CSM Data Collection & Analysis 2

Question 1

Which statistical method is most appropriate for identifying the relationship between impervious surface percentage and peak runoff volume across multiple watersheds?

Accepted Answer

Linear regression analysis

Answer

Linear regression analysis quantifies the linear relationship between a continuous predictor (impervious cover %) and a continuous outcome (peak runoff), making it the most appropriate tool here.

Question 2

A stormwater manager receives turbidity readings of 5, 6, 200, 7, and 5 NTU from five consecutive samples. The value of 200 NTU is most likely a(n):

Accepted Answer

Outlier requiring investigation

Answer

A single value orders of magnitude above the rest of the dataset is a statistical outlier and should be investigated for sampling error, equipment malfunction, or a true transient event.

Question 3

When designing a stormwater monitoring network, the concept of 'spatial representativeness' requires that sampling locations:

Accepted Answer

Capture the range of land uses and sub-watershed conditions

Answer

Spatial representativeness means monitoring locations are chosen to reflect the variety of conditions across a watershed so data generalizes to the whole system.

Question 4

A flow-weighted composite sample is collected by:

Accepted Answer

Taking aliquots proportional to instantaneous stream flow at each interval

Answer

Flow-weighted compositing adds aliquot volumes proportional to flow so the composite reflects actual pollutant mass loading rather than time-averaged concentration.

Question 5

Which data quality indicator (DQI) addresses whether a measurement is close to the true or accepted reference value?

Accepted Answer

Accuracy

Answer

Accuracy (or bias) measures how close a result is to the true value, often assessed using certified reference standards or spikes.

(CSM) Certified Stormwater Manager Practice Test

(CSM) Certified Stormwater Manager Practice Test

CSM Data Collection & Analysis 2