"The problem is that the chemical that is mixed into the gravel to retain moisture sticks to all the surfaces like the worst tar you ever encountered. It leaves a dark gray sandy residue on you vehicle that is next to impossible to remove. It has to be power washed off."
Typically it's calcium chloride sprayed onto the surface and yes it's sticky. They use it on the roads here on the wet side of the mountains in the winter and it's just as sticky as an ice melt as a dust pallative.
Good coat of wax goes a long ways to keeping it form sticking. In the winter, I shoot the bottom half of the nice cars with spray wax pretty much every wash, makes removal easy.
It's not as sticky as the "molasses" they use from the paper mills up there, but lasts longer.
What part of Northern Cheeseland are you from?