Evaluating the impacts of Road Salts on watershed and nearshore environments

Winter road management in the Tahoe Basin relies on application of de-icing compounds such as road salts to improve road safety. Unfortunately, such compounds are known from many field-based studies to have adverse environmental impacts. The main concerns of increased salinity include reduction of infiltration along slopes draining to channels, increased erosion and fine particle transport, ecological and water quality impacts. While research on road salts have evaluated tree mortality and soils along highway corridors, knowledge of the impacts to streams, groundwater and nearshore environments is lacking. Watersheds identified are Incline, Third, Glenbrook and Edgewood.