Certified Storm Water Operator Exam
Questions and Answers (Graded
A+)2025-2026
Erosion is the process where soil particles are ______________ or ____________ and
put in motion. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Dislodged; detached
Sedimentation is the process whereby detached particles are ___________________
elsewhere. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Deposited
Sediment is solid ________________ or _______________ particulate matter that has
been removed from its site of origin by ___________, _____________, or
______________ and deposited elsewhere. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Mineral; organic;
water; wind; gravity
Accelerated erosion is a speeding up of erosion due to ___________activity. (Unit 1) -
ANSWER-Human
Major erosive forces are water and ___________. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Wind
In some areas, more soil is lost from ______________ erosion than from water erosion.
(Unit 1) - ANSWER-Wind
The effects of _____________ erosion are usually more visible than _____________
erosion. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Water; wind
The three categories of overland erosion are: (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Sheet, rill, gully
,_____________ erosion is the removal of a uniform layer of soil from rain-splash and
storm water runoff. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Sheet
The ____________ of erosion defines the difference between rills and gullies. (Unit 1) -
ANSWER-Depth
The physical factors affecting erosion are: (Unit 1) - 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) - ANSWER-- fertile topsoil
- Structural
- Deposition; spawning areas; channel; storm drain; increased; turbidity
- Pollutant
The climatic factors that strongly influence erosion and runoff are _______________
amount, _______________, and ________________. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Rainfall,
frequency, intensity.
Soil properties influencing erodibility include: (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Texture, structure,
cohesion, natural drainage class
Texture refers to the ___________ or _____________________ of ____________ of
soil particles in soil. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Size; combination of sizes
, Structure refers to the degree to which individual soil particles _____________ to each
other. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Adhere
It is much more effective to prevent ____________ than to control the
____________________ generated from erosion. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Erosion;
sediment
When developing a runoff and SESC strategy, remember that _____________ and
________ _______________ control is more effective and cost efficient than
_______________ control. (Unit 2) - ANSWER-runoff; soil erosion; sediment
Without proper planning, a construction generally results in an _______________ in
runoff. (Unit 2) - ANSWER-Increase.
Slope _________________, _____________________, and ___________________
affect erodibility. (Unit 1) - 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) - ANSWER-Slows
The ____________, _______________, and ________________ of the transported
particles influence the rate at which they settle out. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Size, shape,
and density.
Smaller, lighter particles such as __________________ particles are easily transported
and are _____________________ to settle out. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Clay-sized;
slow/difficult
The Five Principles of Erosion and Sedimentation Control are:
-____________ the development to fit the natural site conditions
Questions and Answers (Graded
A+)2025-2026
Erosion is the process where soil particles are ______________ or ____________ and
put in motion. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Dislodged; detached
Sedimentation is the process whereby detached particles are ___________________
elsewhere. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Deposited
Sediment is solid ________________ or _______________ particulate matter that has
been removed from its site of origin by ___________, _____________, or
______________ and deposited elsewhere. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Mineral; organic;
water; wind; gravity
Accelerated erosion is a speeding up of erosion due to ___________activity. (Unit 1) -
ANSWER-Human
Major erosive forces are water and ___________. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Wind
In some areas, more soil is lost from ______________ erosion than from water erosion.
(Unit 1) - ANSWER-Wind
The effects of _____________ erosion are usually more visible than _____________
erosion. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Water; wind
The three categories of overland erosion are: (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Sheet, rill, gully
,_____________ erosion is the removal of a uniform layer of soil from rain-splash and
storm water runoff. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Sheet
The ____________ of erosion defines the difference between rills and gullies. (Unit 1) -
ANSWER-Depth
The physical factors affecting erosion are: (Unit 1) - 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) - ANSWER-- fertile topsoil
- Structural
- Deposition; spawning areas; channel; storm drain; increased; turbidity
- Pollutant
The climatic factors that strongly influence erosion and runoff are _______________
amount, _______________, and ________________. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Rainfall,
frequency, intensity.
Soil properties influencing erodibility include: (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Texture, structure,
cohesion, natural drainage class
Texture refers to the ___________ or _____________________ of ____________ of
soil particles in soil. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Size; combination of sizes
, Structure refers to the degree to which individual soil particles _____________ to each
other. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Adhere
It is much more effective to prevent ____________ than to control the
____________________ generated from erosion. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Erosion;
sediment
When developing a runoff and SESC strategy, remember that _____________ and
________ _______________ control is more effective and cost efficient than
_______________ control. (Unit 2) - ANSWER-runoff; soil erosion; sediment
Without proper planning, a construction generally results in an _______________ in
runoff. (Unit 2) - ANSWER-Increase.
Slope _________________, _____________________, and ___________________
affect erodibility. (Unit 1) - 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) - ANSWER-Slows
The ____________, _______________, and ________________ of the transported
particles influence the rate at which they settle out. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Size, shape,
and density.
Smaller, lighter particles such as __________________ particles are easily transported
and are _____________________ to settle out. (Unit 1) - ANSWER-Clay-sized;
slow/difficult
The Five Principles of Erosion and Sedimentation Control are:
-____________ the development to fit the natural site conditions
