Deicing salts are commonly applied during the winter months to prevent roads and sidewalks from freezing and increase traction. Once dissolved in run-off, dissociated chloride ions can rapidly enter aquatic ecosystems, leading to increased salinity that can be toxic to aquatic macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates are crucial organisms at many trophic levels within aquatic ecosystems, and these organisms are sensitive to elevated salinity. By impairing macroinvertebrate communities, increases in salinity caused by salts threaten entire aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of deicing salt on the salinity of five freshwater ecosystems on the campus of Kent State University. Additionally, chronic toxicity tests assessed how pond snails (Lymnaea stagnalis) tolerated these levels of salinity. We hypothesized that the increased concentrations of chloride ions would negatively impact pond snail growth and survival. Water samples from five locations were collected following a snow event and were measured for conductivity and ionic content. Individual snails (1-3 days old) were introduced to these water samples, and growth and mortality were monitored over a period of four weeks. Preliminary data indicates a correlation between road salt usage and increased levels of chloride in Kent waterways.