The Foodshed Alliance program known as the Paulins Kill Watershed Community is once again partnering with organizations throughout the Delaware River watershed, Pennsylvania and beyond to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of road salt. As part of this multistate initiative, volunteers will help sample local streams to collect chloride and conductivity data.
This “Salt Snapshot,” coordinated and analyzed by the Stroud Water Research Center, will produce a high-resolution map of salt concentrations in streams and groundwater across the region.
See the map for Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 Paulins Kill and regional results.
Why Does It Matter?
Road salt can degrade drinking water, corrode infrastructure and threaten the health of lakes and streams and their wildlife. For over 20 years, scientists and communities have studied the effects of road salt to understand its impact on local water systems and to explore ways to reduce its harm.
In gathering relevant data, the Paulins Kill Watershed Community can promote safe and balanced salting policies.
Who Is Involved?
The Foodshed Alliance’s Paulins Kill Watershed Community program, along with community science volunteers, will conduct the stream sampling. The event is free and open to all who want to participate.
Where It Willl Take Place
The Salt Snapshot event will take place over the course of two days at Memory Park in Newton.
The first date is Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a back-up rain date of Oct. 16. The subsequent date is Oct. 18, also from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a back-up rain date of Oct. 19.
Volunteer Opportunity
Community members are encouraged to join this hands-on science environmental effort. Volunteers can arrive anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to pick up supplies and receive site assignments. Sign up as a volunteer here.
