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Free CPESC Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CPESC practice test to study every exam domain.

These 10 free CPESC questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.

Domain 1: SAOP 1 - Rules and Regulations 0% of exam

Question 1

Under the Clean Water Act, which section authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material into Waters of the United States, including wetlands?

  1. Section 303(d)
  2. Section 401
  3. Section 402
  4. Section 404
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Section 404

Domain 2: SAOP 2 - Site Assessment and Resource Inventory (6-8%)

Question 2

A soil is classified in Hydrologic Soil Group D. Which of the following BEST describes the expected runoff characteristics of this soil?

  1. Moderate infiltration with moderate runoff, typical of sandy loam soils
  2. Slow infiltration with moderately high runoff due to a clay loam texture
  3. High infiltration rate and low runoff potential due to deep sandy profiles
  4. Very slow infiltration and high runoff potential, often due to heavy clay or a shallow water table
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Very slow infiltration and high runoff potential, often due to heavy clay or a shallow water table

Domain 3: SAOP 3 - Site Planning and Management (8-10%)

Question 3

During a pre-construction meeting for a 25-acre commercial development adjacent to a 303(d)-listed impaired stream, the CPESC should FIRST recommend which of the following ESC strategies?

  1. Phasing the clearing and grading to minimize the area of exposed soil at any given time
  2. Installing a triple row of silt fence between the site and the stream
  3. Constructing a sediment basin sized at 5,400 ft³ per acre of drainage area
  4. Applying chemical flocculants to all discharge points before any grading begins
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Phasing the clearing and grading to minimize the area of exposed soil at any given time

Domain 4: SAOP 4 - Predicting Soil Loss (10-13%)

Question 4

A construction site has the following RUSLE parameters: R = 200, K = 0.37, LS = 2.8, C = 1.0, P = 1.0. The contractor applies 2 tons/acre of crimped straw mulch, reducing the C-factor to 0.06. What is the approximate reduction in predicted annual soil loss?

  1. 94%
  2. 88%
  3. 80%
  4. 97%
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - 94%

Question 5

An erosion control professional needs to estimate sediment yield from a specific 10-year design storm on a 30-acre construction site, rather than predicting average annual soil loss. Which equation is MOST appropriate?

  1. Rational Method (Q = C × i × A)
  2. Wind Erosion Equation (E = f(I, K, C, L, V))
  3. RUSLE (A = R × K × LS × C × P)
  4. MUSLE (T = 95 × (V × Qp)^0.56 × K × LS × C × P)
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - MUSLE (T = 95 × (V × Qp)^0.56 × K × LS × C × P)

Domain 5: SAOP 5 - Runoff Management (9-12%)

Question 6

A 12-acre construction site has three distinct areas: 5 acres of graded bare soil (CN = 91), 4 acres of existing meadow in good condition (CN = 71), and 3 acres of impervious surface (CN = 98). What is the weighted Curve Number for the site?

  1. 78
  2. 83
  3. 91
  4. 86
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - 86

Domain 6: SAOP 6 - Soil Stabilization (8-10%)

Question 7

A permanent drainage channel on a 6% grade must convey concentrated stormwater flows with design velocities exceeding 8 feet per second. Which erosion control lining is MOST appropriate?

  1. Jute open-weave textile (OWT) over prepared seedbed
  2. Straw erosion control blanket (ECB) with biodegradable netting
  3. Synthetic turf reinforcement mat (TRM) with vegetation
  4. Established tall fescue sod with no additional reinforcement
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Synthetic turf reinforcement mat (TRM) with vegetation

Domain 8: SAOP 8 - Plant Species Selection (2-3%)

Question 8

A revegetation specification requires 35 lb PLS/acre of tall fescue. The available seed lot has a tag showing 91% purity and 78% germination. How many bulk pounds of seed per acre must be purchased?

  1. 44.9 lb
  2. 49.3 lb
  3. 38.5 lb
  4. 55.2 lb
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - 49.3 lb

Domain 9: SAOP 9 - Erosion and Sediment Control (14-17%)

Question 9

A silt fence has been installed along the toe of a graded slope on a construction site. After a storm event, the inspector observes that sediment-laden water has flowed around both ends of the fence and deposited material downstream. Which installation deficiency is the MOST likely cause?

  1. The geotextile fabric has too high a flow-through rate
  2. The fence was installed without uphill end returns (J-hooks)
  3. The support posts were spaced too far apart
  4. The fabric was not trenched deeply enough into the soil
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - The fence was installed without uphill end returns (J-hooks)

Domain 10: SAOP 10 - Specification of Pollution Prevention Measures (16-20%)

Question 10

A site operator selects the 14-day inspection schedule under the EPA Construction General Permit. A 0.40-inch rainfall event occurs on a Wednesday. The last routine inspection was conducted the previous Monday. By when must the next inspection be completed?

  1. By the following Monday (within 7 calendar days of the rainfall event)
  2. Within 48 hours of the rainfall event, or by Friday
  3. By Thursday (within 24 hours of the rainfall event)
  4. By the following Friday (14 calendar days from the last inspection)
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - By Thursday (within 24 hours of the rainfall event)

The rest of the CPESC blueprint

The CPESC exam also covers these domains. Drill them in the full free practice test:

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