Effectiveness of forestry best management practices (BMPs) for reducing the risk of forest herbicide use to aquatic organisms in streams

•Modern BMPs minimize off-site movement of herbicides.•Maximum herbicide concentrations in stream water were mostly in the low ppb range.•Peak herbicide concentrations occurred as brief (<24 h) pulses.•Herbicide use in forestry poses minimal risk to non-target aquatic animals.•Potential risks to aquatic plants are mitigated by short exposure durations.