Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of integrating stormwater management facilities with their ecological context?
What is the primary goal of integrating stormwater management facilities with their ecological context?
What level of protection is associated with sensitive aquatic habitats, requiring an 80% removal of suspended solids?
What level of protection is associated with sensitive aquatic habitats, requiring an 80% removal of suspended solids?
What is the main difference between detention ponds and retention ponds?
What is the main difference between detention ponds and retention ponds?
Which of the following describes a green roof?
Which of the following describes a green roof?
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To achieve community and environmental targets in stormwater management, what scale should planning begin at?
To achieve community and environmental targets in stormwater management, what scale should planning begin at?
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What is the primary purpose of the vegetation layer in green roofs?
What is the primary purpose of the vegetation layer in green roofs?
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Which of the following best describes the First Flush Phenomenon?
Which of the following best describes the First Flush Phenomenon?
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What are stormwater retrofits primarily aimed at addressing?
What are stormwater retrofits primarily aimed at addressing?
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Which water quality control mechanism is associated with mimicking natural conditions?
Which water quality control mechanism is associated with mimicking natural conditions?
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What design characteristic defines grassed swales?
What design characteristic defines grassed swales?
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Which of the following is NOT a benefit of green roofs?
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of green roofs?
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What is one of the main objectives of stormwater management strategies?
What is one of the main objectives of stormwater management strategies?
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Which mechanism is used for both stormwater treatment and enhancing groundwater levels?
Which mechanism is used for both stormwater treatment and enhancing groundwater levels?
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What is the primary purpose of using environmental indicators?
What is the primary purpose of using environmental indicators?
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Which factor does NOT significantly affect the dispersion of road salt?
Which factor does NOT significantly affect the dispersion of road salt?
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How do irrigation practices contribute to the transport of chloride ions from road salt?
How do irrigation practices contribute to the transport of chloride ions from road salt?
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Which piece of evidence suggests that current stormwater management practices are not sustainable?
Which piece of evidence suggests that current stormwater management practices are not sustainable?
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What is a characteristic of Low-Impact Development (LID)?
What is a characteristic of Low-Impact Development (LID)?
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Which statement best describes the use of watersheds in environmental planning?
Which statement best describes the use of watersheds in environmental planning?
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What is one of the consequences of applying large amounts of road salt annually in urban settings?
What is one of the consequences of applying large amounts of road salt annually in urban settings?
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What is NOT a component of effective stormwater management according to the landscape-based approach?
What is NOT a component of effective stormwater management according to the landscape-based approach?
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Which of the following factors affects how much road salt remains on the road?
Which of the following factors affects how much road salt remains on the road?
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Which technique is NOT considered part of low impact development (LID)?
Which technique is NOT considered part of low impact development (LID)?
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What is the primary focus of water quality control mechanisms in stormwater management?
What is the primary focus of water quality control mechanisms in stormwater management?
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Which of the following describes the Treatment Train Approach?
Which of the following describes the Treatment Train Approach?
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What is the function of oil-grit separators in stormwater management?
What is the function of oil-grit separators in stormwater management?
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Which of the following practices contributes to minimizing imperviousness in urban areas?
Which of the following practices contributes to minimizing imperviousness in urban areas?
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What is NOT a characteristic of rainwater harvesting systems?
What is NOT a characteristic of rainwater harvesting systems?
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What approach addresses stormwater at its origin?
What approach addresses stormwater at its origin?
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Which mechanism is primarily used to manage flood risks by controlling the amount of stormwater runoff?
Which mechanism is primarily used to manage flood risks by controlling the amount of stormwater runoff?
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What is one benefit of integrating low impact development practices?
What is one benefit of integrating low impact development practices?
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What is a primary goal of conveyance control mechanisms in stormwater management?
What is a primary goal of conveyance control mechanisms in stormwater management?
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Study Notes
Environmental Indicators
- Tools evaluate environmental state and signal changes important to society
- Comprehensive indicators needed to reflect societal concerns, information needs, and management strategies
- Assess current ecosystem conditions and document trends over time
- Anticipate degradation early and identify cause of degradation
- Demonstrate links between system components
Factors Affecting the Dispersion of Road Salt
- Road type (e.g., highways, residential streets) requires varying salt application amounts due to differing traffic volume and speed
- Salt dispersion patterns influenced by these differences
- Snow clearing practices (frequency, methods, and efficiency) determine how much salt remains on the road versus removal
- Drainage infrastructure design affects how and where road salt is carried, potentially reaching water bodies or infiltrating soil
- Subsurface geology (soil type and conditions) influences salt infiltration into the ground and potential groundwater impact
- Lawn irrigation near roads can dissolve salt residues and accelerate chloride ion transport into soil and nearby water systems
- Seasonal conditions (temperature, precipitation, snowmelt) significantly impact salt application rates and salt movement
- Road salt losses impact freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, and drinking water supplies
- 10-20 million tons of road salt annually applied in the USA over the last 50 years
- Urban settings have very low attenuation potential for road salt (NaCl) around municipal wells
- Non-point source with highly variable surface loading
Landscape-Based Approach to Stormwater Management
- Watersheds are the natural and logical boundary for environmental and land use planning
- Types of environmental studies required for development must be considered, along with expertise levels needed
- Evidence shows that urban design and stormwater management approaches are unsustainable over the long term, if watershed goals need to be realized
- Need for enhancements to stormwater management within existing urban areas
- Need for diverse technologies and disciplines for effective, successful large-scale stormwater management
- Low-impact development (LID), principles, and green building certifications represent advanced stormwater management
Low-Impact Development (LID)
- Sustainable approach to managing stormwater, mimicking natural hydrological processes
- Reduces runoff volume, improves water quality, and enhances groundwater recharge by promoting infiltration, evaporation, and transpiration
- LID techniques include green infrastructure, permeable pavements, rainwater harvesting, and vegetated buffer strips
Treatment Train Approach
- Series of practices and approaches meeting stormwater management objectives in an area (Source, Conveyance, and End of Pipe controls)
- Source control: reduce runoff, pollutant loading (green roofs, permeable pavements, rainwater harvesting)
- Conveyance control: managing stormwater flow (bioswales, infiltration trenches, check dams)
- End-of-Pipe controls: treat or manage stormwater before discharge (retention ponds, wetlands, oil-grit separators)
Water Quantity and Quality Control Mechanisms
- Strategies to address stormwater volume and pollution in urban areas
- Water quality control mechanisms reduce pollutant loads (screening, filtration, infiltration, biological uptake)
- Water quantity control manages stormwater runoff reduce flooding and erosion (detention basins, retention ponds)
Rainwater Harvesting
- Capture, diversion, and storage of rainwater for use in irrigation, drinking water, and domestic purposes (collecting, storing, distributing)
Stormwater Retrofit
- Stormwater treatment on existing development, potentially untreated or inadequately treated by BMPs
- Aiming to reduce pollutants and restore habitat
- Fixing issues, maintenance, reducing runoff volumes, reducing pollutants of concern, and supporting stream restoration
Water Quality Control Mechanisms
- Rate reduction techniques to mimic pre-development or natural conditions
- Volume reduction techniques (storage, infiltration, velocity control)
Design Characteristics of Grassed Swales
- Shallow, vegetated channels for conveying, treating, and infiltrating stormwater runoff
- Provide natural, sustainable alternative to conventional stormwater systems like curbs and gutters
Levels of Protection
- Enhance protection: Sensitive aquatic habitats (low pre-development erosion characteristics, habitat sensitive to siltation), removal of 80% suspended solids.
- Normal protection: Less sensitive aquatic habitats, removal of 70% suspended solids.
- Basic protection: Areas where downstream aquatic habitat has adapted to high suspended solids loads, removal of 60% suspended solids.
Stormwater Management Ponds
- Detention ponds: Store runoff, release slowly to reduce peak flows
- Retention ponds: Permanently hold water, allow sediments/pollutants to settle
Green Roofs
- Roof surface partially or fully filled with vegetation, installed over a waterproof membrane
- Provide multiple environmental and energy benefits
- Reduce runoff, regulate temperature, improve air quality
First Flush Phenomenon
- Initial portion of runoff in a rainfall event, contains disproportionately high pollutant concentration.
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Description
This quiz explores key concepts about environmental indicators and their role in assessing ecosystem conditions. It also examines factors influencing road salt dispersion and its environmental effects, including road type, snow clearing practices, and drainage design. Test your knowledge on how these elements interact and impact our ecosystems.
