The February 2018 GreenStep Cities workshop focused on water quality improvements, with discussions on how Minnesota can reach its goal of a 25-percent improvement in water quality by 2025, in part by reducing water contamination through improving the way salt is used to remove ice. The workshop begins with introductions and an overview by GPI’s Abby Finis, then moves into a presentation by Katie Pratt, of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, providing an overview of the 25 by 25 initiative (6:11). Then, Brooke Asleson and Rachel Olmanson from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency(MPCA) discuss the impact that salt can have on water quality (36:48) and MPCA Smart Salt Trainings (53:50). The workshop concludes with Ellen Brenna, City of Shoreview, sharing the City of Shoreview’s snow and ice removal practices (1:26:24).
Learn more about the impact salt has on the environment, assess your city’s own practices, chloride reduction, and check out the salt and water quality fact sheet provided at the meeting.
