The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released the latest episode of “DEC Does What?!”, the bi-weekly podcast that features conversations with DEC experts about the agency’s wide-ranging efforts to protect New Yorkers and the environment. Episode 18 — “Don’t be Salty New York!”— focuses on the use of rock salt on roadways and sidewalks, which is necessary for safe and efficient travel during snowy New York winters but can have negative impacts on lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and groundwater.

DEC encourages New Yorkers to reduce rock salt use on private properties and support local highway departments in advancing strategies and choosing equipment that will help reduce the need for as much salt on highways. In this episode, hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by Julie Berlinski, a research scientist with DEC’s Bureau of Water Resource Management, and Division of Water environmental program specialists Alene Onion and Leila Mitchell, to discuss the need for salt use reduction and how to do it.

Julie, Alene, and Leilia provide background on the Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act and the work of the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force, created in 2020 in recognition of the need to reduce the use of road salt in the Adirondack Park. The trio also discuss how, in 2024, DEC made up to $15 million in Clean Water Infrastructure Act funding available to eligible applicants to support best management practices for road salt reduction and salt storage as part of the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program.

Episode 18 also spotlights the latest environmental news and DEC initiatives, including ice fishing, great winter hikes, encouraging New Yorkers to be aware of winter hiking safety, and DEC’s paint collection program.

All episodes of “DEC Does What?!” are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms.

For more information on "DEC Does What?!," visit the DEC podcast webpage.