Rock salt has been used for decades to permit safe travel on slippery road ways. However, the excessive application will impact public health as well as the environment. It can result in contamination of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams as well as groundwater, including drinking water.
The Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force was established to complete a comprehensive review of road salt contamination and salt application practices with the Adirondack Park. It’s findings were released in a Final Report in 2024. May of this year NYSDEC made $15 million in Clean Water Infastructure Act funding available to eligible applicants.
SLA has been closely monitoring this subject for the past 2 years and is currently partnering with the Skidmore College of Environment Studies to evaluate the current and future status of the lake. This information will be of value when it comes to applying for available grants but, more importantly, the overall health and well being of the public and environment.
SLA has purchased a number of analyzers which will be strategically placed around the lake and will monitor conductivity(a measure of chloride), dissolved 02, temperature and turbidity while water samples will be returned to the lab for analysis.
Skidmore junior Charlie Movias and senior Jackson Wauchope with Board member Jim DeMasi braved the windy weather and rough water to obtain the preliminary data.
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