How can livestock operations negatively affect water quality?

Livestock operations can negatively affect water quality primarily through the management of waste produced by animals. When livestock are present in large numbers, the waste generated can be significant. If this waste is not managed properly, it can result in runoff that carries nutrients, pathogens, and other pollutants into nearby water bodies. This runoff can lead to issues such as nutrient pollution, which promotes algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels in water and harm aquatic life. Proper waste management practices are essential to mitigate these risks and protect water quality, making option C the correct choice, as it directly addresses the potential problems associated with improper waste management in livestock operations.