CSM Sustainable Practices & Conservation 2

Question 1

Which green infrastructure practice uses vegetation and soil to remove pollutants while allowing stormwater to infiltrate into the ground?

Accepted Answer

Bioretention cell

Answer

Bioretention cells (rain gardens) use engineered soil media and plants to filter and infiltrate stormwater runoff.

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of a constructed wetland in a stormwater management system?

Accepted Answer

Provide water quality treatment through biological processes

Answer

Constructed wetlands use aquatic vegetation and microbial activity to remove nutrients, sediments, and other pollutants from stormwater.

Question 3

A municipality installs permeable pavers in a parking lot. What is the MOST direct hydrologic benefit?

Accepted Answer

Reduced surface runoff volume

Answer

Permeable pavers allow water to infiltrate through joints or pores, directly reducing the volume of surface runoff generated.

Question 4

Which metric best evaluates whether a Low Impact Development (LID) design meets volume-based runoff performance standards?

Accepted Answer

Runoff volume retention or capture depth

Answer

Volume-based LID standards are typically evaluated by how much runoff depth (e.g., first 1 inch) is retained or captured on-site.

Question 5

Tree canopy interception contributes to stormwater management primarily by:

Accepted Answer

Temporarily storing rainfall on leaves and branches before evaporation

Answer

Tree canopies intercept rainfall, holding it on leaf surfaces where it evaporates rather than reaching the ground as runoff.

(CSM) Certified Stormwater Manager Practice Test