Salt is entering our lakes and streams in the form of chloride from the use of road salt to deice, for water softening, and from fertilizer, manure, and dust suppressants. Once a water body is polluted with salt, it is virtually impossible to remove it. All it takes is 1 teaspoon of salt to contaminate 5 gallons of water permanently! Salt is of particular concern in the Shingle Creek watershed because Shingle and Bass Creeks are impaired due to chloride. The chloride impairment affects fish, plants, and invertebrates that live in and near the streams; high chloride concentrations disrupt organisms’ ability to function and can result in a stream devoid of life. 

​The use of salt is necessary for many reasons. It creates safer driving and walking conditions, ensures our plumbing works properly, and more, but there are a few things you can do to minimize your impact.

• Remove snow from driveways and sidewalks as soon as possible after it falls.
• Skip salting on cold days and don't apply salt directly on snow. Sodium chloride, the most common road salt, doesn’t work below 15 degrees F. If it’s colder than 15 degrees F and you must salt, go for another product like magnesium chloride or calcium chloride.
• Sand or products like cherry grit can be useful for traction, and you can sweep it up when the snow melts and reuse it! Sweep up excess salt on your sidewalks and reuse again, too.
• Encourage your local businesses and organizations to use the proper amount of salt on their sidewalks and parking lots. A 12-ounce coffee mug holds enough for 250 square feet of pavement. There should be about a 3-inch spread between salt granules.

Never apply salt directly to snow, as shown in this photo.

Follow the progress of the Limited Liability Legislation bill in the Minnesota House and Senate. The bill would provide liability exemption for salt applicators who go through MPCA's Smart Salting training program, get certified, and document their practices. The bill supports more effective salt use without jeopardizing public safety.