Salt Levels Skyrocket in Key Waterways (Image Credits: Wtop.com)
Washington, D.C. area – Thawing snow from recent winter storms now endangers local waterways as road salt washes into rivers and streams, harming fish and other aquatic species.[1]
Salt Levels Skyrocket in Key Waterways
Geologist Sujay Kaushal of the University of Maryland tracked sodium concentrations across multiple sites, including the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, Piney Branch, and Rock Creek. His findings revealed a dramatic rise in salinity. Over the last 50 years, salt levels in the Potomac River climbed about five-fold.[1]
Extreme snow events prompted heavier salt applications, even as overall winter snowfall declined. Urban growth expanded impervious surfaces like roads and parking lots, amplifying runoff. These pulses of salt lingered in soils and later flushed into streams during rains. Kaushal described the issue starkly: “Salt is the biggest enemy of fresh water that there ever was.”[1]
Devastating Effects on Aquatic Life
Freshwater ecosystems suffer profoundly from elevated chloride. Fish struggle to regulate bodily fluids, while amphibians and insects face disrupted growth and breathing. Mussels and other invertebrates, foundational to food chains, decline sharply. Birds and larger wildlife that depend on these species encounter cascading losses…