This winter, AdkAction is launching a new public outreach campaign aimed at reducing the environmental damage caused by excessive road salt use in the Lake Champlain Basin. The campaign will shine a spotlight on the harmful effects of road salt pollution, highlight effective and practical salt-reduction techniques, and empower individuals and communities with actionable steps to protect local waterways.
Road salt is a key tool for winter safety, but it’s also a growing environmental concern. According to the 2024 State of the Lake report from the Lake Champlain Basin Program, chloride concentrations in Lake Champlain and its tributaries are steadily increasing due to winter deicing practices. This salinization threatens freshwater ecosystems, harming plants, algae, and aquatic animals.
While current chloride levels in Lake Champlain remain below drinking water and toxicity benchmarks, the trend is alarming. Nearly all Basin rivers contribute to the issue, with some, like the Winooski River, delivering over twice the chloride levels recorded in the 1990s.
What is AdkAction Doing?
Our campaign aims to raise awareness about the harmful effects of road salt and inspire change through:
- An Informational Video: Learn how road salt impacts the environment and discover safer, salt-conscious ways to maintain winter roads and walkways.
- A Dedicated Webpage: Visit adkaction.org/salt for science-backed data, practical tips, and tools to reduce salt use in your community.
- Community Outreach: Find us at local events across the region, where we’ll share fun and educational materials like stickers with slogans such as “Save Champy” and “Don’t Be Salty Lake Champlain.” We’re also distributing salt spreading cups to help residents measure the right amount of salt for driveways and sidewalks.
Did you know? Just 12 ounces of salt is enough to effectively melt snow and ice on a 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares. Using too much salt doesn’t just harm the environment—it’s a waste of time and money, too.
“Our goal is to increase awareness about the significant damage excess road salt creates and provide real-world solutions,” said Sawyer Bailey, Executive Director of AdkAction. “By adopting smarter salting techniques and engaging with this campaign, individuals and communities can make a measurable impact on reducing salt pollution and preserving the health of Lake Champlain.”
The Don’t be Salty Lake Champlain public outreach campaign is funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement FY2024 Small Education and Outreach to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
Visit adkaction.org/salt to learn more about road salt reduction and how you can get involved. Together, we can protect Lake Champlain and ensure a cleaner, healthier future for the entire Lake Champlain Basin and beyond.
