Road Salt Resources
The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies has completed research on road salt and its impacts on water quality. You can find out more information about their research on their website and in their 2019 report - Road Salt: The Problem, the Solution, and How to Get There. This report has information on the environmental impacts of road salt, best management practices, a chart on road salt alternatives (which includes their aquatic toxicity and other environmental impacts).
Cornell Local Roads Snow and Ice Control (2014): This technical report has information targeted to municipalities, including an Ice Control Comparison Table and advantages and disadvantages of various deicers.
Onondaga County SWCD Snow and Ice Control Best Management Practices for Parking Lots, Sidewalks, Roads: This brochure has information on: the impact of de-icing salt on water quality in Central NY, best management practices for salt application and the bottom line benefits of following these practices, key tips for optimal winter maintenance, and more.
CCE Onondaga’s Road Salts in our Watersheds: Best Management Practices for Homeowners, Commercial/Private Property Owners, and Private Contractors - This factsheet summarizes key info from the longer reports above, and includes information that homeowners might find helpful. The 2020 Winter WAVE Reviews Newsletter also includes an article on road salt alternatives and best practices (pg. 3) - written by the Skaneateles Lake Association.
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Road Salt and Water Quality: This factsheet has information on how road salt works, what happens to salt in the environment, road salt management issues, best practices, and alternatives. Even though it’s from New Hampshire, most of the information is still relevant to New York. An additional out-of-state resource from Wisconsin Sea Grant is their Winter Salting Guide video.
Road Salt Impacts on Water Quality - A Case Study of Mirror Lake - Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 (webinar)
With all the snow the Finger Lakes experiences, our roads are often heavily salted to keep them clear from snow and ice. However, the accumulation of salt in our waterbodies can have unintended consequences for water quality. Dr. Brendan Wiltse speaks about his research on road salt in Adirondack lakes, with a focus on Mirror Lake as a case study of road salt impacts. Watch the webinar recording by clicking here.
What are partners in the watershed doing to protect Skaneateles Lake from road salt?
Find out more by clicking here to read an article about the 2019 Salt Calibration Workshop organized by watershed partners (CNY Regional Planning and Development Board, Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District, Skaneateles Watershed Agricultural Program, CNY Stormwater Coalition, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County and the NYS Department of Transportation Region 3).