LARE LARE Site Inventory and Analysis 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A landscape architect is preparing an inventory of cultural resources on a rural site with potential archaeological sensitivity. The most appropriate baseline document to consult first is:
- The county tax assessor's parcel map
- The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) files and archaeological predictive models (Correct answer)
- USGS topographic quadrangle maps only
- The National Register of Historic Places listed properties database
Correct answer: The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) files and archaeological predictive models
SHPO files contain recorded sites, predictive models, and prior survey reports that establish baseline cultural resource sensitivity before any field investigation.
Question 2: Which of the following best explains why a high curve number (CN) value is significant in a site hydrology analysis?
- It indicates soils with high infiltration capacity and low runoff potential
- It indicates a watershed with high impervious cover generating large runoff volumes (Correct answer)
- It reflects a long time of concentration reducing peak flow
- It signals a site where evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation
Correct answer: It indicates a watershed with high impervious cover generating large runoff volumes
Higher CN values in the NRCS method indicate less infiltration and greater direct runoff, producing higher peak flows for the same storm event.
Question 3: During a site inventory, a landscape architect notes that a mature oak has a dripline extending 20 feet from the trunk. The critical root zone (CRZ) for construction protection is typically defined as:
- Exactly the dripline radius
- 1 foot of radius per inch of trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) (Correct answer)
- A fixed 10-foot radius regardless of tree size
- The dripline plus a 5-foot buffer
Correct answer: 1 foot of radius per inch of trunk diameter at breast height (DBH)
Standard arboricultural practice defines the CRZ as one foot of radius per inch of DBH, which often extends beyond the visible dripline for large trees.
Question 4: A site analysis identifies a seasonal wetland that does not meet the three-parameter federal delineation criteria during a drought year. The landscape architect should:
- Document the absence of hydrology and proceed without wetland setbacks
- Rely solely on current field conditions to determine jurisdictional status
- Review historical hydric soil indicators and vegetation to assess normal conditions (Correct answer)
- Reclassify the area as upland in all design documents
Correct answer: Review historical hydric soil indicators and vegetation to assess normal conditions
Wetland delineations during atypical dry periods must be evaluated against historical hydric soil and vegetation evidence to determine normal-year jurisdictional status.
Question 5: In a shadow study for a proposed pergola structure, which sun angle data is most important for determining shading on the winter solstice in a mid-latitude US city?
- Sunrise and sunset azimuth angles in June
- Solar altitude angle at solar noon on December 21 (Correct answer)
- Annual average solar altitude angle
- Equinox solar altitude at 9 AM and 3 PM
Correct answer: Solar altitude angle at solar noon on December 21
The winter solstice produces the lowest solar altitude angle at noon, determining the longest shadows and worst-case shading conditions for the design.
Question 6: A site located in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b has a mean annual extreme minimum temperature range of:
- -20 degrees F to -15 degrees F
- 0 degrees F to 5 degrees F
- 5 degrees F to 10 degrees F (Correct answer)
- 10 degrees F to 15 degrees F
Correct answer: 5 degrees F to 10 degrees F
Zone 7b corresponds to a mean annual extreme minimum temperature of 5 to 10 degrees F per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Question 7: When evaluating a site for a bioretention cell, which combination of existing site conditions is most favorable?
- Flat grade, clay soils, high water table
- Gentle slope (2-6%), sandy loam soils, water table more than 2 feet below cell bottom (Correct answer)
- Steep slope (over 15%), coarse gravel, no groundwater
- Level grade, compacted fill soils, adjacent impervious area less than 1 acre
Correct answer: Gentle slope (2-6%), sandy loam soils, water table more than 2 feet below cell bottom
Bioretention requires adequate slope for drainage, permeable soils for infiltration, and sufficient separation from the water table to prevent media saturation.
LARE LARE Site Inventory and Analysis 5
A landscape architect is preparing an inventory of cultural resources on a rural site with potential archaeological sensitivity.
The most appropriate baseline document to consult first is: