How can best management practices (BMPs) contribute to stormwater management?

Best management practices (BMPs) play a crucial role in stormwater management by addressing both the volume and quality of stormwater runoff. The primary goal of BMPs is to reduce the negative effects that stormwater can have on water bodies and the environment.

When stormwater flows over impervious surfaces like roads and parking lots, it can pick up pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, heavy metals, and pathogens. BMPs are designed to mitigate these impacts through various strategies that either retain, treat, or infiltrate stormwater. For example, implementing green infrastructure such as rain gardens, permeable pavements, or bioswales can help manage stormwater by allowing it to be absorbed into the ground or treated before it enters waterways. Additionally, these practices can help reduce the volume of runoff by promoting infiltration and reducing peak flow rates during rain events.

The other options do not align with the purpose of BMPs in stormwater management. Promoting urban development can increase impervious surfaces that exacerbate stormwater issues. Utilizing harmful chemicals, even if done safely, does not address the overall goal of reducing pollutants and protecting water quality. Finally, increasing water temperature is detrimental to aquatic ecosystems and is not a goal of effective stormwater management practices. Thus,