Season 5 of Salt Watch is wrapping up! In the winter of 2021-2022, volunteers in 24 states conducted more than 4,000 chloride tests. Across the country, 20 percent of those results showed chloride levels high enough to be toxic to aquatic life.
Volunteers found high chloride readings in cities like Detroit, Minneapolis, and Washington DC. In cities like Philadelphia, advocacy by Salt Watchers helped communities move towards smarter salting practices, while awareness of the problem grew in places like Pittsburgh; Hartford, CT; and Appleton, WI.
Below, explore the interactive map of all the results from Season 5. Click on any dot to see more data, or click the double-arrow icon at the top left to see the legend. Then, dive into regional results and success stories from across the country.
Season 5 may be ending, but road salt can be even more of a problem for streams in the summer. Help us learn more about how aquatic life is affected by high chloride levels and warm weather. Get your Salt Watch test kit now.
Salt Watch and Winter Salt Watch are trademarks of the Izaak Walton League of America.