What is considered a stormwater management plan?

A stormwater management plan is fundamentally a strategy designed to manage the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff that can lead to pollution and flooding. This approach is essential in urban planning and civil engineering as it seeks to mitigate the negative impacts of stormwater, such as erosion, sedimentation, and the transport of pollutants into water bodies.

In creating a stormwater management plan, various practices are implemented, including the use of detention and retention basins, green infrastructure solutions like rain gardens and permeable pavements, and proper land management techniques to ensure that runoff is effectively controlled. The overarching goal is to protect both the environment and human health by addressing how stormwater is managed, rather than simply allowing it to flow unchecked.

The other options do not encapsulate the comprehensive nature of a stormwater management plan. For instance, focusing solely on vegetation growth, while beneficial in certain contexts, does not address the broader requirements of managing stormwater impacts. Similarly, a list of materials used on construction sites or a method for tracking erosion rates are specific activities that may be components of larger projects, but they do not define an entire plan aimed at stormwater management.