In cold climates, road salt (most commonly sodium chloride (NaCl)) is widely applied during winter to maintain safe roadways and sidewalks. Long-term use has resulted in elevated Cl concentrations in surface waters and groundwater aquifers, creating multiple water quality challenges. Elevated Cl can negatively affect aquatic ecosystems through both chronic and acute toxicity, accelerate corrosion of infrastructure, and worsen secondary water quality issues by mobilizing metals and nutrients. Despite these impacts, NaCl remains the most used de-icing agent due to its low cost and effectiveness, while alternative products are often less effective or carry additional environmental trade-offs. Consequently, it is important to evaluate the trade-offs between management strategies that determine whether applied salt infiltrates into groundwater or is rapidly transported to surface waters through overland flow and stormwater systems. Infiltration through soils and groundwater transport leads to delayed Cl transport (months to decades) and eventual chronic, year-round Cl loading to streams, whereas runoff and stormwater conveyance typically produce seasonal higher-concentration Cl spikes during winter and spring. This research evaluates the trade-offs between strategies that promote infiltration and result in Cl inputs to groundwater, and those that promote rapid runoff to surface waters with respect to aquatic toxicity, infrastructure corrosion, contaminant mobilization, and surface water supply. Results aim to inform stormwater management decisions such as the choice between enhanced infiltration low-impact development practices and conventional conveyance stormwater systems.