CFS Environmental & Ecological Considerations Flashcards
6 cards from real CFS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CFS Environmental & Ecological Considerations flashcards as text
What is the primary goal of floodplain restoration as a flood mitigation strategy, compared to structural approaches like levees?
Answer: To reconnect rivers with their natural floodplains and restore natural storage capacity
Floodplain restoration reconnects rivers to their natural floodplains, restoring the natural flood attenuation, water quality, and ecological functions that development and channelization have diminished.
Under the Endangered Species Act, what obligation does a federal agency have if a proposed floodplain project may affect a listed species?
Answer: Consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or NOAA Fisheries under Section 7
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies to consult with USFWS or NOAA Fisheries to ensure federally funded or permitted actions are not likely to jeopardize listed species or destroy critical habitat.
Which term describes the gradual loss of land at a stream bank due to water erosion, a process relevant to floodplain boundary delineation?
Answer: Lateral erosion (bank erosion)
Lateral erosion or bank erosion is the gradual wearing away of streambanks by flowing water, which can shift channel position and alter the boundaries of the mapped floodplain over time.
Green infrastructure approaches in floodplain management include which of the following?
Answer: Detention basins, bioswales, and urban tree canopy expansion
Green infrastructure uses natural and nature-based features such as bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and restored floodplains to manage stormwater and reduce flood risk.
What is 'natural channel design' in floodplain and stream management?
Answer: Engineering channels to mimic natural stream geometry, pattern, and profile
Natural channel design (also called stream naturalization or geomorphic channel design) restores stream channels to stable, natural forms that balance sediment supply, flow, and ecological function.
Which ecological concept describes the maximum volume of water a natural floodplain-river system can store or convey without exceeding flood stage, important for floodplain capacity analysis?
Answer: Hydraulic conveyance and floodplain storage capacity
Hydraulic conveyance and floodplain storage capacity describe the combined ability of the channel and adjacent floodplain to carry and temporarily hold floodwater without exceeding bankfull or flood stage.