What is a primary goal of stormwater management practices?

Minimizing the impact of runoff on water quality is a primary goal of stormwater management practices. When stormwater flows over surfaces like roads and parking lots, it can pick up pollutants such as oils, heavy metals, sediments, and nutrients. If not managed properly, this runoff can lead to the contamination of local water bodies, harming aquatic ecosystems and posing risks to public health. Effective stormwater management practices aim to capture, treat, and reuse or properly discharge stormwater, thereby reducing the negative effects on water quality and ensuring that local ecosystems remain healthy. This includes using techniques like retention basins, rain gardens, and permeable pavements to allow water to filter naturally, thus protecting water bodies from excessive pollution.

The other choices do not align with the fundamental objectives of stormwater management, which focus on environmental protection and sustainability rather than promoting urbanization, reducing water bodies, or eliminating natural landscapes.