What is one expected outcome of effective stormwater management?

Effective stormwater management plays a crucial role in protecting and enhancing the quality of water resources. One of the primary goals of such management practices is to minimize the amount of pollutants that run off into nearby water bodies as stormwater flows across impervious surfaces like streets and parking lots. By implementing various techniques—such as green infrastructure, permeable pavements, bio-retention systems, and sedimentation basins—stormwater management aims to reduce surface runoff, control erosion, and treat pollutants before they reach natural waterways.

As a result, improved water quality in nearby water bodies is a clear expected outcome. This is vital not only to protect aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity but also to maintain safe water for recreational uses and drinking resources.

In contrast, the other options represent outcomes that are undesirable and counterproductive to the goals of effective stormwater management. Increased industrial waste generation, higher temperature levels in water bodies, and greater vegetation loss would exacerbate environmental problems and diminish water quality, which effective stormwater management seeks to prevent.