Sustainable Practices & Conservation Flashcards
7 cards from real CSM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Sustainable Practices & Conservation flashcards as text
In the context of sustainable stormwater management, what does 'net zero' runoff design aim to achieve?
Answer: No increase in runoff volume beyond pre-development conditions
Net zero runoff design means that post-development stormwater runoff volume does not exceed pre-development runoff volume for the design storm.
Riparian buffer zones along stream corridors provide stormwater benefits PRIMARILY by:
Answer: Filtering runoff and stabilizing banks with vegetation
Riparian buffers use dense vegetation to filter pollutants from runoff, slow overland flow, and stabilize stream banks with root systems.
Which LID principle emphasizes designing site drainage to mimic pre-development hydrology at the smallest scale possible?
Answer: Decentralized micro-scale management
LID uses small-scale, distributed practices throughout a site to manage runoff close to where it falls, mimicking natural hydrologic function.
When evaluating the lifecycle cost of green infrastructure versus grey infrastructure, which cost component typically favors green infrastructure?
Answer: Long-term co-benefits such as urban cooling and air quality
Green infrastructure often has higher upfront costs but lower lifecycle costs when co-benefits like heat island reduction, air quality, and recreation are monetized.
A city implementing a green infrastructure plan requires that all new development retain the first 0.5 inches of rainfall on-site. This approach is best described as:
Answer: Volume-based runoff retention standard
Retaining a specified rainfall depth on-site is a volume-based retention standard, often used for water quality and groundwater recharge goals.
Which construction sequencing practice best prevents sediment pollution during land disturbance?
Answer: Install erosion and sediment controls before beginning grading
Installing erosion and sediment controls before land disturbance begins ensures protection is in place before sediment can be generated and transported.
What does the term 'water sensitive urban design' (WSUD) emphasize in sustainable stormwater planning?
Answer: Integrating the urban water cycle into planning and design to protect natural systems
WSUD integrates all aspects of the urban water cycle—stormwater, wastewater, potable water—into planning to protect and restore natural hydrological processes.