LARE Prep Section Flashcards

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) when a proposed action:

Answer: May significantly affect the quality of the human environment

NEPA mandates an EIS when a federal agency's proposed action may significantly affect the quality of the human environment, regardless of cost.

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into:

Answer: Waters of the United States, including wetlands

Section 404 requires a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers before discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including adjacent wetlands.

A 'viewshed analysis' in site inventory and analysis is used to determine:

Answer: The extent of land area visible from a specific point or series of points

A viewshed analysis maps all areas visible from a given vantage point or points, used to protect scenic resources or assess visual impact.

In a site suitability analysis using GIS overlay mapping, areas where multiple constraint layers overlap are typically:

Answer: Excluded from development consideration or rated least suitable

Overlay analysis identifies areas where multiple constraints (steep slopes, wetlands, floodplains) coincide, which are rated least suitable or excluded from development.

The 100-year floodplain is defined as the area that has a flood inundation probability of:

Answer: 1% annual chance of being flooded in any given year

The 100-year floodplain has a 1% annual chance of flooding — it is a statistical probability, not a guaranteed 100-year recurrence interval.

A landscape architect conducting a visual preference survey (VPS) as part of a community engagement process is primarily trying to:

Answer: Gauge community aesthetic values and preferences to inform design decisions

A visual preference survey systematically captures community aesthetic preferences to ensure design decisions reflect the values of the people who will use the space.

Which of the following best describes the 'urban heat island' (UHI) effect that landscape architects can help mitigate?

Answer: Elevated temperatures in urbanized areas caused by heat-absorbing surfaces and reduced vegetation

The UHI effect is caused by heat-absorbing dark surfaces (pavement, roofs) and reduced evapotranspiration from vegetation, creating measurably higher urban temperatures.