Chloride from salt used in winter maintenance is polluting surface and groundwater. In Minnesota, 50 lakes and stream reaches are impaired for chloride, and road salt is the largest source. Modeled after the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Smart Salting training, this workshop will cover the impacts of road salt, and policies and practices to reduce the environmental impacts of salt use. This workshop will provide a high level look at winter maintenance best management practices, covering information water resource professionals should know to help reduce chloride impacts from winter maintenance practices.
Presenters
Connie Fortin is the president and owner of Fortin Consulting, an environmental consulting firm. Her company works in a variety of ways to protect water quality. Fortin Consulting has developed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s nationally recognized winter maintenance training programs and training materials, 22 ClearRoads winter maintenance training modules, developed training for the State of Michigan and the City of Madison Wisconsin. Fortin Consulting has trained over 15,000 professionals in winter maintenance with reduced environmental impacts. Connie initiated the “Road Salt Symposium” 20 years ago which has evolved into the Salt Symposium as the topics have expanded to include salt reduction strategies for fertilizer, water softening, dust suppressants and deicing. Connie believes that all voices and points of views are necessary in order for us to reduce our salt use. Industry and government must work together to forge a sustainable path forward and she actively works to bring these entities together to work on the chloride problem.
Carolyn Dindorf is a limnologist and Vice President of Fortin Consulting, Inc. She holds a BA with double majors in biology and chemistry and an MA in biology with a limnology emphasis. Carolyn worked for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and a Soil & Water Conservation District prior to joining Fortin Consulting, where she has worked for 17 years. Carolyn has been working on chloride issues and best management practices for over 25 years. She develops and teaches professional training for winter and turfgrass maintenance with the purpose of reducing chloride and other pollutants. Carolyn has also authored or co-authored several publications on winter and turfgrass maintenance and other topics.
Brooke Asleson has worked at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency since 2007 where she works collaboratively with federal, state, local partners, and research institutions to protect Minnesota’s water resources. Since 2009 Brooke has been working on chloride and water quality issues at the MPCA. The core of that work has been developing partnerships with a wide variety of professionals to develop strategies that reduce chloride while maintaining public needs. Prior to working for the MPCA, she obtained her Master’s degree in Water Resources Science from the University of Minnesota.