Water Quality & Management Flashcards
7 cards from real SAF practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Water Quality & Management flashcards as text
Which forestry practice is most effective at reducing peak stream flows during storm events?
Answer: Maintaining forested riparian buffers
Forested riparian buffers intercept runoff, promote infiltration, and slow water movement, significantly reducing peak flows during storms.
What is the primary function of a settling pond in forest road drainage systems?
Answer: To allow suspended sediment to settle before discharge
Settling ponds trap sediment from road runoff by slowing water flow and allowing particles to settle before water enters streams.
The term 'hyporheic zone' refers to which area in a stream ecosystem?
Answer: The subsurface area where stream and groundwater mix
The hyporheic zone is the saturated subsurface region beneath and beside streams where surface water and groundwater exchange occurs.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) for forestry are primarily designed to:
Answer: Prevent water quality degradation during and after forestry operations
Forestry BMPs are site-specific practices developed to protect water quality by minimizing nonpoint source pollution from logging activities.
Which soil texture class has the greatest potential for surface runoff and erosion?
Answer: Clay loam
Clay loam soils have low permeability due to fine particles, promoting surface runoff and making them highly susceptible to erosion when disturbed.
Under the Clean Water Act Section 404, what activity typically requires a permit in wetland areas adjacent to forest land?
Answer: Dredge or fill operations affecting wetland hydrology
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires permits from the Army Corps of Engineers for discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S., including wetlands.
What does a negative water balance in a watershed indicate?
Answer: Evapotranspiration and streamflow exceed precipitation inputs
A negative water balance means water outputs (ET + streamflow) exceed inputs (precipitation), often indicating drought conditions or groundwater depletion.