As part of an Ecological Risk Assessment, Summit determined the influence of salt-contaminated groundwater upwelling on vegetation and wildlife habitat downgradient from a road salt storage facility. This included developing and executing a vegetation sampling strategy to determine relative species richness, abundance and grazing intensity in native grassland, hay field and grazed pastures. Sampling design considered effects of salt contamination from point source, effects of intensive grazing and other agricultural practices, and other site variations that influence plant response. Soils at each site were classified and tested to determine chemical and physical properties as they relate to vegetation growth. Also completed a survey of amphibians in the study area and evaluated tolerance to salinity.
