Can Natural Buffers Help Mitigate Road Salt Pollution?

by Andres Clavier, Freshwater Stewardship Education Intern Road salts, a common winter ally for icy streets, have profound ecological impacts as the melted snow and ice wash these salts away. What role, if any, do natural buffers of vegetation along shorelines provide in protecting waterbodies against this alarming pollution? A natural buffer predominantly comprises vegetation like trees, shrubs, and grasses placed along water body edges. These buffers play a pivotal role in maintaining ... Read More

by Andres Clavier, Freshwater Stewardship Education Intern In cold climates, icy roads have traditionally been navigable thanks to road salts. As environmental awareness grows, so does the quest for more ecologically kind alternatives. Although a multitude of alternatives have been tested, finding a universally accepted replacement has remained a challenge. In this blog, we will summarize some of the alternatives that are being tested and used around the world, and discuss some of their ... Read More

by Andres Clavier, Freshwater Stewardship Education Intern The environmental repercussions of excessive road salt application have instigated numerous research and policy endeavours. One significant contribution in this area is the "Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts" developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). This post delineates the salient practices endorsed by this code for salt authorities, emphasizing the reduction of salt-induced ... Read More

by Andres Clavier, Freshwater Stewardship Education Intern With the widespread use of road salts in countries to combat winter's icy conditions, our freshwater ecosystems are increasing in salinity which is hazardous for our ecosystems. This is especially true for salt vulnerable areas.  What is a Salt Vulnerable Area? A salt vulnerable area refers to freshwater sources, primarily lakes and rivers, that are particularly susceptible to contamination from road salts (Environment Canada, ... Read More

by Andres Clavier, Freshwater Stewardship Education Intern Recent research has highlighted concerning news: there has been a pronounced escalation in the salinization of our freshwater bodies over the past twenty years. If this trend continues, many Canadian lakes will reach critical levels in the next 40 years. Elevated salt concentrations can severely impair aquatic flora, lead to widespread fish deaths, and turn these freshwater zones inhabitable for many species. The implications extend ... Read More

by Ty Fischer, Riparian Health Restoration Intern In conservation biology, the term “charismatic megafauna” refers to the largest and most iconic species of animal, such as wolves and grizzly bears, for which threats to their population status attract a disproportionate amount of the public’s attention (Krause, Robinson, 2017).  Historically, these species were the core focus of conservation efforts because the ubiquitous appreciation for them could be used as a driving force to motivate ... Read More

by Ty Fischer, Riparian Habitat Restoration Intern Addressing an issue as complex and multifaceted as climate change is a daunting task. The scale of the problem is so large, the impacts are so profound, and the need to solve current problems versus the need to prevent future ones from appearing is a tough balance to strike. This last reason is why it is so important to direct our attention towards environmental objectives that attack the climate change issue from multiple angles at once, ... Read More

by Ty Fischer, Riparian Habitat Restoration Intern It is no secret that winters can be harsh here in Canada. Between the cold weather and the lack of sunlight, this is the time of year that many choose to stay inside and cozy up to the fire with a hot beverage and a good book. Next time you make a pot of hot chocolate, however, consider reaching for the travel mug instead! The winter season can provide you with incredible and magical opportunities to get out and connect with nature. There are ... Read More