To promote safe winter driving conditions, deicers are applied to roadways throughout the Northeast. The most commonly used deicer is sodium chloride, otherwise known as road salt. This inexpensive deicer comes with hidden costs to both the environment and human health.
The Cary Institute hosted a management-based forum about the impact that road salt has on natural areas and drinking water supplies, with a focus on successful salt reduction strategies being used regionally and nationally.
Videos and Presentations
The State of Salt: What We Know about Road Salt Contamination in the NE US
Speaker: Stuart Findlay, freshwater ecologist, Cary Institute
Learn how road salt impacts freshwater ecosystems, including drinking water supplies. Presentation
Road Salt Regional Perspective: New York State Success Stories
Speaker: Rob Fitch, NYSDOT
Gain insight into NYS Department of Transportation sensible salting tactics, including success stories and best practices in snow and ice control. Presentation
Road Salt Reduction Initiatives in the Adirondacks
Speaker: Dan Kelting, Professor of Environmental Sciences, Paul Smith’s College
Discover how a consortium is working to reduce salt pollution in the Adirondack State Park. Presentation
Road Salt Best Management Practices: A National View
Speaker: Laura Fay, Research Scientist and Winter Maintenance and Effect Program Manager, University of Montana
An update on the state of knowledge on national best management practices. Presentation
Road Salt: Connecting Salt Practices with Salt in Streams
Speaker: Eli Dueker, Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental and Urban Studies, Bard College.
Connect how salt practices in the Hudson River watershed impact the salinity of local streams. Presentation
Road Salt: Next Steps
Speaker: Kathleen Weathers, Cary Institute
Wrap-up session of the science and management forum Road Salt: Reducing Impacts to the Environment and Human Health.
Kathleen Weathers discusses the impact of road salt on natural areas and drinking water supplies, and opens the floor to ideas on how to successfully reduce the use of road salt. Presentation
