _____________ to each other.
(Unit 1) - correct answer Adhere
Slope _________________, _____________________, and ___________________ affect
erodibility. (Unit 1) - correct answer Steepness, length, and roughness.
Sediment deposition occurs when soil-laden wind or water ____________ enough to allow the
soil particles to settle out. (Unit 1) - correct answer Slows
The ____________, _______________, and ________________ of the transported particles
influence the rate at which they settle out. (Unit 1) - correct answer Size, shape, and density.
Smaller, lighter particles such as __________________ particles are easily transported and are
_____________________ to settle out. (Unit 1) - correct answer Clay-sized; slow/difficult
The Five Principles of Erosion and Sedimentation Control are:
-____________ the development to fit the natural site conditions
-Expose the ________________ practical area for the _________________ possible time
-Apply __________ _________________ prevention practices as first life of defense
-Apply ___________________ control practices to prevent off-site sedimentation
-Implement a thorough __________________, ___________________, and
_____________________ program. (Unit 1) - correct answer - Plan
- Smallest; shortest
- Soil erosion
- Sediment
- Inspection, maintenance, and follow-up
The most effective way to prevent erosion is keep the soil covered with __________________.
(Unit 1) - correct answer Vegetation
ANSWERS GRADED A+ | ASSURED SUCCESS
Erosion is the process where soil particles are ______________ or ____________ and put in
motion. (Unit 1) - correct answer Dislodged; detached
Sedimentation is the process whereby detached particles are ___________________
elsewhere. (Unit 1) - correct answer Deposited
Sediment is solid ________________ or _______________ particulate matter that has been
removed from its site of origin by ___________, _____________, or ______________ and
deposited elsewhere. (Unit 1) - correct answer Mineral; organic; water; wind; gravity
Accelerated erosion is a speeding up of erosion due to ___________activity. (Unit 1) - correct
answer Human
Major erosive forces are water and ___________. (Unit 1) - correct answer Wind
In some areas, more soil is lost from ______________ erosion than from water erosion. (Unit 1)
- correct answer Wind
The effects of _____________ erosion are usually more visible than _____________ erosion.
(Unit 1) - correct answer Water; wind
The three categories of overland erosion are: (Unit 1) - correct answer Sheet, rill, gully
_____________ erosion is the removal of a uniform layer of soil from rain-splash and storm
water runoff. (Unit 1) - correct answer Sheet
The ____________ of erosion defines the difference between rills and gullies. (Unit 1) - correct
answer Depth
The physical factors affecting erosion are: (Unit 1) - correct answer Climate, vegetative cover,
soils, slope.
Erosion and sedimentation may cause:
-Loss of ___________ _______________
-__________________ damage to roads, buildings or bridges.
-___________________, resulting in reduction of fish _______________ _________, reduced
_____________ or _______________ _______________ capacity, and ______________ costs
to maintain ______________.
-_________________ loading. (Unit 1) - correct answer - fertile topsoil
- Structural
- Deposition; spawning areas; channel; storm drain; increased; turbidity
- Pollutant
, Certified Storm Water Operator Exam(CSWO) 2025-2026 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+ | ASSURED SUCCESS
The climatic factors that strongly influence erosion and runoff are _______________ amount,
_______________, and ________________. (Unit 1) - correct answer Rainfall, frequency,
intensity.
Soil properties influencing erodibility include: (Unit 1) - correct answer Texture, structure,
cohesion, natural drainage class
Texture refers to the ___________ or _____________________ of ____________ of soil
particles in soil. (Unit 1) - correct answer Size; combination of sizes
Structure refers to the degree to which individual soil particles _____________ to each other.
(Unit 1) - correct answer Adhere
Slope _________________, _____________________, and ___________________ affect
erodibility. (Unit 1) - correct answer Steepness, length, and roughness.
Sediment deposition occurs when soil-laden wind or water ____________ enough to allow the
soil particles to settle out. (Unit 1) - correct answer Slows
The ____________, _______________, and ________________ of the transported particles
influence the rate at which they settle out. (Unit 1) - correct answer Size, shape, and density.
Smaller, lighter particles such as __________________ particles are easily transported and are
_____________________ to settle out. (Unit 1) - correct answer Clay-sized; slow/difficult
The Five Principles of Erosion and Sedimentation Control are:
-____________ the development to fit the natural site conditions
-Expose the ________________ practical area for the _________________ possible time
-Apply __________ _________________ prevention practices as first life of defense
-Apply ___________________ control practices to prevent off-site sedimentation
-Implement a thorough __________________, ___________________, and
_____________________ program. (Unit 1) - correct answer - Plan
- Smallest; shortest
- Soil erosion
- Sediment
- Inspection, maintenance, and follow-up
The most effective way to prevent erosion is keep the soil covered with __________________.
(Unit 1) - correct answer Vegetation
