Here in windy Wyoming, snow fences are essential for controlling blowing and drifting snow on roadways. The Laramie County Conservation District initiated the Living Snow Fence Program in 1989 as a means of addressing blowing and drifting snow problems on city, county, and state travel routes while at the same time addressing other natural resource needs within the county. Other benefits include food and shelter for wildlife, which adds diversity to the landscape.

A living snow fence is simply a series of tree and shrub rows arranged in such a manner as to eliminate the need for traditional, significantly more costly snow entrapment structures.

Accomplishments
Since 1989 the number of living snow fences in Laramie County has steadily increased.  A total of 223 living snow fences are now in place.

Funding
The living snow fence program receives funding from the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Laramie County Public Works Department, and corporate sponsors such as Exxon Company, USA and the Union Pacific Railroad.

Methods of Installing a Living Snow Fence

• Site identification is a cooperative effort between the conservation district, representatives of local and state transportation departments, and the local public.
• Contractual agreements are signed between parties involved in the project.
• Initial site preparation is completed in the fall.
• Sites subject to grazing are fenced to protect the seedlings. To accomplish this, the district staff and seasonal employees utilize the district's tractor and post hole auger.
• Temporary snow fence is installed to aid in soil moisture storage for seedlings. 
• Seedling trees and shrubs are planted from April to early June.
• Fabric mulch is placed over each tree row following planting to reduce moisture-competing weeds and grasses.  Fabric mulch also holds moisture in the soil, thereby reducing the need for supplemental watering.

Maintenance
A three-year maintenance program has been established for each site.  During this period, conservation district personnel provide regular inspection and control for insect, disease, and rodent problems, and replant trees that do not survive.

Anti-transpirant materials are applied to sites for three years to aid in winter stress on newly planted trees.

The district completed a comprehensive list of its 223 living snow fence sites by year including the site number, year established, landowner, legal description, and if signage has been installed.  This information is now located on the district's Geographic Information System database.  Also on GIS is a maintenance record keeping system of each site to document every maintenance function performed.

Economic Benefits
The following graph illustrates the economic advantage a living snow fence has over traditional Wyoming snow fence:

Other Benefits
Aside from the economic benefits previously discussed, other benefits derived from living snow fences include:

P Conserving energy expended on snow removal.

P Improving the safety of winter travel in Laramie County.

P Creating wildlife habitat through the establishment of woody vegetation.

P Beautifying the landscape of Laramie County.

BACK TO TOP