ANNUAL ROAD SALT DEICING CONFERENCE

Burlington--On Oct. 10 University of Vermont (UVM) Extension, Lake Champlain Sea Grant and the City of South Burlington will host the second annual Lake Champlain Watershed Deicing Conference.

This day-long educational event will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Dudley H. Davis Center on the UVM campus in Burlington, and conclude at 2:30 p.m. following best practice and product demonstrations at the Aiken Forestry Lab at 705 Spear St. in South Burlington. Exhibitors from a variety of businesses will share their products and services with participants throughout the day.

Although open to everyone, the event targets municipal road maintenance staff, private winter maintenance contractors and watershed groups, elected officials, businesses and nonprofits tasked with decision-making or public education about deicing roads, driveways, sidewalks or parking lots in local communities. 

The deadline for registrations is Oct 2. The cost is $20 per person. For more information and to register, visit http://go.uvm.edu/roadsalt. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, please contact Kris Stepenuck, Lake Champlain Sea Grant Extension leader, at (802) 656-8504 by Oct. 2.

"As chloride increases in Lake Champlain and its tributaries, it is important that we help local businesses and communities to understand best practices that continue to keep us safe, yet reduce use of salt," explains Stepenuck. 

Guest speaker, Patrick Santoso, from New Hampshire's limited liability "Green SnowPro" program, will share best management practices for winter maintenance that help reduce contractor spending and use of salt while at the same time protecting public safety and the environment. Participants also will learn about recent research, water quality findings and case studies from industry and municipalities from speakers from New York, Quebec, New Hampshire and Vermont.

UVM graduate student, Holden Sparacino, who will present his research findings from a study of private contractors across the Lake Champlain Watershed notes, "There are a number of snow removal practices that are more efficient, save time and use less salt. This conference will help snow removal professionals understand new practices that will reduce costs and materials used, and help decrease environmental impacts from road salt."

This event has been approved for conference participants to earn six Certified Snow Professional continuing education credits through the Snow and Ice Management Association.Princeton Hydro has donated one $100 Amazon gift card, which will be awarded through a drawing, to incentivize snow management professionals to participate.

In addition to the event co-sponsors, Green Mountain Water Environment Association and Watershed Consulting, LLC, also are supporting this event.