CESSWI Soil Properties and Site Characterization 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 Soil Properties and Site Characterization flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of conducting a pre-construction site assessment for a CESSWI inspector?
Answer: To identify site drainage patterns, sensitive areas, and existing erosion hazards before grading begins
A pre-construction assessment establishes baseline conditions, identifies drainage flow paths, and locates environmentally sensitive areas so appropriate BMPs can be planned.
Which soil characteristic most directly determines whether a soil is classified as cohesive or non-cohesive?
Answer: Clay mineral content and plasticity
Cohesion in soils results from clay minerals and their plasticity; higher clay mineral content and plasticity index indicate greater inter-particle cohesion.
On a topographic map used for site characterization, closely spaced contour lines indicate:
Answer: Steep slopes with higher erosion potential
Closely spaced contour lines represent rapid elevation change over a short horizontal distance, meaning steep slopes that generate faster runoff and higher erosive energy.
The 'LS' factor in the USLE represents:
Answer: Slope length and slope steepness combined
The LS factor accounts for both the length of the slope (L) and its steepness (S); longer and steeper slopes accumulate more runoff energy and cause greater erosion.
When characterizing a disturbed construction site, which indicator most strongly suggests the presence of hydric soils and a potential wetland?
Answer: Gray or bluish-green soil colors (gleying) with redoximorphic features
Gleyed colors and redoximorphic features (mottles, concretions) result from periodic saturation and anaerobic conditions characteristic of hydric soils in wetlands.
Soil compaction from heavy construction equipment primarily affects stormwater management by:
Answer: Reducing infiltration capacity and increasing runoff volume
Compaction collapses soil pores, drastically reducing infiltration capacity so precipitation that would have infiltrated instead becomes surface runoff, increasing erosion risk.