If you’ve traveled across our great state, you’ve likely seen a living snow fence: An area of trees, shrubs, and/or native grasses that have been planted at critical locations—typically along public travel roads, or around communities and farmsteads—to trap and control blowing and drifting snow.
Through the Wyoming Living Snow Fence Program, we’re working to add even more!
Established in 1998, the Wyoming Living Snow Fence Program is a cooperative effort between the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), Wyoming State Forestry Division (WSFD), local Conservation Districts, and private landowners to cover the costs of planting and maintaining living snow fence projects throughout the state.
The program provides funds to cover the costs of planting and maintaining Living Snow Fence projects, which help keep Wyoming’s roads safe and open during periods of adverse winter weather, as well as reduce highway maintenance expenditures.
To date, 57 projects have been installed and will protect 55,529 feet of public roadway upon establishment.
Advantages of living snow fences
Program requirements
Preliminary project proposals are due by March 30 each year
- Proposed sites must be located along state maintained highways (includes interstates)
- Land ownership can be private, state or federal
- Local Conservation District must be contacted for proposal development
- All proposals must be pre-approved by the WYDOT District office
- 30-year easements and maintenance agreements are generally required
Proposals are reviewed for technical aspects and site characteristics related to tree growth by the Wyoming Living Snow Fence committee.
If approved, project installation and maintenance requirements are identified when the contract is signed.