Project Update: Monitoring Chloride Levels in Starkweather Creek

Last week, we teamed up with Operation Fresh Start, the State Cartographer’s Office, and City of Madison Engineering to highlight our ongoing efforts to monitor and reduce chloride pollution in Starkweather Creek.

Starkweather Creek, which flows into Lake Monona, was designated impaired by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in 2016 due to high chloride levels. Unlike many other pollutants, chloride does not break down over time. Once it enters our waterways, it accumulates, posing long-term risks to aquatic life and the safety of our drinking water supplies.

This year, thanks to a Community-Based Water Research Grant from UW-Madison, we expanded our monitoring efforts by adding conductivity meters that provide real-time data on chloride levels. These sensors offer valuable insight into how quickly and to what extent chloride levels spike during winter storms, helping us understand how salting practices impact our waterways. The data collected shows a direct link between road salting and changes in water quality, highlighting the importance of shoveling thoroughly and using only the necessary amount of salt to protect lakes, streams, and drinking water.

During the site visit, Operation Fresh Start crew members and CARPC staff checked on previously installed monitoring equipment and added a new sensor to strengthen real-time data collection in the creek. Operation Fresh Start, a key partner in this project, is a nonprofit that provides young adults with hands-on conservation and construction training. Over the past year, members of its Conservation Academy have been instrumental in collecting water samples, assisting with data collection, and installing monitoring equipment to support salt pollution research.

Together, we are working to better understand and address chloride pollution in Dane County. By raising awareness and encouraging responsible salt use, we can protect our waterways for future generations.