The James River Steward’s Almanac

Home Habits

Even in the dead of winter we can take care of the James River, starting right at home.

Be a Friend of the River… use river-wise deicing around your home or business.

To meet the need for safety and mobility in winter’s harsh weather, homeowners, businesses, and the highway department use deicing agents to combat snow and ice.  There is still debate about just how bad salts used for deicing are for our groundwater, soils, and surface waters. However, it is certain these salts can cause breakdown of soil, greater erosion, plant death, harm to freshwater aquatic life, impacts to drinking water supplies, and corrosion to cars and infrastructure. Sodium chloride is the most commonly used deicer, but less environmentally toxic deicers have been developed as well.  One thing you can control is your personal use of deicer around your home. A simple list of tips covers how you can balance your safety with the watershed’s health this winter.

1. Shovel snow often to avoid deicers entirely.
2. Use an environmentally friendly alternative to sodium chloride (“CMA” or calcium magnesium acetate is probably the best).
3. Use as little deicer as needed.
4. Remember that sand becomes sediment pollution if it washes into streams or storm drains. Sweep up residual sand or deicer as soon as it becomes possible to do so.

Learn More:

1. The Safe Road in Winter
2. Chemical Deicers and the Chesapeake Bay (pdf)
3. Deicing from the Environmental Literacy Council

Be a Guardian of the River…get energy efficient this winter.

Water pollution makes us think of stormwater runoff, sewage pipes, manure ponds, and factory discharges. But did you know that using energy causes water pollution too? In producing electricity, several types of pollution are created that effect the James River watershed. First, the warm water used to cool a power plant is released back to the river causing thermal pollution that can affect native aquatic wildlife’s ability to survive and thrive. Second, nitrous oxides released from the smokestack can contribute to the nutrient pollution problem as the nitrogen is deposited to waterways. Third, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen can add to the acidification of headwater streams, and thus the loss of habitat for threatened species. Last, the threat global warming poses to aquatic ecosystems is severe, and every bit of fossil fuel burned contributes its fair share to this problem.

This winter you can save money and help protect the James by taking every opportunity to be as energy efficient as possible.

Ideas on how to reduce your home’s energy use:
1. Winter Tips from the Alliance to Save Energy
2. Winter-Wise Tips from the EPA
3. Cold Weather Planning: Seven Step…