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{{alert|Join us for the Salt Symposium, August 5th at Medina Entertainment Center and live streamed to your computer.  [https://fortinconsulting.com/ Link here for more information and to register].  This years symposium marks the first year in 20 years that we will have break out sessions covering chlorides in winter maintenance, fertilizer, water softening and dust control.  A  trade show will accompany the symposium.
 
 
 
August 6th in conjunction with the symposium will be free MPCA Smart Salting certification courses.  Smart Salting for Roads will be held at Hennepin County Maintenance facility in Medina MN and Smart Salting for Parking Lots and Sidewalks will be held at the Hamel Community Center.  Registration is required and is available [https://fortinconsulting.com/ here] or [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/smart-salting-training-calendar/2020-08 here].|alert-info}}
 
 
 
Salt that is applied to our roads, parking lots, and sidewalks ends up in our lakes, streams, and wetlands, negatively impacting those water resources. Salt has other negative impacts, such as harming vegetation, including turf, and altering the process of infiltration into soil.
 
Salt that is applied to our roads, parking lots, and sidewalks ends up in our lakes, streams, and wetlands, negatively impacting those water resources. Salt has other negative impacts, such as harming vegetation, including turf, and altering the process of infiltration into soil.
  
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*[[Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Factsheet]]
 
*[[Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Factsheet]]
 
*[[Smart Salting (S2) training information]]
 
*[[Smart Salting (S2) training information]]
*[[Smart Salting (S2) training certificate holders]]
 
  
 
==Links to related material==
 
==Links to related material==
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*Overview and impacts of road salt and deicers
 
*Overview and impacts of road salt and deicers
 
**[[How salt works and overview of deicing chemicals]]
 
**[[How salt works and overview of deicing chemicals]]
**[[Environmental impacts of road salt and other de-icing chemicals|Environmental impacts of road salt and other deicing chemicals]]
+
**[[Environmental impacts of road salt and other de-icing chemicals]]
**[[Other impacts of road salt use]]
+
**[[Other impacts of deicer use]]
*Smart Salting Best Management Practices (BMPs)
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*[[Information on costs and economic impacts of road salt]]
**[[Snow and salt storage]]
 
**[[Salt application BMPs]]
 
**[[Technology-based deicing BMPs]]
 
**[[Non-chloride chemical alternatives for deicing]]
 
**[[Emerging and non-traditional deicing BMPs]]
 
 
*Management tools
 
*Management tools
**[[Chloride Management Plan]]
+
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-s1-94.pdf Minnesota Statewide Chloride Management Plan]  
**[[Winter Maintenance Assessment tool (WMAt)]]
+
**[[Smart Salting Assessment tool (SSAt)]]
*Smart Salting (S2) training program
+
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/statewide-chloride-resources Model Ordinances]
**[[Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual]]
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**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/statewide-chloride-resources Model Snow and Ice Policies]  
**[[Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Factsheet]]
+
*MPCA Smart Salting Training Program
**[[Smart Salting (S2) training information]]
+
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/smart-salting-training Smart Salting Training Program]  
**[[Smart Salting (S2) training certificate holders]]
+
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/smart-salting-training-calendar/2021-01 Smart Salting Training Calendar]  
*[[Educational resources for Smart Salting (S2)]]
+
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/salt-applicators Resources for Winter Maintenance Professionals]  
*[[Cost-benefit considerations for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance]]
+
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/statewide-chloride-resources Chloride Reduction Assistance]  
*[[Case studies for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance]]
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*Education Resources
*[[Chloride TMDL projects]]
+
**[[Educational resources for Smart Salting (S2)]]. For more information on chloride resources, see [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/statewide-chloride-resources Statewide chloride resources]
*[[Links for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance]]
+
**[[Success stories: salt reduction and cost saving examples]]
 +
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/statewide-chloride-resources Technical reports and Chloride TMDLs]
 +
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/water-permit-holders-and-chloride Chloride and NPDES Permits]  
 
*[[References for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance]]
 
*[[References for Smart Salting (S2) and road salt winter maintenance]]
 +
*Chloride and groundwater
 +
**[https://www.mgwa.org/documents/whitepapers/impacts_of_stormwater_infiltration_on_chloride_in_minnesota_groundwater.pdf Impacts of stormwater infiltration on chloride in Minnesota groundwater] - White paper produced for the Minnesota Groundwater Association
 +
**[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:Chloride_groundwater_loading_calculator.xlsx Calculator for estimating chloride loading to groundwater]
 +
**[[Guidance for calculator to estimate chloride loading to groundwater from infiltration]]
  
[[Category:Road salt and de-icing]]
+
[[Category:Level 2 - Pollutants/Chloride]]
 +
[[Category:Level 2 - Management/Winter management]]
 +
[[Category:Level 3 - Best management practices/Nonstructural practices/Deicing]]
 
</noinclude>
 
</noinclude>

Latest revision as of 19:56, 7 February 2023

Salt that is applied to our roads, parking lots, and sidewalks ends up in our lakes, streams, and wetlands, negatively impacting those water resources. Salt has other negative impacts, such as harming vegetation, including turf, and altering the process of infiltration into soil.

This page provides information on education resources for salt management. Included are links to fact sheets, websites, and videos.

Residents

image for training video
Link to training video that offers easy tips about tools, techniques, and products that you can use to keep your driveways and sidewalks safe while protecting our waters.
image for training video part 1
Part 1 of this video introduces best practices for winter maintenance of small spaces such as sidewalks, entryways, and steps. Guidance includes deicer material selection and application rates.
image for training video part 2
Part 2 of this video introduces best practices for winter maintenance of small spaces such as sidewalks, entryways, and steps. Guidance includes deicer material selection and application rates.

Building entrances and sidewalks

The MPCA worked with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, the University of Minnesota, and Fortin Consulting to produce a 20-minute video that introduces best practices for winter maintenance of small spaces such as sidewalks, entryways, and steps. Guidance includes deicer material selection and application rates. Links to Part 1 and Part 2 of this are shown to the right.

Hire certified contractors

If you hire out snow removal for your property, choose a contractor who is certified by the state in Snow and Ice Control Best Practices or encourage them to become certified. This list of certified practitioners is maintained by MPCA and can be accessed as an File:Road salt training certificate holders.xlsx.

Many local lakes and streams have elevated levels of chloride, a common ingredient in road salt. In some cases, the chloride contamination is high enough to impact or even kill fish and other aquatic life. Winter snow and ice practices have been identified as the primary source of this chloride. Certified contractors have taken a training on how to mitigate the effects of de-icing materials on the environment, without compromising safety or effectiveness.

Voluntary certification in Snow and Ice Control Best Practices from the MPCA is given to individuals who

  • attended voluntary training,
  • complete and pass the associated test, and
  • agree to voluntarily apply best management practices to reduce chloride impacts.

Smart Salting (S2) training program

Links to related material

  • Snow and Ice Control Material Application (CTAP) - This Circuit Training and Assistance program (CTAP) workshop helps determine the correct chemical and proper application rates based on the weather and pavement temperature for using salt and sand most effectively.
  • Clear Roads Winter Maintenance Newsletter - Clear Roads produces a quarterly newsletter that captures the latest research and news on winter maintenance technology and practices within the U.S. and around the world. Each E-newsletter compiles links to recent reports, guidance documents, news articles, and research updates from state DOTs, universities, the Transportation Research Board and the Federal Highway Administration.


Related pages

This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 19:56.