Sudbury advocacy group wants to limit salt used on roads in order to protect the local watershed
As winter winds down and the snow melt begins, the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance is calling on the city to do more to protect our waterways from road salt.
The alliance released a statement indicating its concern that there isn’t enough being done to protect local water systems from exposure.
When road salt migrates after the melt, there is no way from stopping it from entering waterways.
“It’s possible to remove it but is prohibitively expensive – so no one does that and so once it dissolves into the system and you can’t filter it out so the sodium is now increasing in lake Ramsey,” said Richard Witham with the alliance.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
In 2006, the city was one of the first in Canada to implement a procedure to reduce the amount of road salt by using sand whenever possible.
“We try to make sure we look at a very focused watershed level to ensure we’re doing the kinds of things to protect and mitigate the effects of urbanization,” said Tony Cecutti, the general manager of Growth and Infrastructure for the City of Greater Sudbury.
Witham said development around Ramsey Lake is of particular concern.
Officials with the water alliance said they want the city to deem the roads as residential, as they would prefer the use of sand over salt.
“We’re aware there is going to be development within the Ramsey lake sub-water shed but if it’s development that’s only using residential roads then in fact they’re not obligated to salt,” said Witham.
“Then they can sand and as a result we’re not adding to the problem.”
Cecutti told CTV News the city shares the same concerns for the watershed around Ramsey Lake and continue to plan any future developments accordingly.
“Certainty the Ramsey Lake watershed is one where we are anticipating for the most part residential development, so I would say for the most part we will be adhering to that aspirational goal,” said Cecutti.
Even with the upcoming arrival of spring, there is still snow in the forecast – which means the local ecosystems will still have likely weeks of road salt exposure.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.