The Penn State Extension will host another of its online Water Cooler Talks January 29 on Green Infrastructure and Salty Stormwater from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

De-icing salts are widely applied to hard roads, sidewalks, and parking lots in winter. Salty runoff can then be washed into receiving rain gardens, bioswales, or other stormwater management features.

[In addition, the indiscriminate dumping of oil and gas wastewater on roads with its extremely high chloride content only adds to this problem. Read more here.]

In this talk, the presenters will discuss the impacts of this salty water on the vegetation, soils, and water quality performance of green stormwater infrastructure, and some ways to try to reduce these impacts.

Who is this for?

-- Anyone interested in water resources

-- Those who work in the water field

-- Those who have a general interest in water

What will you learn?

-- Hear about current work happening in the water resource field

-- Be able to ask questions about the green stormwater infrastructure implementation

-- Share ideas with professionals across Pennsylvania

The presenters include--

-- Tyler Groh, Assistant Penn State Extension Research Professor

-- Lauren McPhillips, Assistant Professor, Penn State Extension

Click Here to register for this free program.

Visit the Penn State Extension webpage to learn about many more educational opportunities.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.

Click Here to check out your streams.  Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.

(Photos: Road spreading oil and gas wastewater, courtesy Earthworks; Spreading road salt.)

Resource Link:

-- Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership: Road Salt Factsheet

Related Articles - Salty Roads:

-- New Penn State Study: Brine Water Pumped From Played-Out Conventional Oil & Gas Wells And Used As Dust Suppressants, Winter Road Treatments Exceed Environmental, Health Standards, Just Like Conventional Oil & Gas Brine Water  [PaEN]

-- Stroud: High School Student’s Research Shows Salt Pollution of Fresh Water Has Tripled in 20 Years [PaEN]

-- Pike Conservation District: PennDOT, Winter Weather Management, Salt Watch By Izaak Walton League And You [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Salt For Snow And Ice - Effects On Waterways Not Very Nice [PaEN]

-- Stroud Water Research Center News: Tracking Road Salt In Streams; Scouts From 12 Troops Tackle Merit Badge Program; Much More [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week - Watersheds:

-- DEP Announces Over $12 Million In Watershed Restoration, Stormwater Infrastructure Grants Funded In-Part By Mariner East Pipeline Penalties, Federal American Rescue Plan Funding  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update: Funding Opportunities, Projects Supported; County Clean Water Updates; Much More!   [PaEN]

-- USDA Announces March 1 Application Deadline For Conservation Stewardship Program In PA  [PaEN]

-- Appalachian Region Independent Power Producers Assn. Accepting Applications For Mine Reclamation Grants  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals: Registration Now Open For Level I Training, Certification; PA DCNR Offering Scholarships  [PaEN]

-- PA Sea Grant, Partners Offer Choose Native Plants Workshops For Landscape Professionals In Erie, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Shale Gas Operator Found Responsible For Water Supply Contamination After Investigation Documents Chemical Contamination Spread Across 3 Townships In Greene County  [PaEN]

-- Pike Conservation District: 2023 Water Quality Report; Pennsylvania's Forests; Vote For Lackawaxen River!  [PaEN]

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: What’s The Big Deal About Water Anyway? - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association   [PaEN]

-- Water At Risk Series: The Brodhead Watershed Association Helps Monroe County Municipalities Protect Clean Water - How About Yours? - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association   [PaEN]

-- Water Center At Penn Hosts Jan. 25 Webinar On Lower Delaware River Bacteria Study  [PaEN]

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Jan. 12 In-Person Workshop On Climate Art And Networking For Watershed Leaders & Stewards  [PaEN]

-- Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Host Jan. 15 Webinar On Climate Change Impact On Black Communities  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Jan. 29 Webinar On Green Infrastructure And Salty Stormwater  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Lancaster Farmland Trust: The Salisbury Township Story - The Impact Of Community Outreach On Farm Conservation Work [Video] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Volunteers Aim To Restore Stream With Artificial Beaver Dams

-- Huntingdon Daily News: Novel Penn State Tool Informs Land Use And Nutrient Control In Troubled Waters

-- McCall: Monocacy Creek Advocacy Group Concerned About Proposed Lehigh Valley Warehouse

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Jan. 5 RiverWatch Video Report 

[Posted: January 1, 2024]

1/8/2024