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→Design Strategies for Salt Reduction
*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.
*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.
*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.<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>.
===Snow Pile Location===
===Snow Pile 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.
*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.
*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.<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>.
===Sidewalk Design and Pedestrian Flow===
===Sidewalk Design and Pedestrian Flow===
*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.<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>.
===Landscaping Features===
===Landscaping Features===
*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.
*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.
*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.
*Coniferous [[Trees: List|trees]] can be used to create treed wind breaks along the site perimeter to avoid snow drifts.<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>.
====Other vegetation====
====Other vegetation====
[[File:Muskogee snowstorm 2021-02-15 Muskogee Civic Center parking structure NE.jpg|thumb|350px|Picture showing an empty parking lot after a winter storm. An example of an area that could be closed off to users reducing the need for salting or other maintenance practices (shoveling, plowing services, etc.)]]
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.
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.
{{:turf}}
{{:turf}}
[[File:Muskogee snowstorm 2021-02-15 Muskogee Civic Center parking structure NE.jpg|thumb|350px|Picture showing an empty parking lot after a winter storm. An example of an area that could be closed off to users reducing the need for salting or other maintenance practices (shoveling, plowing services, etc.)]]
[[File:Brine-Storage-Tank-1-scaled.jpg|thumb|430px|Exampel of three brine holding tanks that can reuse meltwater from salt induced snowmelt to be reused on a pavement surface i na high traffic area. These systems are generally built with corrosion-free materials to maximize the product's lifetime. Photo Source: Camion™<ref>Camion™. 2022. Brine Storage Tank. Accessed 28 Mar. 2022. https://www.camionsystems.com/product/brine-storage-tank/</ref>]]
===Other Design Features===
===Other Design Features===
Other options that can be considered to reduce the amount of salt that needs to be applied in a parking lot include:
Other options that can be considered to reduce the amount of salt that needs to be applied in a parking lot include:
*The use of [[Permeable pavements|permeable pavers]]: these improve drainage and prevent melt water from ponding and refreezing.
*The use of [[Permeable pavements|permeable pavers]]: these improve drainage and prevent melt water from ponding and refreezing.
*Seasonally closing parking areas: many parking lots have areas that are infrequently used outside of the holiday shopping period. These areas can be closed and not maintained through much of the winter season, reducing both the effort and amount of salt required.
*Seasonally closing parking areas: many parking lots have areas that are infrequently used outside of the holiday shopping period. These areas can be closed and not maintained through much of the winter season, reducing both the effort and amount of salt required.
*Shaded Canopies: With roof canopies over major pedestrian walkways and entrances from parking lots to building enclosures, little to no snow or ice will fall in these high-traffic areas, resulting in reduced salt application. Consideration should be taken for the runoff generated from the canopy stormwater or snowmelt when weather begins to warm to limit the potential for of ponding/refreezing on the walkway.
*Conductive Pavement on Walkways/Entrances: Conductive pavements consist of electrically and thermally conductive materials mixed with the dielectric aggregates typically found in standard asphalt and concrete pavements. Once
connected to a power or heat source, these pavements conduct electricity and emit heat to pavement surfaces, melting ice and snow with constant and uniform heat.
*Brine holding tanks: Collection of first flush (high chloride concentration) melt water runoff from a salt induced snowmelt (as opposed to rain and temperature induced snowmelt) has the potential to be beneficial if captured and reused as an anti-icing or pre wetting solution. In order to collect the first flush runoff, an electronically actuated valve controlled by an electrical conductivity sensor would be installed at the desired conveyance point to divert and collect the high chloride concentration runoff into a brine holding tank. The brine holding tank would be placed below ground and a pump could be connected to pump the brine solution into an anti-icing tank or directly used to pre-wet rock salt.
==Parking Lot Friction Testing==
==Parking Lot Friction Testing==