McHenry County Sensible Salting Workshops

Sensible Salting

“The use of Best Management Practices for snow/ice control that maintains safety for pedestrians, drivers, vehicles and property while eliminating the unnecessary use of salt in order to save money and minimize impacts to water and the environment.”

Snow and ice management is critical to protecting lives, promoting public safety, and maintaining commerce during winter.  However, our use of roadsalt and other chloride-based chemical deicers is polluting our water including the groundwater aquifers we depend on for drinking water.  Since there is not currently a viable alternative to chloride based deicers, our best option is to use them wisely.  This is the essence of Sensible Salting best management practices. 

Since 2009 McHenry County and our partners have held Annual Workshops to train staff on Sensible Salting techniques. These Workshops provide a comprehensive overview of current best management practices for snow and ice control on roads. A strong emphasis is placed on Sensible Salting practices that maintain safety on roads while minimizing impacts from chlorides to water, environment, and infrastructure.

McHenry County's

2022 Sensible Salting (for Roads) Workshops

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2022 McHenry County Sensible Salting Workshop. This Workshop provided a comprehensive overview of current best management practices for snow and ice control on roads. A strong emphasis was placed on Sensible Salting practices that maintain safety on roads while minimizing impacts from chlorides to water and environment.

Who: All Staff Involved in Managing Snow and Ice on Roads (including superintendents, managers, plow operators, contractors)

Date: The Workshops were held on Wednesday 11/2 and Thursday 11/3(Both days were fully booked - Thank you!)

Where: Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Workshop Materials:

• Water Resources and Sensible Salting Presentation

• MCDOT Snow/Ice Management and Sensible Salting Presentations

• Anti-Ice Flow Chart

• Deicing Application Rates-Parking Lots and Sidewalks

• Deicing Application Rates-Roads

• Public Roads Snow and Ice Handbook

For more information contact Scott Kuykendall,

McHenry County Water Resources Specialist,

at SHKuykendall@mchenrycountyil.gov

Past Sensible Salting Workshops

2019 Sensible Salting Workshop

DATES:  11/5, 11/6, 11/7

TIME:      8:00 AM - 2:00 PM  *Registration begins at 7:30 AM

WHERE:      McHenry County Division of Transportation, 16111 Nelson Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098

• 2019 WORKSHOP ONLINE REGISTRATION (CLOSED)

• 2019 Workshop Flyer

2018 Sensible Salting Workshop

• Registration is now closed for this event. View the event flyer.

2017 Sensible Salting Workshop 

• Natural Resources and Roadsalt Presentation
• Sensible Salting and Winter Operations Presentation

Water Resources Action Plan (WRAP)

      Section II: Local Water Quantity and Quality

• Subsection B6: Winter Snow and Ice

      Attachments 

• Attachment 2.11: McHenry County Snow and Ice Control Handbook 
• Attachment 2.12: Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual 
• Attachment 2.13: Operators Flip Chart 
• Attachment 2.14: The Snow Fighters Handbook

• Appendix 2.6: Suggested Program Outline for Fall Training Sessions

• Application Rates
• Calibration Chart
• Environmental Impacts from Chlorides
• IMRA - Snow and Ice Powerpoint 

2016-18 Level One Snow and Ice Certified Operators 

2015-17 Level One Snow and Ice Certified Operators

2014-16 Level One Snow and Ice Certified Operators 

2012-14 Level One Snow and Ice Certified Operators

2010-12 Level One Snow and Ice Certified Operators

2009-11 Level One Snow and Ice Certified Operators

Lake County Deicing Preferred Providers List

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