Vermont Public is independent, community-supported media, serving Vermont with trusted, relevant and essential information. We share stories that bring people together, from every corner of our region. New to Vermont Public? Start here.

© 2024 Vermont Public | 365 Troy Ave. Colchester, VT 05446

Public Files:
WVTI · WOXM · WVBA · WVNK · WVTQ · WVTX
WVPR · WRVT · WOXR · WNCH · WVPA
WVPS · WVXR · WETK · WVTB · WVER
WVER-FM · WVLR-FM · WBTN-FM

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact hello@vermontpublic.org or call 802-655-9451.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Public Post is a community reporting initiative using digital tools to report on cities and towns across Vermont.Public Post is the only resource that lets you browse and search documents across dozens of Vermont municipal websites in one place.Follow reporter Amy Kolb Noyes and #PublicPost on Twitter and read news from the Post below.

Winter Stormwater Tips From Franklin County

Amy Kolb Noyes
/
VPR
Franklin County Stormwater reminds us to think about water quality when cleaning up snow and ice.

Did you know most salts won't melt ice when the temperature is below 15 degrees Fahrenheit? Or that cracked corn is a good traction alternative to sand or kitty litter?

Stormwater management may seem like a summer problem, but the education and outreach collaborative Franklin County Stormwater says stormwater is an issue even in the forms of ice and snow. The group has some creative tips to help you manage stormwater – be it the frozen or liquid kind – around your home.

"Stormwater pollution is a year-round concern," the collaborative's website states. "We may sand and salt to control winter’s climate but after the ice melts the remaining materials can get into our waterways and pose a threat to the health of our streams and fish."

Franklin County Stormwater offers the following tips to managing ice and snow on driveways and walkways:

  • Shovel early. The more snow and ice you remove, the less salt you will have to use and the more effective it can be.
  • More salt does not mean more melting. Apply appropriately, salt takes time to work. Consider purchasing a hand-held spreader to help you apply a consistent amount.
  • Fifteen degrees Fahrenheit is too cold for salt. Most salts stop working at this temperature. Use a traction agent as needed, but remember they do not melt ice.
  • Sweep up excess. Salt or sand on dry pavement is no longer doing any work, sweep it up before it is washed away and apply less the next time.
  • Try an alternative for traction. Sand and kitty litter are effective but can clog sewers and degrade stream habitat when washed away. Cracked corn can be an alternative to try that is more environmentally friendly.
  • Understand what’s in it. All de-icers will melt the ice but some have less of an impact on the environment. Instead of sodium chloride or calcium chloride use products containing an acetate, potassium chloride, or magnesium chloride.
Amy is an award winning journalist who has worked in print and radio in Vermont since 1991. Her first job in professional radio was at WVMX in Stowe, where she worked as News Director and co-host of The Morning Show. She was a VPR contributor from 2006 to 2020.
Latest Stories