Use this quiz to test your knowledge of Stormwater BMPs.
What is a watershed?
All the land right next to a stream or lake
All the land areas that drains to a stream or lake
Lowland areas surrounding a lake or stream
None of the above
Nonpoint Source pollutants include:
Pathogens, Sediment, and Temperature
Sediment, Nutrients, and Groundwater
Impervious Surfaces, Litter, and Pathogens
All of the Above
Which effects does sediment have on streams or lakes?
Clouds up water
Smothers fish/insect habitat
Clogs fish gills
Carries phosphorus (P) and mercury (Hg ), and other contaminants
All of the above
What is the number one water quality problem in the U.S.?
Point sources of pollution
Nonpoint source pollution
Neither
Only extremely high levels of sediment can harm fish in lakes and streams.
True
False
The purpose of providing erosion and sediment control is to:
cause undue hardship and expense on the developer and contractor.
provide jobs for government employees.
give environmental activists something to do.
provide a means of construction without harming the environment through sediment pollution.
Who is responsible for controlling sediment pollution?
The inspector
Whoever is the easiest to blame
The owner of the project and the general contractor/operator responsible for the site
The downstream property owner
The “first line of defense” in an erosion control program is:
Perimeter controls such as silt fence
Retaining existing vegetation
Sediment traps or basins
Inlet controls
Vegetative cover controls erosion by:
Shielding soil surfaces from raindrops
Roots holding soil
Slowing runoff velocity
All of the above
Construction site inspections are not necessary during the winter.
True
False
This type of erosion occurs as the flow in rills comes together in larger and larger channels:
Sheet
Rill
Gully
Channel
It is much more effective to control sediment than to prevent erosion.
True
False
Cleanout of a temporary sediment basin is necessary when sediment accumulation has reached __________ of the designed outlet’s height.
½
All
¼
¾
Silt fences are superior to straw bales because:
They do not have to be trenched in.
They can be placed up and down a slope as well as across a slope.
They last longer.
They do not require frequent inspection and maintenance.
The benefits of cover (i.e., mulch) include:
Protecting the soil from rain splash
Enhancing the soil infiltration rate
Slowing surface runoff velocities
All of the above
Sediment tracked onto roads by construction activity must be cleaned up:
By the end of each work week
Within 24 hours of discovery
Twice a day
Only if a neighbor complains
The NPDES Construction Storm Water permit requires that if a silt fence is knocked down, it needs to be replaced:
Within 12 hours
Immediately
Within 24 hours or as soon as field conditions allow access
Within 72 hours
Silt fence must be installed on the downslope side(s) of a site:
Within 24 hours of any upgradient land disturbance
Within 2 days of land disturbance
Before any up gradient land disturbance begins
Within 1 week of land disturbance
Clay soils are less permeable than sandy soils.
True
False
A stabilized construction entrance:
Is best constructed with 1-1/2”to 3” crushed stone
Can have geotextile fabric underneath the crushed stone
Needs continual maintenance
All of the above
Sediment degrades stream habitats by:
Filling in deep pools which give fish protective cover
Covering over gravel bottoms used by fish to deposit eggs
Filling in the stream channel, causing more frequent flooding and bank erosion
All of the above
NPDES is an abbreviation of:
Natural Protection of Developed Erosion Sites
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
National Pollutant Development and Elimination System
National Policy for Discharge of Erosion and Sediment
Erosion is the influence of:
Rainfall on the surface of the earth
Wind on the surface of the earth
Snow melt on the surface of the earth
All of the above
Factors that influence erosion include:
Rainfall/climate
Erodibility of the soil
Slope length and steepness
All of the above
The use of native plants for permanent cover is encouraged because:
The root systems are very shallow, causing the water to run over the top
They require annual fertilization and maintenance
They are deeply rooted, allowing for greater infiltration and erosion control
They should not be used for permanent cover
A silt fence needs to be maintained when:
The sediment reaches one third the height of the fabric
The sediment reaches one half the height of the fabric
The sediment reaches three quarters the height of the fabric
None of the above
When designing a storm water pollution prevention plan for a construction site it is important to:
Realize that each site is unique and will require a different approach
Evaluate each part of a project with an eye toward erosion control and minimization of soil loss
Use good common sense
All of the above
Silt fence properly installed around the perimeter of a site is a Best Management Practice (BMP) used for:
Erosion control
Sediment control
Both erosion and sediment control
Neither erosion nor sediment control
Mulch that has been uniformly spread is a Best Management Practice (BMP) used for:
Erosion control
Sediment control
Both erosion and sediment control
Neither erosion nor sediment control
Erosion control is far more effective than sediment control.
True
False
The normal wetted perimeter of a new ditch must be stabilized within ___day(s) after connecting to surface water.
1
3
7
14
The installation of which of the following does not meet the NPDES permit requirements for Final Stabilization?
Seed & fertilizer
Seed & mulch
Pavement
Rip rap
Which of the following does not meet the NPDES permit definition of a "Surface Water”?
Wetland
Storm sewer
Curb & gutter
Stream
None of the above
The objective of sediment control is to control and minimize the movement of soil particles dislodged by water. The most effective way to do this is to think in terms of:
Installing silt fence
Having multiple BMPs working together to prevent erosion and provide several “chances” for capturing sediment before it leaves the site
Installing hay bale barriers
Conveying stormwater off the site as quickly as possible