©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:26 PM A+
CPESC Exam Questions And Answers
|Latest 2025 | Guaranteed Pass.
Erosion - Answer✔process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles
detached and transported
Sediment - Answer✔eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - Answer✔deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - Answer✔splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - Answer✔raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface sediments
sheet erosion - 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 - Answer✔as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil surface
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, ©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:26 PM A+
Gully Erosion - Answer✔Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows from
several rills come together and form a large channels
Channel Erosion - Answer✔may become unstable due to increased flows or changes in
upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - Answer✔generally considered due to the influences of climate on the surface
of the earth
Accelerated erosion - Answer✔natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - Answer✔Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - 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 - Answer✔destruction of spawning areas, food sources,
habitat
direct toxicity to wildlife
lake degradation
2|P a g e
, ©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:26 PM A+
filling of navigation channels
impacts to commercial fisheries
reduction of water storage capacities
Suspended material - Answer✔sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability, fisheries
and habitat
Name Off stream damages - 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? -
Answer✔Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - Answer✔nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - Answer✔Federal Water Pollution Control Act enacted to restore and
maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the US
3|P a g e
, ©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:26 PM A+
administered by USEPA
Section 401 - 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 - Answer✔NPDES Regs
NPDES - Answer✔National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - Answer✔Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - Answer✔Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
Phase I
(1987 - 1992) - Answer✔already covered by NPDES permit
facilities that engage in industrial activity
Large municipal storm systems (>250,000)
Medium municipal storms systems (100 - 250 K)
facilities that EPA said were significant contributors
Storm Water Implementation Rule - Answer✔enacted April 1992, identified minimum
requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
4|P a g e
CPESC Exam Questions And Answers
|Latest 2025 | Guaranteed Pass.
Erosion - Answer✔process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles
detached and transported
Sediment - Answer✔eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - Answer✔deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - Answer✔splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - Answer✔raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface sediments
sheet erosion - 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 - Answer✔as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil surface
1|P a g e
, ©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:26 PM A+
Gully Erosion - Answer✔Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows from
several rills come together and form a large channels
Channel Erosion - Answer✔may become unstable due to increased flows or changes in
upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - Answer✔generally considered due to the influences of climate on the surface
of the earth
Accelerated erosion - Answer✔natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - Answer✔Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
poor stewardship
Problems associated with construction related erosion - 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 - Answer✔destruction of spawning areas, food sources,
habitat
direct toxicity to wildlife
lake degradation
2|P a g e
, ©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:26 PM A+
filling of navigation channels
impacts to commercial fisheries
reduction of water storage capacities
Suspended material - Answer✔sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability, fisheries
and habitat
Name Off stream damages - 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? -
Answer✔Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - Answer✔nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - Answer✔Federal Water Pollution Control Act enacted to restore and
maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the US
3|P a g e
, ©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:26 PM A+
administered by USEPA
Section 401 - 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 - Answer✔NPDES Regs
NPDES - Answer✔National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MS4 - Answer✔Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - Answer✔Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
Phase I
(1987 - 1992) - Answer✔already covered by NPDES permit
facilities that engage in industrial activity
Large municipal storm systems (>250,000)
Medium municipal storms systems (100 - 250 K)
facilities that EPA said were significant contributors
Storm Water Implementation Rule - Answer✔enacted April 1992, identified minimum
requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
4|P a g e
