New study: NH streams are too salty

A new study from University of New Hampshire researchers concluded that 11% of streams in the Merrimack River watershed are impacted by high salt concentrations.

The Merrimack River watershed covers parts of New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

The high salt concentration comes from road salt applied in the winter. However, streams can be especially salty during the summer, especially if there is a drought.

Salt pollution harms plants and animals that live in lakes and streams.

“Too much salt can harm a variety of freshwater organisms, such as wetland plants, invertebrates, amphibians, and fish. Many of the plants and animals that form the base of the food web that support fish are affected. We need as much good information as we can to make informed decisions about how to trade off winter safety with preservation of our riverine habitats.”

- Shan Zuidema, author of the study

There is an ongoing debate about how New Hampshire should manage salt application during the winter.

There are alternatives to road salt, but those alternatives may not be as effective and could lead to other kinds of contamination.

The 2018 Legislature voted to establish a committee to study the use of liquid de-icers and solid salt on roads. That committee has yet to meet.

Do you think New Hampshire should use less road salt to treat streets and highways during its snowy winters in order to prevent contamination of rivers and groundwater? Share your thoughts in the comments below.