The 2026 New York State Salt Summit, presented by the Times Union, brings together policymakers, municipal and highway professionals, scientists, businesses and environmental leaders to discuss and create practical, science-based solutions that reduce road salt pollution while maintaining safe winter roads.
Now in its 11th year, the summit is moving from the Adirondacks to Albany and expanding statewide for the first time to bring science and public policy closer together. The summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany. The event is free.
What to expect
The full-day summit will examine road salt reduction from scientific, operational, environmental and public-policy perspectives, connecting the latest research with solutions that can be implemented across New York.
Programming includes:
State legislative panel focused on advancing road salt reduction across New York
Drinking water impacts and the latest freshwater science
Changing winters and climate conditions
Highway Academy hosted by WIT Advisers with practical winter maintenance training
Road salt supply challenges and New York State initiatives
Private-sector innovation and best practices
Outdoor demonstrations of salt-reduction technologies and practices
Networking with professionals and leaders from across New York
Additional speakers and program details will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Why road salt matters across New York
Road salt keeps New York moving safely through winter, but its overuse increasingly threatens drinking water, freshwater ecosystems and infrastructure across the state.
Research in the Adirondack Park found that 63% of private wells sampled downslope of state roads exceeded federal and state sodium guidance values, while nearly 70% contained highly corrosive water.
In the Hudson Valley, a 2025 New York City Department of Environmental Protection study found that chloride concentrations in the New Croton Reservoir have tripled in 30 years and, if current trends continue, could reach the state’s maximum contaminant level by 2108.
At Lake George, long-term research found that chloride concentrations tripled over 40 years, largely due to road salt overuse. However, through the Sustainable Winter Management Program (SWiM®), developed with WIT Advisers, some watershed municipalities have reduced salt use by up to 50% while maintaining winter road safety. Today, chloride concentrations in Lake George are showing signs of stabilization and decline.