No Snow Yet, but Salt Levels are High in the Watershed

LFWA citizen scientists are busy at work again, this time testing for salt pollution in our creeks. While the 3 inches of rain last weekend washed away much of the salt pollution, the baseline tests taken in mid-December showed high levels of salt - almost to the chronic level.  This is alarming as the freshwater organisms who live in the creek, cannot survive when the salinity of the water gets too high.   The saline levels are caused by road salt which makes its way into the creek through run-off when the salt melts.  

Baseline results from December 16.

These high levels at the beginning of winter are a reminder of long lasting effects of road salt.

Just a sprinkle will do.

High baseline levels are also a reminder to keep salting to minimum on your sidewalks and driveways. We want people to be safe, but we also want healthy creeks.  So read the instructions on the salt containers carefully and remember more is not better.  A 12 ounce coffee cup holds enough salt to treat a 20 foot driveway! And if there is salt still on the pavement after the storm - you can sweep it up and save it for another storm.

call 311 to report salt spills

Montgomery County is committed to responsible salt treatment of public roads and sidewalks. This means removing piles of excess salt. Please, if you see piles of salt on your street or other public areas, call 311 to report. They will come out and clean it up.

More information about the LFWA Salt Watch program and Salt Wise winters HERE.

Montgomery County maintenance crew cleaning up excess salt in the Westbrook neighborhood after receiving a 311 call from a resident.

Woody Stanley Named Winter Salt Watcher of the Month

Congratulations to Woody Stanley, LFWA Salt Watch Team Leader, for being named the Izaak Walton League Winter Salt Watch monitor of the Month, February 2022. LFWA is proud to partner with Izaak Walton in their winter salt watch program.

From the Izaak Walton Website:

Woody Stanley is the Salt Watch coordinator for the Little Falls Watershed Alliance in Bethesda, MD. While LFWA had a Salt Watch team, Woody took the program up a notch this year and recruited, organized and trained 16 volunteers to monitor three streams in the watershed at seven locations.

The volunteers test monthly (since November) to establish baseline readings and before and after snowstorms with Woody’s support at every step. He’s always available to answer questions, clarify the reading procedure and even meet volunteers creek-side to walk them through the app and testing procedure. Further, Woody is the inventor of the Tomato Stake Scooper – a really handy way to take a sample while safely standing on the creek bank, eliminating the risk of falling into the creek.

Woody also maintains our database, compiling all the information and producing graphics that are posted on our website and on community listservs.

Because of Woody’s efforts in organizing this initiative, LFWA now has a good idea of how much salt is being used during storms and how it is affecting the creeks. We have already used the data in our advocacy for more judicious salt application. And at least one local municipality is seriously rethinking their salt policy because of this increased data. Further, because Woody presents the information in a clear graphic form, public awareness of the problems with salt has increased and we are hearing from people who want to know who they can call to clean up excess salt. 

Learn about the LFWA Salt Watch Program HERE.