School Resources

Web Resources

Road Salt Runoff Pollution

What happens to all the salt?
In the U.S., road crews scatter about 137 pounds of salt per person annually to melt ice. Where does it go after that

Environmental, Health and Economic Impacts of Road Salt
An article detailing the impact of Road Salt from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

Salt from icy roads is contaminating North America’s lakes
An article from the Washington Post on how road salt is contaminating lakes

Aquatic Life Reaction to Road Salt
A Science Daily article about how road salt is hurting aquatic life

Road Salt Information
This link takes you to a great article about road salt and pollution in the Washington Post newspaper

Road Salt in the Great Lakes
Another Science Daily page that tells how road salt is ending up in the Great Lakes

Road salt in Lake Michigan
Research the effects of road salt on Lake Michigan

Acid Rain Pollution

Acid Rain
A National Geographic article that details the consequences of acid rain

So Far, Things Going Swimmingly for Trout in N.Y. Lake
An article from the LA Times detailing how an Adirondack nature site is taking small but significant steps toward recovery

Effects of Acid Rain
An article from the United States Environmental Protection Agency detailing the effects of acid rain

Discover Magazine - Acid Rain
Takes you to some great articles from Discover Magazine that tell about acid rain

Learning about Acid Rain
This revised guide is designed to help students better understand the science, cause and effect, and regulatory and citizen action that are part of understanding and addressing acid rain

Fertilizer Runoff Pollution

Harmful Algal Blooms
An article from the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Massive Imbalances Found In Global Fertilizer Use, Resulting In Malnourishment In Some Areas And Serious Pollution Problems In Others
A Science Daily link to the problems with fertilizer run off.

Dead zones
Dead zones are low-oxygen, or hypoxic, areas in the world’s oceans and lakes. Because most organisms need oxygen to live, few organisms can survive in hypoxic conditions. That is why these areas are called dead zones.

The Effects: Dead Zones and Harmful Algal Blooms
An article from United States Environmental Protection Agency about dead zones and algal blooms.

How Fertilizers Harm Earth More Than Help Your Lawn
An article from the magazine, Scientific American

Agricultural Run Off
AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF from Protecting Water Quality

Manure and what it does
Articles from Scientific American

Pollution run off in Wisconsin Lakes
Polluted runoff is Wisconsin's number one water quality problem, degrading or threatening an estimated 90% of inland lakes. Extra phosphorus can wash into our lakes and streams from lawns, farm fields, stormwater and construction sites, roads and other hard surfaces, causing algae blooms, water quality decline, and negative impacts on recreational lake use and lakeshore property values.

Run off and fertilizer use
Many people routinely use fertilizer for crops, gardens, and lawns. What people don't know is that each time they apply fertilizer, the fertilizer seeps through the soil into the water table. This can eventually lead to the contamination of a local water source, like a stream, pond, lake, bay, or ocean.