With the melting snow comes a hazard to our waterways

The ice and snow that fell on the D.C. area during last month’s storm is finally starting to melt. The ice dunes that have been on the sides of streets for weeks are slowly shrinking. But as the melting continues, there’s a danger that’s seeping into our waterways.

“Salt is the biggest enemy of fresh water that there ever was,” said Sujay Kaushal, a professor of geology at the University of Maryland. “It’s a very pressing issue. I’d say salinization issues are the oldest, most boring but...