Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program:
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Freshwater salinization is a major concern in temperate climates where road salt is used to manage snow and ice on roadways. Our recent work in the greater Boston area showed that impervious cover is the major driver of stream conductivity, although conductivity may be modulated by human behaviors (e.g., sidewalk salting, road sweeping). Sensor data provided evidence that conductivity varies with discharge, with high pulses during winter storms and evidence of dilution during other times of the year. Recently, the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) purchased conductivity sensors, and they are deploying them upstream and downstream of potential salt sources (e.g., road crossings) to better understand acute and chronic disturbances. This project will (1) assess effects of road crossings on conductivity across seasons and storms, and (2) compare benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages upstream and downstream of road crossings to understand potential effects of road salt on stream ecosystems.