Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector Exam
Prep(76 questions and answers)
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948) - answer Post-World War II industrial and
urban growth led to pollution of the country's river, streams, and lakes. This act was
the first U.S. law to address water pollution; it was also one of the earliest references
to clean water as a resource and the importance of protecting water quality through
the managed reduction of pollutants flowing into waterways
Virginia studies Sedimentation issue (1971) - answer fast-paced urban development in
Northern VA and Tidewater region led to the erosion of lands and sediment deposition
in waters. Governor's Council on the Environment created a task force to study
sedimentation issues across the state. The task force recommended a statewide
program be developed.
Federal Clean Water Act (1972) - answer FWPCA became CWA. CWA established a
basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into the waters of the U.S. and
also consolidated the control of water pollution policy under the newly created EPA
and established the NPDES permit program to limit pollutant discharges into streams,
rivers, and bays
Erosion and Sediment Control Law (1973) - answer Virginia General Assembly passed
this law to require the statewide establishment of minimum standards, guidelines, and
criteria for the effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non-
agricultural runoff, which must be met by any ESC program. also required all
counties and cities in VA to adopt a local erosion program by July 1, 1974
,Virginia Stormwater Management Act (1989) - answer Virginia General Assembly
passed this law to address water pollution, stream channel erosion, depletion of
groundwater resources, and more frequent localized flooding that occurs as a result
of intensive land development and other land use conversions. VA cities, counties, and
towns could establish SWM programs by ordinance, while state projects were
required to follow the SWM act
Adoption of ESC Regulations (1990) - answer In order to improve the program's
structure and consistency, the General Assembly required the Soil and Water
Conservation Board to promote regulations for the administration, implementation,
and enforcement of the ESC law.
The Integration Bill (effective July 1, 2014) - answer Virginia's House Bill 1065 passed,
making significant changes to the ESC law and SWM act, in order to align with the two
programs. Also required all counties, cities, and towns with regulated MS4 programs
to adopt and administer a local stormwater program - effectively creating a
statewide SWM program that operates at the local level, much like what was already
the case for the erosion program
Goal of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) - answer -control
erosion and sediment deposition from non-agricultural land-disturbing activities
-prevent damage to downstream properties and natural resources from construction
sites
Soil loss on construction sites - answer -can be 1000X the average of natural soil
erosion rates
, -can be 20X that from agricultural lands
Erosion defined - answer the removal and transportation of soil particles by erosive
forces such as water, wind, ice, gravity, and combos of forces
Five stages of erosion - answer 1. Raindrop
2. Sheet
3. Rill
4. Gully
5. Channel
Raindrop impact - answer the action of falling rain on disturbed or denuded soil is
responsible for 90% or more of total soil erosion
Four Factors Influencing Erosion - answer 1. Climate
2. Soil
3. GRouncover
4. Topography
Erodibility of soil - answer Direct correlation of erodibility to size of K factor
(<0.23=low erodibility and >0.37=high erodibility)
Slope steepness and length - answer the longer and steeper the slope, the greater
the depth of runoff and the greater the velocity of runoff
Prep(76 questions and answers)
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948) - answer Post-World War II industrial and
urban growth led to pollution of the country's river, streams, and lakes. This act was
the first U.S. law to address water pollution; it was also one of the earliest references
to clean water as a resource and the importance of protecting water quality through
the managed reduction of pollutants flowing into waterways
Virginia studies Sedimentation issue (1971) - answer fast-paced urban development in
Northern VA and Tidewater region led to the erosion of lands and sediment deposition
in waters. Governor's Council on the Environment created a task force to study
sedimentation issues across the state. The task force recommended a statewide
program be developed.
Federal Clean Water Act (1972) - answer FWPCA became CWA. CWA established a
basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into the waters of the U.S. and
also consolidated the control of water pollution policy under the newly created EPA
and established the NPDES permit program to limit pollutant discharges into streams,
rivers, and bays
Erosion and Sediment Control Law (1973) - answer Virginia General Assembly passed
this law to require the statewide establishment of minimum standards, guidelines, and
criteria for the effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non-
agricultural runoff, which must be met by any ESC program. also required all
counties and cities in VA to adopt a local erosion program by July 1, 1974
,Virginia Stormwater Management Act (1989) - answer Virginia General Assembly
passed this law to address water pollution, stream channel erosion, depletion of
groundwater resources, and more frequent localized flooding that occurs as a result
of intensive land development and other land use conversions. VA cities, counties, and
towns could establish SWM programs by ordinance, while state projects were
required to follow the SWM act
Adoption of ESC Regulations (1990) - answer In order to improve the program's
structure and consistency, the General Assembly required the Soil and Water
Conservation Board to promote regulations for the administration, implementation,
and enforcement of the ESC law.
The Integration Bill (effective July 1, 2014) - answer Virginia's House Bill 1065 passed,
making significant changes to the ESC law and SWM act, in order to align with the two
programs. Also required all counties, cities, and towns with regulated MS4 programs
to adopt and administer a local stormwater program - effectively creating a
statewide SWM program that operates at the local level, much like what was already
the case for the erosion program
Goal of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) - answer -control
erosion and sediment deposition from non-agricultural land-disturbing activities
-prevent damage to downstream properties and natural resources from construction
sites
Soil loss on construction sites - answer -can be 1000X the average of natural soil
erosion rates
, -can be 20X that from agricultural lands
Erosion defined - answer the removal and transportation of soil particles by erosive
forces such as water, wind, ice, gravity, and combos of forces
Five stages of erosion - answer 1. Raindrop
2. Sheet
3. Rill
4. Gully
5. Channel
Raindrop impact - answer the action of falling rain on disturbed or denuded soil is
responsible for 90% or more of total soil erosion
Four Factors Influencing Erosion - answer 1. Climate
2. Soil
3. GRouncover
4. Topography
Erodibility of soil - answer Direct correlation of erodibility to size of K factor
(<0.23=low erodibility and >0.37=high erodibility)
Slope steepness and length - answer the longer and steeper the slope, the greater
the depth of runoff and the greater the velocity of runoff
