Mid-Winter Reminder: Salt, Snow, and Protecting Our Drinking WaterÌý

As winter settles in and snow and ice become part of our daily routines, roadÌýsaltÌýand snow removal playÌýan important roleÌýin keeping sidewalks, driveways, and roads safe. However, mid-winter is also a key time to pause and think about how these winter practices canÌýimpactÌýour drinking water sources.Ìý

Why Winter Matters for Source Water ProtectionÌý

It’sÌýeasy to assume that frozen ground protects our water, but winter conditions canÌýactually increaseÌýrisks.ÌýWhen salt is applied to roads, parking lots, and walkways, itÌýdoesn’tÌýsimply disappear. Instead, itÌýbuilds upÌýin snowbanks and on hard surfaces. During warmer days, rain events, or springÌýmelt,Ìýthis salt is carried by runoff into storm drains, creeks, rivers, and groundwater,Ìýmany of which are sources of our drinking water.Ìý

Chloride from road salt is persistent. Unlike some pollutants, it does not break down over time and can gradually accumulate in the environment, making it harder and more expensive to treat drinking water and harming aquatic life.Ìý

Snow StorageÌý

Where snow is piled during winter matters just as much as how much salt is used. Snowbanks oftenÌýcontainÌýa mix of salt, sand, debris, and other contaminants. When snow is stored near catch basins, drainage ditches, watercourses, or wells, melting snow can carry these pollutants directly into water systems.Ìý

Thoughtful snow storage,Ìýaway from storm drains and sensitive areas,Ìýhelps reduce the amount of salt and contaminants reaching local water sources.Ìý

Simple Actions You Can Take This WinterÌý

Everyone has a role to play in protecting drinking water, even during the coldest months. Here are a few easy, effective steps residents can take:Ìý

• Use salt sparingly:ÌýA little goes a long way. One mug of salt is often enough for a standard driveway or sidewalk.Ìý
• Shovel first:ÌýRemove snow and ice mechanically before applying salt—it works better and reduces the amount needed.Ìý
• Sweep up excess salt:ÌýIf salt is visible after ice has melted, sweep it up and reuse it.Ìý
• Choose safer alternatives:ÌýSand or grit can improve traction without adding chloride to the environment.Ìý
• Be mindful near storm drains and wells:ÌýAvoid applying salt near catch basins, ditches, or private wells.Ìý
• Store salt properly:ÌýKeep salt covered and dry to prevent spills and runoff.Ìý

Protecting Water Year-RoundÌý

Winter may feel quiet, but it is a critical time for source water protection. The choices we make now, how we use salt, where we pile snow, and how we manage winter runoff, can all have lasting impacts on the quality of our drinking water.Ìý

By makingÌýsmall changesÌýto our winter habits, we can help ensure clean, safe drinking water for our community today and forÌýour future.Ìý

2025 Water Quality Monitoring Summary

The ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) assesses water quality through surface water and groundwater monitoring programs. These programs test multiple parameters at sites throughout the watershed, providing a good overview of long-term data and trends in water quality.

Phosphorus in our WatershedÌý

This January, the ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA), with support from the Canada Water Agency, launched “Phosphorus in our Watershed,” a specialized educational initiative for local Grade 9 Science students. In this three-part program, UTRCA Community Education staff reached nearly 100 students across four classes in the northern part of our watershed at Stratford District Secondary School and St. Michael Catholic Secondary School. Ìý

Phosphorus in our Watershed invites high school students to examine how agricultural phosphorus fertilizers run off into local waterways and result in harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie. The program is delivered through three consecutive in-class sessions involving a watershed simulation game, an interactive erosion experiment, and a hands-on project that tasks students with managing the environmental footprint of a farm. The program encourages students to weigh the effectiveness of various conservation strategies against the economic and operational realities of modern farming. It concludes with formal group presentations where students defend their chosen strategies, demonstrating proficiency in critical thinking, communication, and environmental stewardship.Ìý

By focusing on the Thames River’s downstream impact on Lake Erie, the program teaches students how land use can have broad and far-reaching impacts on the health of our water. The program highlights local farmers who champion Best Management Practices (BMPs), farm practices that help curb nutrient loss from farms without compromising the viability of agricultural operations. By implementing strategies such as planting cover crops to hold soil in place, establishing buffer strips along creeks to filter runoff, or using precision nutrient management to apply fertilizer more accurately, BMPs can significantly lower the amount of phosphorus that reaches the Great Lakes, as well as deliver potential benefits to farmers such as improved soil health and long-term fertilizer savings. Understanding BMPs allows students to see that environmental protection is not about stopping human activity, but rather about refining our methods to ensure long-term ecological resilience.Ìý

ThisÌýprogramÌýis offered at no cost toÌýparticipatingÌýschools and is designed to meet specific Grade 9 Science curriculum expectations while fostering 21st-century competencies.ÌýItÌýserves as a vital bridge between the classroom and the community, empowering the next generation to take an active role in protecting our shared water resources.Ìý

UTRCA’s education work on phosphorus extends beyond this Grade 9 initiative and includes complementary programming for other grade levels, teacher professional development, and tools/resources that help educators bring local water quality topics into the classroom. UTRCA also connects learning to stewardship actions that build understanding and responsibility for protecting waterways and downstream Great Lakes health.Ìý

Christmas and Winter for the AnimalsÌý

In December and January, ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) Education staff were delighted to host over 600 Kindergarten, Grade 1 and 2 students for our Christmas for the Animals and Winter for the Animals programs at Fanshawe Conservation Area. The wintery weather certainly cooperated with us, leaving a snowy landscape for the students to explore and enjoy!Ìý

Students made lasting memories of meeting new forest friends during a puppet show, who shared with the students their winter survival strategies. Then there is a read aloud story time and,Ìýdepending on the program selection, a song that had students jingling bells while singing about sleighÌýrides, orÌýsinging a catchy tune that reinforces what our bird friends do when it starts to snow!ÌýÌý

Outside, students had the opportunity to feed local winter birds developing an understanding and empathy for the animals that stay active in the winter months. Students also searched for signs of local wildlife, left gifts of sticks and leaves in piles for our new puppet friends, and made snow-angels to celebrate this snowy season!Ìý

To see more photos, visitÌýourÌýÌý

Do You Have Invasive Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed, or Phragmites on Your Property?

The ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ (UTRCA) Invasive Species Collaborative Program Opportunity

• Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum),
• Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), and
• Phragmites (Phragmites australis).

As part of this initiative, we are reaching out to landowners whose property may be affected by or could have a role in the control and long-term management of these highly invasive species, and is located along the Thames River.

Giant Hogweed poses significant ecological and public health risks. When its sap is exposed to sunlight, it can cause severe skin irritation, burns, and long-lasting scars. Environmentally, these species outcompete native vegetation, disrupt biodiversity, and contribute to riverbank erosion. Effective management requires timely identification, safe handling, and sustained control efforts across both public and private lands.

• Surveying and mapping Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed, and PhragmitesÌý populations along the Thames River corridor,
• Participating in voluntary identification, education, and monitoring events in your area, and
• Potential collaboration with UTRCA on invasive species control, under mutually agreed-upon terms.

Your participation is vital. A collective, landscape-level approach greatly improves the effectiveness and long-term success of invasive species control efforts. Additionally, your support will strengthen our funding initiative, demonstrating strong community collaboration and landowner engagement.

Are you interested?ÌýPlease complete the following form:

Contact:ÌýRob Davies, Supervisor, Forestry and Restoration, or call 519-451-2800 ext. 243.