LARE Drainage System Design Flashcards
7 cards from real LARE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 LARE Drainage System Design flashcards as text
Which hydraulic concept describes the condition when stormwater runoff exceeds the infiltration capacity of the soil?
Answer: Horton overland flow
Horton overland flow occurs when rainfall intensity exceeds the soil's infiltration capacity, causing surface runoff.
In a bioretention cell, what is the primary purpose of the ponding zone?
Answer: To provide temporary storage for incoming stormwater before it infiltrates
The ponding zone temporarily stores stormwater above the growing media, allowing it to infiltrate gradually.
A designer needs to reduce the peak discharge from a 10-year storm. Which approach directly addresses this goal?
Answer: Installing a detention basin with a controlled outlet
A detention basin stores runoff and releases it at a controlled rate, reducing peak discharge to downstream systems.
Which Manning's roughness coefficient (n) value best represents a clean, straight natural earth channel?
Answer: 0.025
A clean, straight natural earth channel typically has a Manning's n of approximately 0.025.
What is the primary regulatory intent of the water quality volume (WQv) standard in stormwater design?
Answer: To capture and treat the first flush of stormwater runoff containing the highest pollutant loads
WQv standards target the first flush — typically the first 0.5–1 inch of runoff — which carries the greatest pollutant concentrations.
On a grading plan, a landscape architect specifies a swale with a 2% longitudinal slope and trapezoidal cross-section. Which site condition would most likely require armoring the swale bottom?
Answer: Sandy loam soils with low clay content
Sandy loam soils have low cohesion and are highly erodible at typical swale velocities, requiring armoring or erosion protection.
Which design parameter is most critical when sizing an infiltration trench to meet groundwater protection requirements?
Answer: Distance to the seasonal high water table
Separation from the seasonal high water table is critical to prevent groundwater contamination and ensure adequate treatment depth.
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