Testing

Gaithersburg, Maryland is where it all began!

In 2017, a Clean Water Fellow at the Izaak Walton League of America  noticed a huge pile of salt left by a salt truck sitting directly next to a storm drain. That salt was headed right for the Muddy Branch, a small stream that travels through Maryland and feeds into the Potomac River. He contacted local government agencies to try and address the problem. He quickly discovered that the world of road salt is a complicated one and that its effects on our waterways are not well known or well studied. Inspired by the success of the League’s Save Our Streams community science program, IWLA staff launched Salt Watch to mobilize community scientists to monitor chloride (salt) levels in local creeks and streams.

Since that original salt pile, Salt Watch has launched a number of local campaigns  to combat road salt pollution and educate the public about smart salting practices!

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Thanks to a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and City of Gaithersburg, Salt Watch staff have been able to launch a local campaign to monitor local waterways in Gaithersburg, educate students and teachers, table at farmers markets and local festivals, speak with faith-based organizations, host applicator trainings for local businesses and road salt applicators and more!

Montgomery County, Maryland

Thanks to grants from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Salt Watch staff have been able to launch a local campaign to monitor local waterways in Montgomery County, prioritize monitoring and outreach in the Watts Branch Watershed, educate students and teachers, table at farmers markets and local festivals, host a “Paint the Plow” event for local schools, partners, and scout troops, and host applicator trainings for local businesses and road salt applicators and more!

WSSC Water Salt Outreach Workgroup

Salt Watch staff are part of a local road salt outreach workgroup run by WSSC Water that meets quarterly to discuss regional program initiatives and amplify ”Smart Salt” messaging across organizations.