With all the craziness of 2020, our winter weather better not get any big ideas! If snow and ice are perhaps in our future, it is worth reminding ourselves that deicing materials can have adverse effects to our environment, especially our water bodies.
Most of the popular deicing products sold are chloride-based products which contain salt with different combinations. Sodium chloride, otherwise known as salt, is the most widely used deicing material. Sodium chloride is an effective deicer, is inexpensive, readily available and easily stored. Chloride which is present in many of the common de-icing materials can damage vegetation, destroy soil’s structure and produce erosion, can damage and kill vegetation and can contribute to automobile corrosion.
Common de-icing materials:

• Sodium chloride – Otherwise known as rock salt, is sometimes mixed with sand or other materials. It is most widely available.
• Potassium chloride – This product melts snow to 20 degrees F.
• Magnesium chloride - This product is effective to 5 degrees F. This product is considered less toxic to the environment.
• Calcium chloride - This product has the lowest temperature threshold, working to –25 degrees. This product tends to be easier on plant material if excessive amounts are applied. This product is considered less toxic to the environment.
• Beet Molasses – De-sugared sugar beet molasses is a agricultural byproduct that is created when sugar beets are used to make commercial grade sugar. A form of beet brine has become a useful tool for many highway departments.

While municipalities’ main priorities remain maintaining clear roads and highways while ensuring safe travel, many municipalities are looking at incorporating de-icing materials that are less impactful on the environment, and we can do that at our homes as well. Here are some tips for reducing or eliminating the use of deicers at your own residence:

• Reduce salt use by adding sand for traction, although care is needed to avoid clogging storm drains. Natural clay cat litter also works well for this purpose.
• Clear walkways and other areas before the snow turns to ice and avoid the need for chemical deicers.
• Track the weather and only apply deicers when a storm is imminent. If a winter storm does not occur, sweep any unused material and store it for later use.
• Only use deicers in critical areas and apply the least mount necessary to get the job done.
• Apply salt at the right time. Don’t wait until snow is falling to get started. It takes more salt to melt accumulated snow than it does to prevent accumulation.
• Apply salt where it will do most good, like hills, curves, shaded sections of road, and bridges. Use discretion when applying salt near sensitive streams or in drinking water source water protection areas.
• More salt isn’t necessarily better. Warmer roads need less salt, and when it is below 10º F salt will not help at all. Applying less salt is also a more economical choice. Snow clean-up costs are reduced, as are damages to cars, roads, and bridges.

Other tips to consider:

• If your source of drinking water is from you own private well, avoid applying salt near the well head.
• Don’t use fertilizers as melting agents. Runoff can increase nutrient pollution.
• Natural products such as wood chips, ash, sand, bird seed, cat litter and sunflower seeds will not melt ice but they can provide traction on slippery surfaces.

 
So when the next big winter storm strikes, strike back, but in an environmentally friendly way. For more questions regarding Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District programs and/or technical assistance on water or soil questions, visit http://warrenswcd.com or call, 513-695-1337.

Whether you fish, kayak or just simply sit by the shores of a beautiful lake, having clean lakes and rivers is something we can all appreciate. But did you ever think about how our water travels and ends up in these bodies of water?

The USGS website (usgs.gov) explains how water travels best: “When rain falls onto the earth, it doesn’t just sit there, it starts moving according to the laws of gravity. A portion of the precipitation seeps into the ground to replenish the Earth's groundwater. Most of it flows downhill as runoff. Runoff is extremely important in that not only does it keep rivers and lakes full of water, but it also changes the landscape by the action of erosion.
In cases of developed areas where stormwater cannot infiltrate into the ground because of impervious areas, more runoff occurs. In urbanized areas, runoff must be collected by “extensive drain systems that consist of curbs, storm sewers, and ditches to carry stormwater directly to streams.  More simply, in a developed watershed, much more water arrives into a stream more quickly, resulting in an increased likelihood of more frequent and more severe flooding.”

“As it flows over the lands and other surfaces, stormwater picks up potential pollutants that may include sediment, nutrients (from lawn/agriculture fertilizers), bacteria (from animal and human waste), pesticides (from lawn and garden/agriculture chemicals), metals (from rooftops and roadways), and petroleum by-products (from leaking vehicles).” We also have situations where people dump prohibited  materials (anything that is not stormwater) directly into storm drains not thinking of the impact that it has down stream.  
Polluted stormwater runoff can be harmful to plants, animals, and people. Understanding that our water systems are all connected and by helping to keep our stormwater clean, can help keep our rivers, lakes and streams clean.
Help out our local water systems by keeping “only rain, down the storm drain.”

Here are some items that you can do to help:

• Plant trees
• Disconnect/redirect downspouts
• Use a rain barrel to capture rain from your roof
• Plant a rain garden
• Reduce impervious surfaces

For more questions regarding Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District programs and/or technical assistance on water or soil questions, visit http://warrenswcd.com or call, 513-695-1337.

The EPA established the Clean Water Rule to accomplish all the the goals shown above. The Clean Water Rule protects streams and wetlands that are scientifically shown to have the greatest impact on downstream water quality and form the foundation of our nation’s water resources. Read a summary the Clean Water Rule HERE. It's  important to recognize that the rule protects clean water without getting in the way of farming, ranching and forestry.  But how does the Clean Water Rule protect our waters?  The Clean Water Rule protects our waters by clearly defining regulations and permitting for any effort that might disrupt, modify, pollute or destroy the Waters of the State. Learn more about these permits on the EPA Website.