CEPSCI Post-Construction and Site Restoration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'vegetated filter strip' used for in post-construction stormwater management?
- An ornamental landscape feature along property boundaries
- 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 (Correct answer)
- A strip of pavement adjacent to a parking lot
- A buffer of trees planted around a building for aesthetic purposes
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'green infrastructure' in post-construction stormwater management?
- Using only recycled materials in construction
- Practices that use natural processes — such as infiltration, evapotranspiration, and filtration — to manage stormwater close to the source (Correct answer)
- Installing solar panels on buildings
- Using only native plant materials in landscaping
Correct 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.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a 'level spreader' in post-construction erosion control?
- To measure the slope gradient on a graded site
- To convert concentrated flow into sheet flow and distribute it uniformly across a vegetated filter strip or buffer area (Correct answer)
- To create a level construction pad for a building foundation
- To spread seed evenly across a seeded slope
Correct 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.
Question 4: After construction is complete, what triggers the requirement to remove temporary BMPs such as silt fences?
- The issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the buildings on site
- Achievement of final stabilization of all disturbed areas and formal permit termination (Correct answer)
- The end of the rainy season following project completion
- When the regulatory agency issues a removal order
Correct 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.
Question 5: What is 'topsoil salvage and replacement' and why is it important in site restoration?
- Removing contaminated soil from the site and replacing it with clean fill
- Stripping and stockpiling native topsoil before grading and replacing it after final grade is achieved to support vegetation establishment (Correct answer)
- Importing topsoil from another site to replace subsoil
- Mixing topsoil with concrete to create a stabilized base
Correct 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.
Question 6: What is the function of an 'extended detention basin' in post-construction stormwater management?
- To permanently store all stormwater runoff from the site
- To temporarily store stormwater and release it slowly over 24–48 hours, allowing sediment to settle and reducing downstream peak flows (Correct answer)
- To provide a permanent water feature for the development
- To eliminate the need for any other post-construction BMPs
Correct 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.
CEPSCI Post-Construction and Site Restoration 2
What is a 'vegetated filter strip' used for in post-construction stormwater management?