Environmental Awareness & Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real ACA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Environmental Awareness & Ethics flashcards as text
An ACA instructor leads a group through an area with posted 'Seasonal Closure — Osprey Nesting' signs. What is the appropriate response?
Answer: Respect the closure and redirect the group to an alternative route
Seasonal wildlife closures are legally and ethically binding; instructors must honor them and plan alternative routes to prevent nest abandonment and protect protected species.
What is 'cathole' camping hygiene, and what depth is recommended?
Answer: A hole for human waste, 6–8 inches deep, dug 200 feet from water
A cathole is a 6–8 inch deep hole for human solid waste, dug at least 200 feet from water, trails, and camp to allow decomposition and protect water quality.
Which of the following best describes 'cumulative impact' in the context of paddling ethics?
Answer: The combined environmental damage from many paddlers each making small impacts
Cumulative impact refers to how individually minor actions (e.g., one group picking wildflowers) become significant damage when repeated by thousands of visitors over time.
When is it most ecologically appropriate to pull a boat up on a vegetated riverbank versus a gravel bar?
Answer: Gravel bars are preferred because landing on vegetation crushes plants and disturbs root systems
ACA and LNT guidelines recommend landing on durable surfaces like gravel, sand, or rock to avoid trampling and killing riparian vegetation.
A paddler in your group catches a fish in an area where catch-and-release is mandatory. What must the instructor verify before the fish is released?
Answer: That the fish was handled with wet hands and returned promptly to minimize physiological stress
Proper catch-and-release requires wet hands (to protect the fish's slime coat), minimal air exposure, and gentle release to maximize survival and comply with conservation regulations.
What is the purpose of 'packing out' all waste including food scraps when paddling in wilderness areas?
Answer: To prevent habituation of wildlife, maintain water quality, and preserve the wilderness experience for others
Food scraps attract and habituate wildlife, introduce non-native nutrients into aquatic systems, and degrade the aesthetic and ecological quality of wilderness for future visitors.
Which of the following is an example of an invasive species commonly spread by paddling equipment?
Answer: Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)
Zebra mussels are a highly destructive invasive bivalve spread primarily by watercraft and equipment; they colonize native ecosystems and outcompete native species for food.