Post-Construction and Site Restoration Flashcards

What is a 'vegetated filter strip' used for in post-construction stormwater management?

Answer: A uniformly graded, densely vegetated area that treats sheet flow runoff by filtering sediment and infiltrating water before it enters a stream or water body

Vegetated filter strips treat sheet flow from adjacent impervious areas, reducing sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants before runoff reaches receiving waters.

Which of the following best describes 'green infrastructure' in post-construction stormwater management?

Answer: Practices that use natural processes — such as infiltration, evapotranspiration, and filtration — to manage stormwater close to the source

Green infrastructure mimics natural hydrologic processes to manage stormwater at the source, reducing runoff volume, peak flows, and pollutant loading to receiving waters.

What is the purpose of a 'level spreader' in post-construction erosion control?

Answer: To convert concentrated flow into sheet flow and distribute it uniformly across a vegetated filter strip or buffer area

Level spreaders break up concentrated flow and spread it evenly, preventing erosion by ensuring runoff enters a vegetated area as a thin, uniform sheet rather than a concentrated stream.

After construction is complete, what triggers the requirement to remove temporary BMPs such as silt fences?

Answer: Achievement of final stabilization of all disturbed areas and formal permit termination

Temporary BMPs should remain until the site achieves final stabilization to ensure continuous protection; their removal before that point creates compliance liability.

What is 'topsoil salvage and replacement' and why is it important in site restoration?

Answer: Stripping and stockpiling native topsoil before grading and replacing it after final grade is achieved to support vegetation establishment

Preserving native topsoil's biological and physical properties and returning it after grading greatly accelerates revegetation success compared to seeding on exposed subsoil alone.

What is the function of an 'extended detention basin' in post-construction stormwater management?

Answer: To temporarily store stormwater and release it slowly over 24–48 hours, allowing sediment to settle and reducing downstream peak flows

Extended detention basins attenuate peak flows and promote sediment settling by holding runoff for an extended period before slowly releasing it through a low-flow outlet.