Long-term monitoring has shown that chloride concentrations in the waters of the Lake Champlain Basin are rising due to excessive road salt use. The “Clean Water, Safe Roads” outreach campaign addresses this growing environmental issue by advancing regional strategies for reducing road salt application. Led by AdkAction and the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute, the program builds on earlier initiatives to engage municipal and county highway departments in New York. The project emphasizes personalized outreach, education, and collaboration, offering one-on-one technical assistance, training workshops, and resources for promoting sustainable practices.
The campaign equips highway departments with tools to implement modern winter maintenance strategies, such as precision application techniques, anti-icing practices, and the use of road weather information systems (RWIS) to optimize de-icer application. These measures help reduce salt use, cut costs, and mitigate environmental impacts on ecosystems and drinking water sources. Participating communities receive targeted water quality reports and planning support to develop salt reduction strategies tailored to local needs. This initiative also encourages the sharing of innovations and success stories among municipal partners, fostering a collaborative approach to sustainable road maintenance.
To further expand outreach, the program developed training materials and resources available online, including a GIS-based story map showcasing impacts and best practices. The collaboration aligns with broader efforts like New York State’s Road Salt Reduction Task Force and supports local governments in implementing science-based plans to curb salt use while ensuring public safety during winter conditions.
Explore the public outreach campaign at https://www.adkaction.org/publicoutreach/salt-champlain/.
Feature photo: Brendan Wiltse