CESSWI Post-Construction BMP Maintenance and Long-Term Controls Flashcards
6 cards from real CESSWI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CESSWI Post-Construction BMP Maintenance and Long-Term Controls flashcards as text
Which pollutant type is MOST effectively removed by a properly designed and maintained wet retention pond?
Answer: Total suspended solids (TSS) and sediment-bound pollutants
Wet ponds excel at removing TSS and associated pollutants (phosphorus, metals, hydrocarbons) through gravity settling in the permanent pool, but have limited effectiveness for dissolved pollutants.
The concept of 'channel protection volume' in post-construction stormwater design is intended to address:
Answer: Frequent, small storm runoff that, if released too quickly, causes stream channel erosion and degradation
Channel protection (Cpv) controls the 1- or 2-year storm runoff by releasing it slowly over 24 hours or more, mimicking pre-development flow durations to prevent streambank erosion.
When inspecting a bioretention cell, which observation indicates the system is functioning as designed?
Answer: Surface ponding drains within 24–48 hours and vegetation is healthy and well-established
A properly functioning bioretention cell drains within 24–48 hours (confirming adequate infiltration) and supports healthy vegetation that contributes to evapotranspiration and pollutant uptake.
Under the Clean Water Act's NPDES program, a Phase II MS4 permit holder is generally a:
Answer: Small to medium municipality or county with a population under 100,000 that operates a storm sewer system
Phase II MS4 regulations (40 CFR Part 122) require small municipalities and counties (generally under 100,000 population) to obtain NPDES permit coverage for their storm sewer systems.
An inspector conducting an annual inspection of a post-construction stormwater management facility should verify which document is current and on file?
Answer: The Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Agreement identifying the responsible party and maintenance schedule
The O&M Agreement is the legal instrument that assigns long-term maintenance responsibility for post-construction BMPs and specifies inspection frequency, maintenance tasks, and reporting requirements.
A constructed stormwater wetland differs from a wet retention pond primarily in that it:
Answer: Is designed with shallow marshy areas and emergent vegetation to enhance biological pollutant treatment
Constructed stormwater wetlands incorporate shallow wetland zones with emergent plants (cattails, bulrush) that provide biological nutrient uptake, microbial decomposition, and additional sediment trapping beyond what a pond alone can achieve.