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Salty runoff’s negative effects on St. Louis streams
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ST. LOUIS — The runoff from years of salting the roads could be affecting the Mississippi River. Currently, chloride is a pollutant found in the river, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) states on its website that the pollutants are getting worse as the years go by, adding that salt is now part of the problem.
Chloride poses a significant risk to Missouri’s freshwater lakes and streams. Because chloride does not degrade or settle out of water, prevention is the only option. As a result, lakes and streams are becoming more salty. At high concentrations, salt, and especially the chloride part of salt (sodium chloride), is bad for fish and other aquatic life. Five liters of water are polluted by one teaspoon of salt.
“It is true that road salt used to melt snow can be carried away by runoff and end up in streams that flow into the Mississippi River and add to the amount of chloride in the river,” said Mike Kruse, Environmental Program Supervisor, Total Maximum Daily Load Unit.
He goes on to say that because the Mississippi River is so big, this extra chloride is often diluted and doesn’t cause Missouri’s water quality standards to be broken.
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The Missouri Water Quality Standards Regulations (10 CSR 20-7.031) say that 230 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of chloride is a safe level to protect aquatic life from long-term toxicity and 860 mg/L is a safe level to protect aquatic life from immediate toxicity.
Chloride is found naturally in lakes and streams, and many animals need it to do important things for their survival. But high levels can cause cells to lose water and nutrients, which can kill fish, amphibians, plants, and other aquatic animals. Excess chloride on land can harm pets, soil, cars, bridges, and other structures.
Kruse said that even though the amount of chloride in the Mississippi River doesn’t go over these limits, some urban streams in the St. Louis area that flow into the river have spikes of chloride that go over these limits during deicing.
“These streams also experience year-round elevated levels of chloride, but below chronic criteria,” said Kruse. “According to the information we have, the highest levels of chloride in the Mississippi River in Missouri can be found just below St. Louis.”
MDNR has some helpful tips to lessen the chloride pollution:
When clearing snow from walks
Apply a liquid deicer before it snows to prevent snow and ice build up.
Shovel, snow blow, plow and sweep early and often. The more snow and ice removed, the less salt needed.
Less is better. A coffee mug full of salt is adequate for a 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares. If leftover crystals are visible, the salt has been over-applied.
Use a handheld spreader that applies salt consistently.
Wait for warmer weather. When ground temperatures are below 15 degrees F, it’s too cold for ordinary sodium chloride to work. At those temperatures, it’s better to use sand.
Use the right deicer. Calcium chloride works at much lower temperatures than sodium chloride.
Sweep up extra salt. If it is visible on dry pavement, it is not doing anything and could be washed into water.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.
Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.
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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.
Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.
Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.
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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.
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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.
The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.
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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.
A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.
The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.
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