ST. PAUL, Minn. — As Minnesota prepares for a snowier and colder winter, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is urging residents to adopt smart salting practices to protect the environment.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a significant shift from the past two years' warm winters due to La Niña conditions, leading to increased snowfall. This change follows the warmest winter on record in 2023-2024 and significantly reduced snowfall last year.

The MPCA highlights that excessive salt use damages infrastructure, harms plant life, and pollutes waterways. To reduce environmental impact, residents are encouraged to shovel and scrape snow manually, use the correct amount of salt, and consider sand for traction below 15°F, as salt becomes ineffective.

The M

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