During the winter months in the Northland, the salt used by private residents and municipalities is the largest contributor to the salinization of area waterways. Just one teaspoon of salt can contaminate up to five gallons of freshwater.
In an effort to inform residents about the damage done by salt, Winter Salt Awareness Week (from January 27th-31st) will detail the problems and also offer some possible routes to solutions through various presentations and events. "Winter Salt Awareness Week... has evolved from Wisconsin Salt Awareness Week," says Megan Högfeldt, Water Resources Specialist for the City of Superior. "That road salt doesn't just disappear, it goes somewhere." And all things lead to our waterways. Decades of salt on our streets has had an impact.
"Many of our streams are impaired with excess levels of chloride," says Ryan Granlund, the Utility Programs Coordinator for the City of Duluth. While options are being weighed, there's a balance to be struck as the desire to limit salt use is often met with the need to keep roads safe in the winter - which presently means using salt.
For a complete list of events, and to take the Winter Salt Week Pledge, visit the Winter Salt Week website. For more information about getting involved, visit the Isaak Walton League of America website.
You can hear Green Visions at 8:20am every Wednesday on Northland Morning.