DMV Winter Salt Week

Join us on January 31st between 10am-1pm to learn how salt affects our health and freshwater ecosystems, what’s being done, and how we can support local efforts. During the event we will hear from regional expert speakers, monitor the local waterways in Gaithersburg, Maryland for road salt pollution, and learn how much salt is needed to keep us safe during the winter while keeping environmental health in mind. Members of the media, government officials, nongovernmental organizations, and members of the public are invited to this event.

Much of the event will take place inside with stream monitoring and parking lot demos taking place outside at 10:45am and 12:15pm. Speakers are scheduled to speak at 10 and 11:30am (see agenda below). Local organizations will have tables with information, and volunteer water monitors, government officials, NGOs, and other stakeholders will be available for interviews and discussion about road salt. If you are a stakeholder, we invite YOU to attend and offer your perspective!

While this event is free, we ask that you please register in advance so that we can notify you in case of cancellation due to inclement weather.

10am-10:45am Speakers:

• Jared Mott, Izaak Walton League of America Interim Executive Director
• Amy Stevens, Montgomery County Water Restoration Division Chief
• Kishia Powell, WSSC Water General Manager/CEO
• Michael Nardonilli, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin Executive Director
• Sarah Kogel-Smucker, Montgomery County Climate Change Officer

11:30-12:15pm speakers:

• Greg Sandi, Maryland Department of the Environment
• Ben Rhoades, Reston Association
• Jason Swope, Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council

• WSSC Water
• City of Rockville
• Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
• Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
• Northern Virginia Regional Commission
• Friends of Sligo Creek
• Rock Creek Conservancy
• Muddy Branch Alliance
• Izaak Walton League of America

• Speakers: Expert speakers are scheduled to speak at 10am and 11:30am.
• Water Monitoring of the Muddy Branch (10:45 am - 11:30 am and at 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm)
• Side Walk Salting Demonstration (10:45 am - 11:30 am and at 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm)
• Indoor Activities: Organizations will be tabling indoors in the Great Hall throughout the event with water monitoring and salt-related activities and are available for questions, interview, and comments.
• Water Sample Testing: Bring in a water sample from a local stream or from your tap to have it tested for chloride (a component of road salt pollution).

The Impacts of Too Much Salt

Although salt keeps our roads safe during winter, using more salt than needed comes at an expensive price to our waterways, our infrastructure, and our drinking water. Winter salt runs off the roads and becomes a permanent pollutant in our waterways. Only one teaspoon of road salt permanently pollutes five gallons of water.

Data compiled by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin shows a 10-fold increase in chloride (a chemical released from the breakdown of winter salt) in the Potomac River at Great Falls over the past 80 years.

There are 28 streams in Maryland considered impaired by chloride.

This event is brought to you by the Izaak Walton League of America, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.

Winter Salt Week:

This in-person event is part of a larger event, Winter Salt Week, which runs from January 26-30, 2026 with livestreams from experts across the country each day. Winter Salt Week is a collaboration of governmental and non-governmental organizations across the United States and Canada with a goal to raise awareness around salt pollution and reduction solutions. An informed public can support the adoption of best practices in snow and ice control and advocate for the protection of freshwater resources.

To learn more about Winter Salt Week and register for livestreams, please visit: www.wintersaltweek.org.

Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Gaithersburg, Virtual events in Gaithersburg.