United States best management practices

During late 1994, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published a public document (PD-1) relative to the use of triazine herbicides by American farmers. In doing so, they placed atrazine and simazine in Special Review. USEPA s PD-1 triggered a benefits study of unprecedented proportions on the following issues benefits of atrazine and simazine use economic and biological impact of the loss of these products feasibility and efficacy of alternatives environmental benefits associated with atrazine and simazine use best management practices and comparative performance of alternatives. 

There has been little or no monitoring of the effectiveness of management practices that have been implemented (Boesch et al, 2001 NRC, 2000). For example, the watersheds of Chesapeake Bay have had some of the most extensive efforts at repairing streams and riparian wedands of any area in the United States, but these efforts have been among the least monitored of all projects in terms of their effectiveness (Bernhardt et al, 2005 Palmer et al, 2005). Similarly, the effectiveness of best management practices as applied in the watersheds of the Chesapeake has received little or no assessment. 

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Best Management Practices for Soil Treatment Technologies, EPA 530-R-97-007. 

Best management practices (BMPs)—Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the pollution of waters of the United States. 

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