LARE LARE Site Inventory and Analysis 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which soil test result is most useful for determining the appropriate amendments before establishing a native plant restoration on a degraded urban site?
- Atterberg limits
- Proctor compaction test
- Soil texture, pH, and organic matter content (Correct answer)
- Percolation rate only
Correct answer: Soil texture, pH, and organic matter content
Texture, pH, and organic matter directly affect nutrient availability and plant establishment, guiding targeted amendments for restoration planting.
Question 2: A drainage basin study shows a time of concentration (Tc) of 45 minutes. If the design storm is increased from a 10-year to a 25-year event, how does the peak runoff rate change, assuming the same Tc?
- It decreases because the longer return period spreads runoff
- It increases because higher rainfall intensity produces more runoff (Correct answer)
- It remains the same since Tc is unchanged
- It depends solely on the curve number, not return period
Correct answer: It increases because higher rainfall intensity produces more runoff
A higher return-period storm delivers greater rainfall intensity, directly increasing the peak runoff rate calculated by the Rational Method (Q = CiA).
Question 3: When conducting a visual inventory, the term 'borrowed landscape' refers to:
- Vegetation temporarily transplanted from an off-site nursery
- Distant views incorporated into a site design without owning that land (Correct answer)
- A legally easement-protected scenic corridor
- Plantings installed on adjacent property with owner permission
Correct answer: Distant views incorporated into a site design without owning that land
Borrowed landscape is a design concept where off-site scenery is framed and integrated into the perceived composition.
Question 4: A site inventory identifies a population of a state-listed threatened plant species. What is the landscape architect's most appropriate first response?
- Remove the plants to avoid project delays
- Relocate the plants to a nursery before grading begins
- Consult with the state natural heritage program and adjust site design to avoid impacts (Correct answer)
- Proceed with design since state listing does not require federal review
Correct answer: Consult with the state natural heritage program and adjust site design to avoid impacts
State natural heritage programs provide guidance on protected species, and the preferred design response is avoidance, not removal or relocation without agency consultation.
Question 5: On a site analysis plan, a 'regulating line' derived from existing site geometry is used primarily to:
- Define the legal property boundary setback
- Establish drainage swale alignments
- Organize new design elements in compositional harmony with existing features (Correct answer)
- Mark the boundary of a regulated wetland buffer
Correct answer: Organize new design elements in compositional harmony with existing features
Regulating lines connect existing site features and guide placement of new elements to create visual order and contextual fit.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)?
- Testing soil and groundwater samples for contamination
- Reviewing historical records to identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs) (Correct answer)
- Preparing a remediation plan for confirmed contamination
- Mapping wetlands and floodplains on a site
Correct answer: Reviewing historical records to identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs)
A Phase I ESA involves documentary research and site reconnaissance to identify RECs — it does not include sampling, which is Phase II.
Question 7: A microclimate analysis reveals that a courtyard between two tall buildings experiences high wind speeds at pedestrian level due to the Venturi effect. Which design strategy best mitigates this condition?
- Install a reflective paving surface to redirect airflow upward
- Plant dense evergreen windbreaks perpendicular to prevailing winds (Correct answer)
- Introduce permeable paving to absorb wind energy
- Lower the height of one building to equalize pressure
Correct answer: Plant dense evergreen windbreaks perpendicular to prevailing winds
Dense evergreen windbreaks interrupt airflow and reduce wind speeds at grade, providing effective year-round protection in the courtyard.
LARE LARE Site Inventory and Analysis 3
Which soil test result is most useful for determining the appropriate amendments before establishing a native plant restoration on a degraded urban site?