Bioswales have become an increasingly common component of modern stormwater management systems. Found along roadways, in parking lots, within subdivisions, and around commercial developments, these vegetated channels are designed to slow runoff, capture sediment and pollutants, promote infiltration,…
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Road salt keeps winter roads passable, but the sodium and chloride left behind threaten drinking-water wells, freshwater lakes, and roadside ecosystems. Over the past decade, and especially since 2023, Northeastern states have launched an array of legislative, technical, and educational initiatives …
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During the winter months, keeping roadways safe from ice and snow is a top priority for highway departments and municipalities. For decades, rock salt (sodium chloride) has been the standard go-to for deicing roads - it’s inexpensive, readily available, and effective at melting ice. However, h…
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Road-salt use in North America has climbed steadily for decades, yet the chlorides that keep winter roads safe also corrode bridges, shorten pavement life, and push freshwater streams toward brackish conditions. In Wisconsin, state water-quality staff warn that a single teaspoon of salt can permanen…
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Winter maintenance crews face a difficult balancing act. Roads must remain safe and passable during snow and ice events, but the materials used to achieve that safety can have significant and long-lasting impacts on local waterways, groundwater supplies, soils, vegetation, and stormwater infrastruct…
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