Minneapolis locals are being urged to say "so long" to salt this winter and "hello" to more eco-friendly options. As ice threatens the steadiness of every step, neighborhood associations are linking arms to tackle the toxic love affair with road salt – a culprit in waterway pollution and a tormentor to our aquatic friends. The East Isles and the Wedge neighborhoods are spearheading the change, offering residents a greener alternative to the traditional ice melter.
Henry LaBounta, a board member of the East Isles Neighborhood Association and a former Californian, is all too familiar with the ravages of salt on Minneapolitan sidewalks, "I saw a lot of salt on some of the sidewalks. We end up walking in the street sometimes," he told CBS Minnesota. Noting the detrimental effect salt has on the local Lake of the Isles, he added, "What a beautiful lake! And it just kills me to think eventually, will we kill a whole lake if we use enough salt over the next years."
The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization has extended a grant to these communities, giving rise to free traction grit available at Frattallone's Hardware & Garden. Marne Detmar, an employee of the hardware store, highlighted the growing popularity of the salt alternative, "The grit has gotten way more popular now that the word has gotten out about it, with the association doing some free giveaways," she explained.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency keeps its eye on the prize: reducing salt use dramatically. They offer a Smart Salting training program that has already helped organizations cut their salt habit by 30 to 70 percent. The hands-on certification program for winter maintenance pros is more than just a nod to the environment – it's an intensive 5.5-hour deep dive into best practices and advanced techniques for taming the elusive ice in the most sustainable manner possible.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency asserts one teaspoon of the stuff contaminates five gallons of water – with no take-backs. Prepping for the wintery onslaught by shoveling early and regularly is also emphasized as the first line of defense against ice. "Anything we can do to protect that beautiful resource is worthwhile for sure," LaBounta added, championing the effort to safeguard Minnesota's water gems.
