What is a fundamental approach to stormwater management?

Constructing retention basins to catch runoff is a fundamental approach to stormwater management because these basins are designed to temporarily hold excess stormwater runoff, allowing it to slowly percolate into the ground or be released at a controlled rate. This method helps to reduce the risk of flooding, minimizes soil erosion, and improves water quality by allowing sediment and pollutants to settle before the water is released into nearby rivers or lakes. Retention basins also provide an opportunity for groundwater recharge, which is essential for maintaining the water balance in urban areas.

This approach contrasts with the other options. Maximizing runoff into terrestrial areas can lead to increased flooding and degradation of ecosystems. Eliminating all vegetation around water bodies disrupts natural filtration processes and habitats, leading to poorer water quality. Improving urban wastewater treatment processes, while important, does not directly manage stormwater runoff, which is a separate but interconnected issue in urban planning and environmental management.