Virginia D E Q Erosion and Sediment
Control Inspector Exam Questions and
Answers
1. Erosion Impact Area
Answer area of land NOT ASSOCIATED with a current land- disturbing activity but contributing to
sedimentation
2. How much more soil loss occurs from construction sites versus
natural soil erosion rates? Agricultural land?
Answer 1000 times more than the average natural soil erosion rate.
20 times more than agricultural land.
3. What are 4 erosive forces?
Answer wind water
ice
gravity
4. Name and define 5 stages of soil erosion.
Answer Raindrop- 90% of total soil erosion
Sheet- the soils ability to infiltrate water is exceeded and it runs in sheet flow (about 100 ft before
concentrating), how sediment gets transported
Rill- when sheet flow begins to concentrate, velocity and turbulence increase, but
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8
, easily repaired Gully-when rills converge, larger than rill and usually requires heavy
equipment to repair
Channel- large volume of water increases the gully, vertical sides are observed or for an existing streambed
when structural integrity is destroyed
5. What are the factors of rainfall impact?
Answer Kinetic energy is dependent on rainfall amount/intensity,
raindrop diameter, and raindrop velocity
6. What are two damaging effects of rainfall impact?
Answer Causes soil compression which reduces infiltration
Mainly occurs in May-Sept which is when disturbance is most active
7. 4 factors influencing erosion
Answer climate groundcover
(influenced by humans)
soil properties
topography (influenced by humans)
8. What percent reduction occurs from vegetative cover?
Answer 90-99%
9. What are soil properties?
Answer Structure (particles adhere) Texture (size)
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Control Inspector Exam Questions and
Answers
1. Erosion Impact Area
Answer area of land NOT ASSOCIATED with a current land- disturbing activity but contributing to
sedimentation
2. How much more soil loss occurs from construction sites versus
natural soil erosion rates? Agricultural land?
Answer 1000 times more than the average natural soil erosion rate.
20 times more than agricultural land.
3. What are 4 erosive forces?
Answer wind water
ice
gravity
4. Name and define 5 stages of soil erosion.
Answer Raindrop- 90% of total soil erosion
Sheet- the soils ability to infiltrate water is exceeded and it runs in sheet flow (about 100 ft before
concentrating), how sediment gets transported
Rill- when sheet flow begins to concentrate, velocity and turbulence increase, but
1/
8
, easily repaired Gully-when rills converge, larger than rill and usually requires heavy
equipment to repair
Channel- large volume of water increases the gully, vertical sides are observed or for an existing streambed
when structural integrity is destroyed
5. What are the factors of rainfall impact?
Answer Kinetic energy is dependent on rainfall amount/intensity,
raindrop diameter, and raindrop velocity
6. What are two damaging effects of rainfall impact?
Answer Causes soil compression which reduces infiltration
Mainly occurs in May-Sept which is when disturbance is most active
7. 4 factors influencing erosion
Answer climate groundcover
(influenced by humans)
soil properties
topography (influenced by humans)
8. What percent reduction occurs from vegetative cover?
Answer 90-99%
9. What are soil properties?
Answer Structure (particles adhere) Texture (size)
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8
