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Salt, particularly chloride, poses a significant threat to Minnesota’s fish and freshwater ecosystem, including local lakes. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency emphasizes that even a small amount of salt can have detrimental effects: 1 teaspoon of salt can permanently contaminate 5 gallons of water.

In Albert Lea, all 2,000 stormwater sewers outlet to a local lake. Salt runs into the storm sewers with rain and melted snow, where it can harm fish and other critters.

To minimize the use of salt and protect lakes and streams, the MPCA recommends the following practices:

• Shovel and scrape. Removing snow and ice manually reduces the amount of salt needed for melting.

• Use sand for traction. When temperatures drop below 15°F, salt loses its effectiveness. Instead, use sand to improve traction on sidewalks and driveways.

• Apply salt sparingly. A small amount of salt goes a long way. A coffee cup full of salt is sufficient to treat a 20-foot driveway or 1,000 square feet of sidewalk.

• Sweep up excess salt. Once salt has melted snow and ice, sweep up any visible salt on dry surfaces. This prevents salt from running off into local lakes.

For more tips, visit the MPCA website: www.pca.state.mn.us/news-and-stories/smart-salting.