2026 Salt Symposium
The 2026 Salt Symposium marks an exciting new chapter in one of the nation’s leading forums on chloride reduction, winter maintenance, and freshwater protection. Now hosted by the University of Minnesota Cold Climate Stormwater Center of Excellence (CCSCoE), the Symposium continues its long-standing mission of bringing together researchers, public agencies, industry leaders, educators, and practitioners to advance innovative, science-based solutions for managing salt use in cold climates. Building on more than two decades of collaboration and leadership established by Fortin Consulting, the Freshwater Society, and Bolton & Menk, the 2026 Salt Symposium will expand opportunities for research, training, and cross-sector collaboration focused on protecting infrastructure, water resources, and community safety while designing a lower salt future.
Dates: October 27 – 28, 2026; 8am - 4pm Central Daylight Time
Format: Online only (i.e., virtual)
The program will feature researchers, practitioners, agencies, consultants, educators, and industry professionals giving presentations highlighting case studies, policy initiatives, technology advancements, operational practices, training approaches, emerging research, and cross-sector partnerships related to salt management and water resource protection. Topics of interest may include:
- Winter maintenance best practices
- Chloride reduction strategies
- Low Salt Design Strategies
- Stormwater and watershed management
- Sustainable infrastructure and design
- Smart salting technologies and innovation
- Environmental monitoring and impacts
- Public education and behavior change
- Policy, planning, and implementation case studies
- Research and applied science
Registration
Registration for the 2026 Salt Symposium is now open! Please click here to register for the conference. Registration rates are $199 for professionals and $99 for students for the full 2-day conference. Check back soon for the full program and list of speakers.
In partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, registration for the 2026 Salt Symposium ALSO gives you free registration for two optional training workshops!!
MPCA Smart Salting for Property Management certification training
This training is for managers that hire or oversee winter maintenance contractors or staff and environmental professionals. Attendees learn ways they can make property improvements and encourage winter maintenance crews to reduce salt use to save money by protect their properties from damage while maintaining safety and protecting our waters. This 4 hour certification training comes with a 3-year individual MPCA Smart Salting level 1 certification if you pass the test at the end of training.
Date: October 29, 2026
Time: 9am-1:30pm CDT
Cost: Free with Salt Symposium Registration!
MPCA Smart Salting for roads certification training
The MPCA Smart Salting for Roads certification training helps improve operator effectiveness and reduce chloride pollution by providing winter maintenance best practices that keep surfaces safe with less chloride. This training is for city, county & state winter maintenance plow drivers and contractors that plow roads. Attendees will learn how to integrate science with practical winter maintenance for snow removal, material application, salt and snow storage, liquids use and more while minimizing impacts on the environment. Organizations that have attended and implemented smart salting techniques have been able to cut their salt use by 30-70 percent. The 5.5 hour certification training is an online interactive training that comes with a 5-year individual MPCA Smart Salting level 1 certification if you pass the test at the end of training.
Date: November 2, 2026
Time: 8am to 1:30pm CDT
Cost: Free with Salt Symposium Registration!
Interested in Sponsoring the 2026 Salt Symposium?
We invite organizations and individuals to participate as sponsors of the 2026 Salt Symposium. Sponsorship provides a valuable opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to sustainable winter maintenance practices and environmental stewardship while connecting directly with a highly engaged audience of decision-makers, practitioners, researchers, and industry leaders from across the USA, Canada, and beyond. Sponsor support also helps make the Symposium possible by advancing educational programming, supporting student and practitioner participation, and fostering the collaborative exchange of ideas that drives meaningful progress in salt reduction and water quality protection. This guide provides details on sponsorship tiers and benefits.
If you have questions, would like to know more about the Cold Climate Stormwater Center of Excellence, or have feedback and suggestions, please Contact Us!
