On March 3rd, the Town Run Watershed Group joined the West Virginia Water Network Virtual Social Hour to share our ongoing work and discuss how we have intergrated the Salt Watch program into our upcoming storm drain initiative.
This virtual gathering brought together watershed groups from across the state to exchange ideas, strengthen collaboration, and highlight community-based approaches to protecting local waterways.
Salt Watch & Community Water Monitoring
During the event, participants learned more about the Izaak Walton League of America’s Salt Watch program, which helps communities track chloride levels in local streams. Elevated salt levels, often from winter road treatments, can have long-term impacts on aquatic ecosystems, soil health, and overall water quality.
A special thank you to Abby Hileman, Salt Watch Coordinator with the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), who joined the discussion, answered questions, and provided valuable insight into how communities can participate in water quality monitoring efforts.
Her guidance helped clarify how Salt Watch data can be used to better understand and respond to salt impacts in local watersheds.
Simple Actions Make a Difference
One of the key takeaways from the discussion was that small actions at the community level can have a meaningful impact on water quality.
A simple but effective step residents can take is:
Sweeping up leftover road salt after winter weather events.
When salt remains on pavement and washes into storm drains, it eventually reaches streams like Town Run. Reducing this runoff helps protect:
- Aquatic life
- Soil health
- Drinking water sources
- Overall stream ecosystem balance
Expanding Salt Watch in the Region
Town Run is exploring how Salt Watch can be incorporated into our upcoming storm drain education and outreach program, helping expand community awareness and engagement around chloride pollution.
Through continued partnerships and community participation, we hope to increase local monitoring efforts and contribute to a stronger understanding of water quality conditions across West Virginia, where participation in Salt Watch is still growing. Click Here to view local monitoring data on the Salt Watch Map (After opening the Salt Watch map, select your desired date range (for example: Start Date 01/01/2025 and End Date 12/31/2026), click “Filter by Dates,” and then type “West Virginia” or enter your zip code in the search bar to view local monitoring data.)
Watch the Recording Bellow!
If you were unable to attend the virtual social hour, you can still view the full recording here: