PLAN BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs)

After problems have been identified and objectives have been set, the next step is to develop a list of best management practices (BMPs) that will be needed. BMPs may be structural such as a manure bunker or non structural such as grazing rotation. The list of BMPs should be carefully directed at the sources of the identified problems.

To develop the list of BMPs, a watershed inventory must be conducted (or a recharge area inventory for a ground water project). First the watershed boundary must be delineated (or the recharge area for a ground water project). Then, the inventory should include the following as appropriate: land use (in detail); land ownership including contact information; topography; soils; waterbodies; roads; point sources of pollution; gaging stations; water quality monitoring stations; and riparian conditions. To assist with the inventory, please visit EPA's Index of Watershed Indicators.

After the watershed inventory has been completed and maps have been developed, all information should be carefully examined along with water quality data from all monitoring stations in the watershed. The purpose of the examination is to identify sources of water quality problems. All potential source areas should be carefully plotted on the map. (Please note that this is one of the more publicly sensitive aspects of watershed planning. Landowners often do not like to have their land identified as the source of a problem. Nevertheless, it is essential that sources be identified before BMPs can be planned and applied.)

After source areas have been identified, project planners should develop a list of BMPs to be applied. The kinds of BMPs needed will depend upon the nature of the activity that is causing the problem. Activities that can produce NPS pollution generally fall into the following categories: silviculture; grazing; farming; feedlot management; hydrological modification; mining; oil and gas; roads; rural development; urban activities; and recreation. Project planners will need to have some knowledge of these activities in order to identify appropriate BMPs. For assistance with this, please click on the appropriate boxes in the table below.

Silviculture	Grazing	Farming	Feedlots	Hydro. Modification	Mining
Oil & Gas	Roads	Rural Dev.	Urban Activities	Recreation