On my first winter in Grand Forks I wondered about the lack of salt use.
I’m not sure if sand and gravel were chosen for its economic value or environmentally-friendly manner, as opposed to salt, though I’m sure insurance companies certainly enjoy the number of cracked windshields.
I never thought I’d appreciate salt as much as I do now until this past winter.
Driving down the highway, the solid clink sounding off my windshield as a small pebble leaves its mark has me wincing.
To me, it reminds me of the “caressing” sounds of nails on a chalkboard.
But if the chipped paint on my car and small cracks in the window didn’t irk me, the flying sand blowing into my eyes certainly does.
While there are city workers diligently sweeping the roads, and to which I very much appreciate, windy days still kick up the dirt and has it whirling around in every which direction.
Walking to work with my eyes partially closed behind my sunglasses isn’t the easiest.
My argument is that salt, though it can certainly be as destructive to a car as pebbled sand when it’s first distributed, melts with the snow.
It doesn’t add to that layer of dirt waiting under the snow to pick up during spring.
And now that I think about it, couldn’t the salt be used to keep the deer off the highway?
Or not.
But yes, there are pros and cons to both applications of salt and sand.
Though I’m all for salt, I do understand its negative impact on the environment and the potential of it entering streams and endangering neighbouring animals.
Nestled in such a beautiful place, I can understand why salt isn’t used.
However, sand requires repeated applications, and as the city has shown, much cleanup after the fact.
Unfortunately, there’s still no middle ground at this point.
On a completely different tangent, I’ve decided I will be attempting my hand at growing some flowers. I’ll hold off on my garden until next year…let’s see if the flowers survive first.
– Cassandra Chin is reporter for the Grand Forks Gazette.