CESSWI (Certified Erosion, Sediment
and Stormwater Inspector) — Updated
Actual Exam 2025/2026 | Verified
Questions & Correct Answers |
Comprehensive Practice Pack
Erosion - CORRECT ANSWER⬛⬛- process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water,
soil particles detached and transported
Sediment - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - CORRECT ANSWER⬛⬛- splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge
surface sediments
sheet erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form
in the soil surface
Gully Erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider
or when flows from several rills come together and form a large channels
,Channel Erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- may become unstable due to increased flows
or changes in upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- generally considered due to the influences of
climate on the surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛ ⬛ -
Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- sediment can affect light
penetration, channel stability, fisheries and habitat
Name Off stream damages - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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
A N S W E R ⬛⬛- Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - CORRECT ANSWER⬛⬛- nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- NPDES Regs
NPDES - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- enacted April 1992,
identified minimum requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
Section 404 - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the
US administered by USACE
CZARA - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments
(CZARA) of 1990 requires coastal zone states to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control
Programs
and Stormwater Inspector) — Updated
Actual Exam 2025/2026 | Verified
Questions & Correct Answers |
Comprehensive Practice Pack
Erosion - CORRECT ANSWER⬛⬛- process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water,
soil particles detached and transported
Sediment - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - CORRECT ANSWER⬛⬛- splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge
surface sediments
sheet erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form
in the soil surface
Gully Erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider
or when flows from several rills come together and form a large channels
,Channel Erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- may become unstable due to increased flows
or changes in upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- generally considered due to the influences of
climate on the surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛ ⬛ -
Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- sediment can affect light
penetration, channel stability, fisheries and habitat
Name Off stream damages - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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
A N S W E R ⬛⬛- Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - CORRECT ANSWER⬛⬛- nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- NPDES Regs
NPDES - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- 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 A N S W E R ⬛⬛- enacted April 1992,
identified minimum requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
Section 404 - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the
US administered by USACE
CZARA - CORRECT A N S W E R ⬛⬛- Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments
(CZARA) of 1990 requires coastal zone states to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control
Programs
