CESSWI STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) | LATEST UPDATE 2026 | GRADED A+
Erosion - ANSWERS process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil
particles detached and transported
Sediment - ANSWERS eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - ANSWERS deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - ANSWERS splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - ANSWERS raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge
surface sediments
sheet erosion - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in
the soil surface
Gully Erosion - ANSWERS Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or
when flows from several rills come together and form a large channels
Channel Erosion - ANSWERS may become unstable due to increased flows or
changes in upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - ANSWERS generally considered due to the influences of
climate on the surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion - ANSWERS natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - ANSWERS Unrestricted
development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS sediment can affect light penetration, channel
stability, fisheries and habitat
Name Off stream damages - ANSWERS 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? -
ANSWERS Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - ANSWERS nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
, salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS NPDES Regs
NPDES - ANSWERS National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - ANSWERS Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - ANSWERS Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
ANSWERS) | LATEST UPDATE 2026 | GRADED A+
Erosion - ANSWERS process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil
particles detached and transported
Sediment - ANSWERS eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - ANSWERS deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - ANSWERS splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - ANSWERS raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge
surface sediments
sheet erosion - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in
the soil surface
Gully Erosion - ANSWERS Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or
when flows from several rills come together and form a large channels
Channel Erosion - ANSWERS may become unstable due to increased flows or
changes in upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - ANSWERS generally considered due to the influences of
climate on the surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion - ANSWERS natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - ANSWERS Unrestricted
development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS sediment can affect light penetration, channel
stability, fisheries and habitat
Name Off stream damages - ANSWERS 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? -
ANSWERS Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - ANSWERS nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
, salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS 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 - ANSWERS NPDES Regs
NPDES - ANSWERS National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - ANSWERS Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - ANSWERS Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
