Subscribe Now

Forests floors naturally accumulate a layer of litter, which can include twigs and sticks, leaves, evergreen needles, and other materials. This litter is an important part of the forest, as it provideshomes andnutrients for various plants and animals. The litter also helps to slow the flow of rain water and snowmeltover land, allowing it to [...]

About half of the U.S. population gets their drinking water from groundwater. Not only does groundwater quench our thirst, but it is also important in protecting water quality and quantity in surface rivers and streams – during drier times, these waters are derived almost completely from groundwater supplies. Viewer Tip: In New Hampshire, Vermont, and [...]

Since 1910, overall precipitation in the lower 48 states has increased by ten percent, and the region with the largest increase in rainfall is the Mississippi River basin, which includes the Kansas River.  Because of fertilizer use on farms, lawns, and gardens in the basin, wet years mean that more nitrogen (an ingredient in fertilizer) [...]

Snow on roadways, sidewalks, and driveways can collect many pollutants, including salt, oil, sand, and trash.  Because paved surfaces do not allow snowmelt to soak into the ground, the water runs off into storm drains.  Water that passes through storm drains is not treated before it discharges into local rivers and streams! Viewer Tip: If [...]

More than 64,000 square miles of land drain into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  Development in the Chesapeake Bay watershed leads to changes in the landscape – more roads, driveways, parking lots, and other paved surfaces that do not allow snowmelt to soak into the ground.  Instead, melting snow runs over paved surfaces, picking [...]

Most of the 18 million metric tons of salt used on U.S. roads each year are applied in the Midwest and Northeast, with six states – New York, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – using three quarters of the total! While salt makes our lives easier by keeping roads and sidewalks slip-free, it can [...]

Did you know that Ohio has a generous rock salt supply beneath Lake Erie and eastern Ohio?  Ohio is one of the top salt-producing states in the U.S., with about 400,000 tons being mined each year!  While salt is an important deicer on wintry days, it is important to remember a few tips for making [...]

It is estimated that about 2.5 million tons of salt are applied to roadways in the Chesapeake Bay watershed each year — if that salt were dissolved in fresh water, it would make about 15 billion gallons of salt water!  Salt dissolves easily in water, and when snow begins to melt, salt often ends up [...]

Did you know that Ohio is one of the top salt-producing states in the U.S., with about 400,000 tons being mined each year?  While salt is an important deicer on wintry days, it is important to remember a few tips for making sure excess salt from sidewalks and roadways doesn’t end up in local waters [...]

Salt or sand?  Too much salt on roadways and sidewalks can be carried into storm drains and local waters when snow melts, harming wildlife and damaging plants.  Sand that is carried away with snowmelt or rain can cloud rivers and streams and clog storm drains and ditches.  Unfortunately, both of these non-slip substances have some [...]

Contamination of ground water by road salts is a concern in the Northern US.  Because salt dissolves easily in water, it can seep into our underground water supply.  Salt spray from roads and sidewalks can also damage plants, and when snow melts, salts can be carried into stormdrains and directly to local rivers and streams. [...]

Over 90 percent of Miami Valley residents rely on underground water supplies to provide their drinking water – and over half of all Americans depend on groundwater!  Although groundwater is generally a safe source of drinking water, it is important to remember that some pollutants can find their way into groundwater when it rains. Viewer [...]