Coverage on Media Release:
Winter road salt slowly killing a lake, by Marc Montgomery, RCI – Radio Canada
MEDIA RELEASE – For Immediate Release: 10 April 2018
GSWA Road Salt Discussion – Summary Report
SUDBURY – The Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance (GSWA) is pleased to announce the release of its Road Salt Discussion – Summary Report (Summary Report), resulting from the Road Salt Discussion event held on 5 February 2018, at the Vale Living with Lakes Centre. This Summary Report is derived from a transcript of the event, and provides a comprehensive overview of the key concerns, comments, and potential solutions presented at the event to address the growing road salt dilemma.
At the event, GSWA hosted a science panel made up of Dr. John Gunn, Canada Research Chair, Stressed Aquatic Systems and Director of Vale Living with Lakes Centre; Dr. Charles Ramcharan, Associate Professor, School of the Environment at Laurentian University; and Anoop Naik, Water Resources Specialist, with Conservation Sudbury.
The purpose of the event was to raise an awareness, and to explore possible solutions to increasing sodium and chloride levels in Ramsey Lake, a primary source of drinking water for over 50,000 residents in the City of Sudbury. Ramsey’s sodium levels are approaching three times the level at which the Medical Officer of Health must be notified so patients on sodium-restricted diets can be alerted; and chloride levels are rapidly approaching a level that can harm aquatic life.
GSWA has formally expressed concern with the City at every opportunity with regard to the additional winter road salt required to service the Second Avenue Industrial Improvements, the proposed Casino parking lot, and the numerous other road projects proposed in the recent Transportation Study Report. We are also concerned that the Ramsey Lake Sub-Watershed Study is not adequately considering the road salt issue.
As Dr. Gunn reminded us, “with our rocky thin soil, we have very little resistance to the hydraulic changes of climate change, and the current sub-watershed study is not facing this future at all”. He also cautioned that “you can express increasing algae and declining lake water quality as lost property value, a big hit to the tax base – as much money as it might take for instance to build an arena. Lake deterioration is a big deal.”
For an interesting read, check out GSWA’s Road Salt Discussion – Summary Report on our website Blog here (full version): http://GSWA.ca/Blog/
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The GSWA is a not-for-profit volunteer organization of 19 lake, creek and river stewardship groups, working to protect, promote and advocate for sustainable improvements in water quality and healthy watersheds.
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For more information contact:
Richard Denton, Chair
Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance
Email: rdenton@nosm.ca
Tel: 1-705 642-5324 (long distance)