Best Management Practices

• BMPs are practices and/or a combination of practices that eliminate or minimize the impact of human activities on the environment.
• BMPs can be structural, managerial or a combination of the two.
• BMPs that address management are generally preferable to structural BMPs because they tend to address causes rather than symptoms.
• Management BMP’s also tend to be more lasting, larger scale, and require less long-term maintenance.

Example 1:
Rancher has a single pasture for his/her livestock.  Forage use is inconsistent across the pasture due to long distances between watering sources.  As a result, stock concentrate in areas where water is available, causing localized adverse impacts on soil and water resources.  

Possible BMPs:
Structual BMP’s fencing and upland water development, are installed to divide the one large pasture into three smaller ones.  The rancher then implements a three-pasture rest rotation grazing strategy (management BMP).   

In the above example, the result is more effective use of available forage for livestock, improved livestock distribution, reduced localized environmental impacts, and more flexibility for the rancher.

·The best BMPs leave us with more options/flexability than we had before.

Example 2:
Addressing Causes vs. Effects
The local road department incorrectly installs a culvert below grade, causing  accelerated erosion of adjacent streambanks.

Possible BMPs:
Unfortunately most solutions tend to focus on symptoms (eroding streambanks) rather than the underlying problem (a culvert placed too low in the channel).
In this case, streambank protection may be appropriate.  However, it is also crucial the culvert be raised to address the original cause.

Some Structural BMPs

·Road dips to improve drainage
·Water bars to do the same
·Installing filter fabric around a construction area
·Fencing
·Water developments
·Streambank stabilization structures
·Native revetments such as willows
·Sediment retention structures

Some Best Management Practices   

·Locating new roads along the contour to reduce grade
·Locating new roads away from riparian areas and wetlands
·Conducting in-stream activities during low flow periods
·Rest-rotation grazing strategies
·Development and adoption of environmentally friendly ordinances
·Discontinuing the use of toxic de-icing agents on roads adjacent to streams
·Discontinuing the use of herbicides and/or fertilizers adjacent to streams
·Integrated pest management  
·Wildlife management (i.e. elk, beaver)

·BMPs can be new, experimental, and/or otherwise innovative as we are always looking for better ways to reduce our impact on surface water resources

·Most 319 (h) projects include a combination of structural and management practices