Road salt guidelines need review to protect food chain in lakes

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-04/yu-rsg040915.php

Public Release: 9-Apr-2015
York University

Salt used for winter road maintenance in Canada could wipe out water flea populations that keep our lakes clear of algae and feed the fish, a recent York University study has revealed.

"These water fleas are like little living lawnmowers in our lakes. They 'graze' the entire volume of lakes many times during the summer, passing what they've eaten up the food chain to fish," explains Professor Norman Yan, to stress the importance of the water flea's role in the ecosystem.

The study, conducted at Yan's lab in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, suggests that lake and highway authorities consider adjusting road salt use protocols to protect aquatic life such as the water flea, by taking the nutritional status of the lakes into account. In particular, the study suggests revising the Water Quality Guideline for chloride, especially for lakes near winter-maintained roads on the Canadian Shield that tend to have very low nutrient levels.

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