Protecting Watersheds in Winter: What You Can Do

​As winter settles in, the challenges to maintaining healthy watersheds shift along with the season. Snow and ice may blanket our landscapes, but that doesn’t mean our efforts to protect water quality and natural ecosystems should pause. In fact, winter is a critical time to take steps that will benefit our local streams, rivers, and lakes.
Here are some ways you can help maintain watershed health during the colder months.

1. Use De-Icing Products Sparingly
Salt and de-icing chemicals are commonly used to keep roads, driveways, and sidewalks clear of ice, but they can have harmful effects on waterways. When snow and ice melt, these products often wash into storm drains, eventually ending up in rivers and streams. Excessive salt can harm aquatic life, alter water chemistry, and damage vegetation.
What You Can Do:

• Use sand, kitty litter, or gravel as alternatives for traction.
• Apply deicers only when necessary and use the least amount needed.
• Sweep up excess salt after the snow has melted to prevent it from washing away.

2. Protect Vegetation and Soil
Bare soil is more prone to erosion, and snowmelt can carry sediment into nearby waterways. This not only depletes valuable soil but also disrupts aquatic ecosystems by clouding water and covering habitats.
What You Can Do:

• Keep garden beds and exposed soil covered with mulch or leaf litter.
• Avoid compacting snow over lawns, as it can damage grass and increase runoff.
• If you live near a waterway, maintain a buffer of native plants to filter runoff and stabilize streambanks.

3. Properly Dispose of Snow
It’s tempting to pile snow wherever it's convenient, but snow can accumulate pollutants like oil, grease, and trash, which can enter waterways when it melts.
What You Can Do:

• Avoid dumping snow into storm drains, ditches, or directly into streams and rivers.
• Pile snow in grassy areas where it can melt slowly and filter into the ground naturally.

4. Maintain Your Septic System
Winter weather can make it harder to address septic system issues, but proper maintenance is crucial year-round to prevent leaks that could pollute nearby waterways.
What You Can Do:

• Schedule routine inspections and pumping, if needed, before the ground freezes.
• Keep the area above your septic tank insulated with a layer of mulch or straw to prevent freezing.

5. Be Mindful of Household Water Use
Water conservation doesn’t take a holiday in the winter months. Reducing your indoor water use helps minimize the strain on local water resources and wastewater systems.
What You Can Do:

• Fix leaks promptly to avoid wasted water.
• Use cold water for laundry, when possible, to save energy and water.
• Capture snowmelt or rain in barrels to use for garden watering in the spring.

6. Prepare for Spring Runoff
Heavy snowmelt in the spring can lead to flooding and increased pollution in waterways. Taking proactive measures during the winter can help mitigate these effects.
What You Can Do:

• Install rain barrels or redirect downspouts away from paved surfaces to reduce runoff.
• Maintain gutters and storm drains to prevent blockages.
• Consider aerating your lawn in the fall or early spring to improve soil absorption.

​Why It Matters
Healthy watersheds provide clean drinking water, support wildlife, and protect against flooding. The actions we take during winter—small though they may seem—play a big role in maintaining the integrity of these ecosystems.
By making conscious choices about how we manage snow, salt, soil, and water use, we can ensure that our watersheds remain resilient through the winter and beyond. Together, let’s keep our rivers, streams, and lakes thriving for generations to come.

Author

Sarah Barrow is the Watershed and Outreach Supervisor and the Cuyahoga River Basin Watershed Coordinator at SSWCD