LFWA Salt Team Kick-off Meeting. Volunteers receiving training on how to test for salt.
LFWA citizen scientists are busy at work again, this time testing for salt pollution in our creeks. The baseline tests taken in mid-December showed high levels of salt - well about the normal level. This is alarming as the freshwater organisms who live in the creek, cannot survive when the salinity of the water gets too high. Normal saline levels for fresh water creeks is below 100 ppm. Anything above 230 is considered chronic. While four sites were in the normal range, four sites on the Little Falls Branch were above 150, with two site reaching 181.
LWFA tests eight sites on four creeks in the watershed - the Little Falls Branch, the Willett Branch, the Glenbrook Tributary, and the Minnehaha creek in Glen Echo. We do baseline testing on the third weekend of the month, as well as testing after every snow event (or times when they salt the roads. This program is done in partnership with the Izaak Walton Salt Watch program.
Where does the Salt Come from?
If it hasn’t snowed, and there is no road salt, what is causing the high levels in the creek? These high levels at the beginning of winter are a reminder of long lasting effects of road salt. Salt in the creek when there is no road salt means that it comes from the ground water. When it rains, salt left on the ground (by the side of the road), soaks into the soil and pollutes the ground water. Creeks are fed by ground water, so they suffer the effects of too much road salt all year. In fact, scientists see spikes in creek salinity in the summer.
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.