Every winter, tons of salt are spread on roads, parking lots, and sidewalks to keep us safe. But once the snow melts, that salt doesn’t disappear—it washes into our lakes, streams, and groundwater. Rising salt levels corrode infrastructure, stress wildlife, and pose risks to our drinking water supplies.

Starting January 26, 2026, join in an international effort “to keep freshwater fresh” during Winter Salt Week. Tune in for daily webinars on the impacts of salt pollution, reduction strategies, and community monitoring efforts. Register and learn more at www.wintersaltweek.org.

You can also stop by any Dakota County Library branch to learn how you can reduce chloride pollution in your neighborhood. Don’t forget to do a Salty Dawg scavenger hunt and grab an activity book while you’re there. Information on how you can get a Salt Watch chloride monitoring kit sent directly to your home will also be available!

Together, we can keep winter roads safe and our waters healthy.