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LSRCA commissioned a study into salt management design strategies for parking lots. The entire report can be read here: [[LSRCA salt guide]]. <br>The report identified four key design strategies. They may be summarized as: ===Effective Grading===
===Snow Piles===
===Sidewalk Design and Pedestrian Flow=== ===Trees=== *Specifying deciduous [[trees]] will maximize winter sunlight penetration. This will naturally enhance the melting of frozen surfaces, limiting the need for winter maintenance.
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To address this gap, LSRCA and its partner agencies identified a need for a guideline document that could be used by designers, regulatory agencies, owners, contractors, and others to consider design elements in the design and layout of parking lots and related infrastructure that can help to reduce the requirement for salt application. This effort culminated in the development of the [https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Parking-Lot-Design-Guidelines/Parking-Lot-Guidelines-Salt-Reduction.pdf Parking Lot Guidelines to Promote Salt Reduction]<ref>LSRCA. 2015.Parking Lot Design Guidelines to Promote Salt Reduction. GHD. 11115623 (2). https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Parking-Lot-Design-Guidelines/Parking-Lot-Guidelines-Salt-Reduction.pdf</ref>.
To address this gap, LSRCA and its partner agencies identified a need for a guideline document that could be used by designers, regulatory agencies, owners, contractors, and others to consider design elements in the design and layout of parking lots and related infrastructure that can help to reduce the requirement for salt application. This effort culminated in the development of the [https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Parking-Lot-Design-Guidelines/Parking-Lot-Guidelines-Salt-Reduction.pdf Parking Lot Guidelines to Promote Salt Reduction]<ref>LSRCA. 2015.Parking Lot Design Guidelines to Promote Salt Reduction. GHD. 11115623 (2). https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Parking-Lot-Design-Guidelines/Parking-Lot-Guidelines-Salt-Reduction.pdf</ref>.
The LSRCA commissioned study into salt management design strategies for parking lots can be read here: [[LSRCA salt guide]]. The report identified four key design strategies. They can be see summarized below:
==Effective Grading==
*Proper grading can minimize the freezing of wet pavement surfaces and prevent melt water from ponding and re-freezing, reducing the need for re-application of salt.
*Areas for vehicular and pedestrian traffic should be [[grading|graded]] between 2 - 4 % to reduce the chances of depressions forming over time ([https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/110191 maximum permitted 5% for AODA]). Small depressions can result in ponded water icing over in the winter.
*Areas for vehicular and pedestrian traffic should be [[grading|graded]] between 2 - 4 % to reduce the chances of depressions forming over time ([https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/110191 maximum permitted 5% for AODA]). Small depressions can result in ponded water icing over in the winter.
*Sub bases should be well compacted for the same reason. Preventing ponding and ice formation reduces the salting requirements for those surfaces.
*Subbase should be well compacted for the same reason.
*In [[winter]] months efficient salt application should be made along the top of slopes; melting snow will carry the salt solution down-gradient.
*In [[winter]] months efficient salt application should be made along the top of slopes; melting snow will carry the salt solution down-gradient.
*Effective [[grading]] can also direct melt water towards strategically placed stormwater collection infrastructure (i.e. [[Overflow|catch basins]], [[Swales|vegetated swales]], [[bioretention]] features, [[Rain garden|landscaped areas]]), preventing salt application in heavy traffic areas that are also pathways for runoff.
*The key to effective stormwater collection during winter is to ensure that melt water from high traffic areas or snow piles does not have to travel great distances to a collection point.
==Snow Pile Location==
[[File: Snow piles.jpg|thumb|Not quite well graded enough; the puddle in the foreground will be ice come nightfall.]]
[[File: Snow piles.jpg|thumb|Not quite well graded enough; the puddle in the foreground will refreeze overnight.]]
*Storage locations for snow piles should be in sunny areas with low traffic.
*Snow piles should be strategically located to minimize the risk of melt water draining across high traffic areas and refreezing.
*Consider grading the storage location to distribute the melt-water as sheet flow over a [[Vegetated filter strips|grass filter strip]] into an adjacent BMP, such as a [[Bioretention|bioretention cell]] or [[Infiltration trenches|infiltration trench]]. In some cases, with careful vegetation selection and adequate drainage, the BMP itself can serve as a snow storage location.
*Storage locations for snow piles should be around the outer edges of parking lots and downgradient from high traffic areas, in sunny areas where possible to accelerate melting.
*Consider grading the storage location to distribute the melt-water as sheet flow over a grass filter strip into an adjacent BMP, such as a [[bioretention|bioretention cell]] or [[infiltration trench]]. In some cases, with careful vegetation selection and adequate drainage, the BMP itself can serve as a snow storage location. Designing specific drainage collection features for snow piles can ensure that melt water is quickly collected in the vicinity of the pile to reduce the opportunity for refreezing.
*Snow storage areas should be clearly marked for seasonal maintenance staff.
*Snow storage areas should be clearly marked for seasonal maintenance staff.
==Sidewalk Design and Pedestrian Flow==
*The design process should consider that pedestrians typically follow the path of shortest distance and do not necessarily use designed walkways. Walkways from adjacent residential areas and transit stops should be prioritized, and unnecessary walkways should be avoided.
*Sidewalks that receive infrequent use could be closed for the winter season.
*Sidewalks that receive infrequent use could be closed for the winter season.
*Maintained sidewalks should be ≥ 1.5 m wide to accommodate plowing and minimize the salting required.
*Maintained sidewalks should be ≥ 1.5 m wide to accommodate plowing and minimize the salting required.
*Using textured pavers can improve grip for pedestrians, again reducing the salt required.
*Using textured pavers can improve grip for pedestrians, again reducing the salt required.
*In busy areas around building entrances, covered walkways and heated mats also reduce salt requirements.
*In busy areas around building entrances, covered walkways and heated mats also reduce salt requirements.
==Other vegetation==
==Landscaping Features==
===Trees===
*Landscaping features (i.e. [[Swales|vegetated swales]] or [[Rain gardens|landscaped islands]]) can lead to a reduced requirement of salt application by reducing the amount of paved surface.
*Specifying deciduous [[Trees: List|trees]] along walkways and near snow piles will maximize winter sunlight penetration. This will naturally enhance the melting of frozen surfaces, limiting the need for winter maintenance.
*Coniferous [[Trees: List|trees]] can be used to create treed wind breaks along the site perimeter to avoid snow drifts.
===Other vegetation===
Vegetation varies in its reaction to soils with high salinity:
Vegetation varies in its reaction to soils with high salinity:
*Salt in soil water generally makes it more difficult for roots to take up water. This phenomenon mimics drought conditions for the plant.
*Salt in soil water generally makes it more difficult for roots to take up water. This phenomenon mimics drought conditions for the plant.
*If passing traffic sprays salty water onto [[plants]] it can reduce cold hardiness in buds and new twigs. These then become more susceptible to freezing, mortality or deformation.
*If passing traffic sprays salty water onto [[plants]] it can reduce cold hardiness in buds and new twigs. These then become more susceptible to freezing, mortality or deformation.
*In high enough concentrations, sodium and chloride can also be directly toxic to plants. In some species the ions are absorbed by the plant and build up in the leaves causing them to die.
*In high enough concentrations, sodium and chloride can also be directly toxic to plants. In some species the ions are absorbed by the plant and build up in the leaves causing them to die.
Generally, the vegetation growing closest to the source will be most strongly affected by salt. Plants actively growing in late winter (when salt levels are highest) are also more significantly affected. So, warm season [[Graminoids: List|grasses]] offer an advantage over cool season grasses, because they emerge later in the spring when excess salt has been flushed away.
Generally, the [[vegetation]] growing closest to the source will be most strongly affected by salt. Plants actively growing in late winter (when salt levels are highest) are also more significantly affected. So, warm season [[Graminoids: List|grasses]] offer an advantage over cool season grasses, because they emerge later in the spring when excess salt has been flushed away.
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