CPESC Exam 2026-2027 questions with
complete solutions
Erosion - correct answer,,,,process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles detached
and transported
Sediment - correct answer,,,,eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - correct answer,,,,deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - correct answer,,,,splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - correct answer,,,,raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface sediments
sheet erosion - correct 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 - correct answer,,,,as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil surface
Gully Erosion - correct answer,,,,Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows from
several rills come together and form a large channels
Channel Erosion - correct answer,,,,may become unstable due to increased flows or changes in upstream
sediment load
,Natural erosion - correct answer,,,,generally considered due to the influences of climate on the surface
of the earth
Accelerated erosion - correct answer,,,,natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - correct answer,,,,Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct answer,,,,sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability, fisheries
and habitat
Name Off stream damages - correct 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? - correct
answer,,,,Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - correct answer,,,,nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct answer,,,,NPDES Regs
NPDES - correct answer,,,,National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - correct answer,,,,Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
, NURP - correct answer,,,,Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
X3 X3 X3 X3
Phase I X3
(1987 - 1992) - correct answer,,,,already covered by NPDES permit
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
facilities that engage in industrial activity
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
Large municipal storm systems (>250,000)
X3 X3 X3 X3
Medium municipal storms systems (100 - 250 K)
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
facilities that EPA said were significant contributors
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
Storm Water Implementation Rule -
X3 X3 X3 X3
correct answer,,,,enacted April 1992, identified minimum requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
Section 404 - X3 X3
correct answer,,,,regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the US administered by USACE
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
CZARA - X3
correct answer,,,,Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) of 1990 requires coastal zone s
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
tates to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
X3
section 6217 nonpoint source in coastal areas
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
stormwater - correct answer,,,,stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
NPDES stormwater regulation say -
X3 X3 X3 X3
correct answer,,,,stormwater must be in any discernable, confined, and discrete conveyance, including b
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
ut not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentra
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
ted feeding operation....
X3 X3
waters of the US - correct answer,,,,waters used for interstate or foreign commerce
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
complete solutions
Erosion - correct answer,,,,process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles detached
and transported
Sediment - correct answer,,,,eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - correct answer,,,,deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - correct answer,,,,splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - correct answer,,,,raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface sediments
sheet erosion - correct 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 - correct answer,,,,as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil surface
Gully Erosion - correct answer,,,,Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows from
several rills come together and form a large channels
Channel Erosion - correct answer,,,,may become unstable due to increased flows or changes in upstream
sediment load
,Natural erosion - correct answer,,,,generally considered due to the influences of climate on the surface
of the earth
Accelerated erosion - correct answer,,,,natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - correct answer,,,,Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct answer,,,,sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability, fisheries
and habitat
Name Off stream damages - correct 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? - correct
answer,,,,Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - correct answer,,,,nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct answer,,,,NPDES Regs
NPDES - correct answer,,,,National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - correct answer,,,,Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
, NURP - correct answer,,,,Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
X3 X3 X3 X3
Phase I X3
(1987 - 1992) - correct answer,,,,already covered by NPDES permit
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
facilities that engage in industrial activity
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
Large municipal storm systems (>250,000)
X3 X3 X3 X3
Medium municipal storms systems (100 - 250 K)
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
facilities that EPA said were significant contributors
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
Storm Water Implementation Rule -
X3 X3 X3 X3
correct answer,,,,enacted April 1992, identified minimum requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
Section 404 - X3 X3
correct answer,,,,regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the US administered by USACE
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
CZARA - X3
correct answer,,,,Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) of 1990 requires coastal zone s
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
tates to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
X3
section 6217 nonpoint source in coastal areas
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
stormwater - correct answer,,,,stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
NPDES stormwater regulation say -
X3 X3 X3 X3
correct answer,,,,stormwater must be in any discernable, confined, and discrete conveyance, including b
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
ut not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentra
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
ted feeding operation....
X3 X3
waters of the US - correct answer,,,,waters used for interstate or foreign commerce
X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3 X3
