Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control
Inspector Exam Questions And
Answers
/. Erosion Impact Area - Answer-area of land NOT ASSOCIATED with a current land-
disturbing activity but contributing to sedimentation
/.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.
/.What are 4 erosive forces? - Answer-wind
water
ice
gravity
/.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 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
/.What are the factors of rainfall impact? - Answer-Kinetic energy is dependent on
rainfall amount/intensity, raindrop diameter, and raindrop velocity
/.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
/.4 factors influencing erosion - Answer-climate
groundcover (influenced by humans)
soil properties
topography (influenced by humans)
/.What percent reduction occurs from vegetative cover? - Answer-90-99%
/.What are soil properties? - Answer-Structure (particles adhere)
Inspector Exam Questions And
Answers
/. Erosion Impact Area - Answer-area of land NOT ASSOCIATED with a current land-
disturbing activity but contributing to sedimentation
/.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.
/.What are 4 erosive forces? - Answer-wind
water
ice
gravity
/.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 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
/.What are the factors of rainfall impact? - Answer-Kinetic energy is dependent on
rainfall amount/intensity, raindrop diameter, and raindrop velocity
/.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
/.4 factors influencing erosion - Answer-climate
groundcover (influenced by humans)
soil properties
topography (influenced by humans)
/.What percent reduction occurs from vegetative cover? - Answer-90-99%
/.What are soil properties? - Answer-Structure (particles adhere)
