Registration Opens for the 2026 New York State Salt Summit

Lake George, NY (August 18, 2026) – Registration is now open for the 2026 New York State Salt Summit, presented by the Times Union, an expanded statewide convening focused on advancing practical, science-based solutions to reduce road salt pollution while maintaining winter road safety across New York.  

Hosted by the Lake George Association (LGA) and Lake George Waterkeeper, the 11^th Annual Salt Summit will take place on Thursday, October 8, at the Crowne Plaza Albany – The Desmond Hotel. After a decade of advancing road salt reduction throughout the Lake George watershed and Adirondack Park, the Summit is moving to the Capital Region and expanding statewide for the first time, bringing science, municipal implementation and public policy closer together. 

“Lake George has demonstrated that we don’t have to choose between clean water and safe winter roads,” said LGA President and CEO Dr. Brendan Wiltse. “Now we’re bringing our experience to Albany to convene the scientists, practitioners, businesses and policymakers who can help accelerate proven solutions across New York State.”  

The full-day program will examine road salt reduction from scientific, operational, environmental and public-policy perspectives, including a state legislative panel; impacts on drinking water; the latest freshwater science; changing winters and climate conditions; a training panel through WIT Advisers Sustainable Winter Management (SWiM)® Academy; salt supply challenges; New York State initiatives; private-sector best practices; and outdoor demonstrations of salt-reduction technologies and practices.

The expanded Salt Summit comes amid growing evidence that road salt pollution is a statewide drinking water issue. Research in the Adirondack Park led by the Adirondack Watershed Institute 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 levels in the New Croton Reservoir – part of a system supplying drinking water to New York City – have tripled in 30 years and, if current trends continue, could reach the State’s maximum contaminant level by the year 2108.  

Lake George has demonstrated both the scale of the problem and that proven solutions work. Long-term research found that chloride concentrations in Lake George tripled over 40 years, largely due to road salt overuse. 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, and Lake George chloride concentrations are now showing signs of stabilization and decline. 

This progress has increasingly fueled advocacy in Albany. Over the past year, the LGA has mobilized nearly 1,000 constituent letters to Albany legislators supporting statewide road salt reduction and transparent monitoring, alongside letter-writing campaigns with partners like the Adirondack Council and Riverkeeper. LGA leaders have also worked directly with state lawmakers to advocate for and advance policy solutions. Moving the Summit to Albany, including a state legislative panel in this year’s program, represents the next step in connecting proven solutions with statewide action.  

The Times Union, the Capital Region’s leading news organization, will serve as presenting sponsor of this year’s Summit, which will remain free to attend with advance registration required. Additional program details will be announced in the weeks ahead. 

Salt Summit partners share their perspectives on taking proven solutions statewide: 

Chris Navitsky, Lake George Association’s Lake George Waterkeeper: 
“More than a decade ago, we brought municipalities, scientists, winter maintenance professionals, businesses and state leaders together to find a better way forward. Since then, we’ve demonstrated science-based solutions at Lake George and helped shape statewide recommendations through the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force. Bringing the Summit to Albany is the natural next step in taking those lessons and accelerating action across New York.”  

Molly Renaud, Times Union Director of Community Engagement: 
“The Times Union is committed to covering the issues that matter most to the communities we serve. The impacts of road salt on drinking water and infrastructure are increasingly important statewide, and we’re proud to support the New York State Salt Summit to help elevate this conversation.”  

Phill Sexton, WIT Advisers Founder & CEO: 
“The past decade of progress has proven what works: ongoing training, measuring & analysis that is consistent and accurate, and following sustainable winter maintenance standards that have been verified to significantly reduce road salt use without compromising safety. The opportunity now is to scale. Bringing the Salt Summit statewide can give more highway professionals and decision-makers the tools and knowledge to implement proven solutions into practice throughout all of New York.”

Register for the 2026 New York State Salt Summit at https://lakegeorgeassociation.org/news-events/events/newyorkstate-salt-summit. Sponsorship opportunities are available at https://lakegeorgeassociation.org/new-york-state-salt-summit-sponsor. For media inquiries, please contact LGA VP of Communications Tim Behuniak at [email protected].  

About the Lake George Association  
Founded in 1885 as the nation’s first lake conservation organization, the LGA represents thousands of constituents as one unified voice speaking for the protection of the Queen of American Lakes. Through science, solutions, community mobilization, strategic partnerships and advocacy, the LGA leads a Continuous Cycle of Lake Protection that safeguards Lake George’s water quality and clarity forever. Together as a community, we are the Voice of Lake George. Learn more: https://lakegeorgeassociation.org.