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 the international effort “to keep freshwater fresh” during Winter Salt Week. An informed public can support the adoption of best practices in snow and ice control and advocate for the protection of freshwater resources. Register online at wintersaltweek.org and tune in daily at 12:30 p.m. to a series of YouTube live streams. Experts will delve into the effects of chloride, share success stories, discuss monitoring, leading change, and solutions for using less chloride. Participate in hour-long conversation tables on Friday, January 30, beginning at 11 a.m.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is hosting a free, 2-hour Smart Salting for Community Leaders workshop starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28. This online, interactive workshop will help participants understand the impacts of chloride on infrastructure and water resources and provide specific action steps to make policy changes in their communities to reduce salt pollution. (Note: This is a separate registration from Winter Salt Week.)
You can also stop by any Dakota County Library branch to learn how you can reduce chloride pollution in your neighborhood, with some family-friendly activities:
- Salty Dawg activity books, temporary tattoos, origami, and buttons
- A scavenger hunt
- Learn how to be a Smart Salter and get a free salt cup
- Browse book displays on winter topics and pick up a bookmark
- Request a Salt Watch chloride monitoring kit be sent directly to your home so you can monitor local lakes, streams, and wetlands
Information about our local efforts is also on the Dakota County website.
Together, we can keep winter roads safe and our waters healthy.
