Winter Salt Week Kicked Off January 27th
Salt (or chloride) levels in Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and groundwater are getting worse. Part of the problem is due to using too much de-icing salt – just one teaspoon of salt pollutes five gallons of water! Unfortunately, there is no feasible way to remove it. Salt damages property and the environment. It harms aquatic species and impacts drinking water quality.
Winter Salt Week (January 27-31) is a collaboration of governmental and non-governmental organizations across the United States and Canada. The goal of the event is to engage people on chloride pollution in your community and continue ‘working to keep freshwater fresh’. Visit www.wintersaltweek.org for more information and to learn about the daily webinars, including Minnesota speakers) providing public works perspectives and presenting on the policy solutions panel.
VOLUNTEER AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY! The DCSWCD, Dakota County, and several local watershed organizations have partnered with Dakota County Library to host a chloride volunteer monitoring and outreach campaign. During Salt Week, you can:
- Team up with friends or families to collect a water sample from a local lake, stream or wetland. Test it for chloride.
- Sign up to volunteer on the Dakota County volunteer website.
- Choose any Dakota County Library location (all 10 are participating!) to pick up a Salt Watch test kit starting Jan. 27. Your kit will include a list and map of streams, ponds or wetlands where you can collect a water sample.
- Share your results on the Clean Water Hub.
- Learn more about salt pollution at the Dakota County Library:
- Browse book displays on winter topics and pick up a bookmark.
- Have fun on a scavenger hunt.
- Learn how to be a Smart Salter and grab a cup so you use the right amount of salt, if needed.
- Learn what watershed you live in and how you can help protect local water resources.
- Complete kids’ activities, including a Salty Dawg activity book, temporary tattoos, origami and buttons.
- Take the pledge to be a Smart Salter. Find more information about the pledge at all library locations.
For more information, please contact Lindsey Albright, DCSWCD Monitoring and Outreach Coordinator at (651) 480-7783 or lindsey.albright@co.dakota.mn.us.
