What are the goals of Best Management Practices (BMPs)?

• A. Promote frequent pesticide applications
• B. Protect native wildlife at all costs
• C. Reduce non-point source pollution and promote the efficient use of water.
• D. Encourage unlimited irrigation

Answer: (C)

Best Management Practices in landscape maintenance aim to prevent pollution and use resources wisely. The goal is to reduce non-point source pollution—pollutants carried by runoff from turf, beds, and impervious surfaces into streams—and to promote efficient water use. This is achieved through strategies such as applying fertilizers at the right rate and time, using integrated pest management to minimize pesticide inputs, designing and maintaining irrigation for efficiency, and controlling erosion and waste. These measures protect water quality and conserve resources. The other ideas don’t align with BMPs: increasing pesticide frequency isn’t a BMP goal, and unlimited irrigation conflicts with water conservation. While protecting wildlife is important, BMPs focus on pollution prevention and water efficiency as the practical core.