Salting our Freshwater Ecosystems webinar with Lauren Lawson
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"Salting our freshwater ecosystems: Understanding consequences of road salt use in Canadian watersheds" Webinar Handout
This is a handout from our webinar, "Salting our freshwater ecosystems: Understanding consequences of road salt use in Canadian watersheds". The use of road salt in Canadian watersheds has various consequences, including increased saltiness of freshwater lakes, rivers, and wetlands, and changes in turnover dynamics in lakes. High chloride concentrations can affect fish growth and egg production, and multi-level effects can occur from increased stress on ecosystems. Animals are attracted to roadways, causing an increased risk of collisions, and birds consume small grains of salt, which can become toxic. Additionally, plants and vegetation can be damaged or have reduced growth, and there is a risk of drinking water contamination and change in the taste of water.
"Salting our Freshwater Ecosystems" webinar with Lauren Lawson
This webinar was originally recorded on February 16, 2023 for the Freshwater Stewardship Community webinar series. Our Canadian addiction to road salt is increasing the saltiness of freshwater lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Road salt pollution is not only harmful to nature, but also a risk for humans through contamination of drinking water and corrosion of infrastructure. Join Lauren Lawson, PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto, to learn about the year-round impacts of road salt on your watersheds and actions you can take to keep our freshwater fresh.