2/26/10 SALT DAMAGE

BEATIFuL MARE'S TAIL CLOUDS
DIEING WHITE PINE
DEAD PINES

Saturday, 9:00 AM. 31 degrees, up 5 degrees from earlier. Wind NNE, mostly calm but picking up. The sky is overcast n the east, with some beautiful mare’s tail clouds overhead. The barometer predicts snow.
One of the most prevalent problems with conifers, and some deciduous trees and shrubs as well, is damage from road salt. These white pines along Hwy 13 south of Bayfield are dead or dieing from salt spray carried from the highway on prevailing winds. Some species are naturally more tolerant, such as Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestrus) because they adapted to ocean spray in their native environment. Reducing the use of road salt, within safety tolerances, or using less damaging formulations should be an environmental priority for states and municipalities, not only to protect vegetation but also to reduce salt runoff into streams and lakes.