http://www.conservationmagazine.org/2008/07/road-salt-turns-streams-toxic/ Creative Ideas for a Greener Future Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:15:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.conservationmagazine.org/2008/07/road-salt-turns-streams-toxic/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Michael Scugoza Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:50:15 +0000 http://conbio.squaredesign.com/?p=891#comment-40 Most Northern communities would be better served if the road departments simply plowed the roads when temperatures fall below 20 degrees Farenheit. The snow at that temperature does not pack, nor does it adhere to the cold road surface and can simply be plowed off. The plow trucks could spend more time with the plows down thereby doing more removal and reduce wasted time returning to salt sheds. Other benefits would include reducing or eliminating frozen piles of snow at the edges of the road, less salt contamination of the soil and water, and reduced corrosion of bridges, vehicles, and reduced roadway damage. Most Northern communities would be better served if the road departments simply plowed the roads when temperatures fall below 20 degrees Farenheit. The snow at that temperature does not pack, nor does it adhere to the cold road surface and can simply be plowed off. The plow trucks could spend more time with the plows down thereby doing more removal and reduce wasted time returning to salt sheds. Other benefits would include reducing or eliminating frozen piles of snow at the edges of the road, less salt contamination of the soil and water, and reduced corrosion of bridges, vehicles, and reduced roadway damage.

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