Backyard Conversation
Connecting Community + Conservation
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Welcome to Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District's Backyard Conversation newsletter! Each month, we will share a conservation topic from a more personal viewpoint for our readers and residents. Thanks for reading! | |
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Be Salt Smart
Use Road Salt Wisely for Water Quality
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Happy December! 'Tis the season, this month usually brings some snowfall, whether you like it or not. With the snowfall, we do have to be mindful of winter safety hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. Very mindful, very demure. For those of you who are out of the loop, the previous sentence is a TikTok joke for Gen Z... Bad jokes aside, let's talk about how winter salt application can affect our water quality.
How Salt Affects Our Waterways
Salt is a growing problem for our waterways. It is extremely difficult and expensive to remove salt from our water during the water treatment process. There are "desalination" treatment processes that exist, but as a freshwater state, we just don't have the capacity to do it, and it is quite expensive. It is imperative that we reduce our salt usage now, so we don't have to pay for the consequences later, literally and figuratively.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as "environmentally friendly" salt or deicer. We consider this greenwashing which is a national and international issue. Currently, there are no regulations that require truth in labeling for salt and deicing products in the United States or Ohio. You can learn about this complex issue from MeltSnow.com. The best thing you can do is use as little as possible, and use it properly. Keep reading to find out how.
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Salt Smart Tips
Remove the snow.
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Shovel, Scrape, Repeat. Yes, it can be a lot of work, but it is the best way to remove snow and minimize salt usage.
- Don't Let Snow Get Compacted. Shovel early and often before the snow gets compacted or starts to melt and freeze again.
- Choose the Right Tool
Use the right product and amount for the conditions.
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Know When to Use Salt. Typical road salt, sodium chloride aka NaCl, does NOT work below 15 degrees. If it will be below 15 degrees, refer to the chart to choose the right product for the right temperature.
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Use the Right Amount. More salt does NOT equal faster melting - just more pollution and wasted money. Shoot for a 3-inch spread between salt granules. For $10–$20, a hand spreader can make the job easier and more accurate. To be more exact, try to apply no more than 1 pound per 250 square feet of pavement. (Tip: A regular-size coffee mug typically holds about 1 pound of salt.)
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Use Sand for Traction, Not Melting. Use sand when it’s too cold for salt to work. Sprinkle just enough to provide traction on walkways. Sweep up any excess after the ice melts and dispose of in the trash or reuse so that it doesn’t get carried into storm drains. Remember, sand pollutes too. Don't mix sand with salt. They do two different jobs, and they won't work well together.
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Visual: Proper Salt Application | |
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CORRECT Salt Application
Perfection! For people new to this concept, this might not seem like enough at first, but that is all you really need to get the job done.
Very mindful, very demure.
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INCORRECT Salt Application
This is way too much! Once the snow starts melting, the excess will wash into the storm drain. More applied does NOT mean more effective.
Not mindful, not demure.
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If you see an incorrect salt application, say something! Most people aren't aware of this issue. We have template letters on our website you can use to educate the property owners or property management on correct salt application. Bookmark the link below! | |
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Upcoming Events & Happy Holidays!
December is a quiet month for us in terms of events. Franklin Soil and Water's office will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Interested in a monthly digest of volunteer events around the county? Sign up for our Monthly Volunteer Newsletter.
Please enjoy this photo of one of our longtime employees, John Bailey, Geomatics Field Coordinator, impersonating a storm drain. He has seen a lot of storm drains over his 20 years at the District, so he really is an expert... Happy 20 years, John!
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Behind the Scenes at FSWCD: Office Remodel Project
The District has been hard at work remodeling our office this fall. This has been quite a project that required a lot of logistical planning and disruptions this year, but we are almost done.
With a growing staff, while staying in the same office space for over 10 years, we have simply outgrown the space as it was. Additionally, we recently started sharing our office with FLOW and Green Columbus. Many of our summer interns and AmeriCorps service members did not have proper desks in recent years - just a table and a chair. We also simply have run out of storage space for our busy youth education team.
Instead of moving, we decided to renew our lease and stay, but we had to make some changes and updates to make it work and fit our needs for our increased staff and storage. We are replacing our bulky ~1990s cubicles with smaller desks, adding more storage space, upgrading to more energy efficient LED lighting, better window shades to reduce heat loss, painting, replacing old carpet, converting an office to another conference space, adding an ADA front door, and getting new desk chairs. I'm probably missing something; it's a big project!
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Where the cubicles used to be and where the new desks will go | |
The former education team's office will become another small conference room | |
Our meeting space is usually open, has lots of chairs and tables, but it is currently our storage facility! Excuse the mess | |
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During the remodel, our office is still open to the public unless otherwise noted on our social media and website. There may be construction and moving happening. Please note, most staff are working remotely during this time. Most don't have their new desks or offices complete yet! The expected completion time is in early to mid December.
If you need to get in touch, you can still reach out via phone at 614-486-9613 or send us an email via our website.
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December Yardening Tips from Lonnie the Garden Gnome
- The ground is likely too cold to do much this time of year. Enjoy the nice break from yard work!
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Did you disconnect your rain barrel diverter hose? Don't forget to disconnect your diverter and install the winterization plug in your downspout ASAP. Disconnecting is best to prevent your rain barrel from being full of water that freezes, leading to cracking or busting the plastic. If you need a replacement plug, search for "EarthMinded winterization plug" at EarthMindedRainBarrels.com, RainBarrelParts.com, and more.
- This fall and winter, try leaving the leaves! Leaves are packed full of nutrients, and leaving them on your lawn and gardens will put the nutrients back into the soil. They also provide winter habitat for wildlife, insects and pollinators. Remember to keep the leaves out of storm drains. We want the nutrients in our soil, not our waterways.
- Practice the "Salt Smart Tips" that you just learned above.
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| Do you prefer planting native plants in the spring, summer or fall? | | | |
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Mikaela Mohr
Outreach Program Coordinator
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
1404 Goodale Blvd. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212
p: 614-486-9613 | e: mmohr@franklinswcd.org
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