Living snow fence utilization is one of the most sustainable
engineering actions DOTs can do along highway corridors. Living
snow fences are designed plantings of trees and/or shrubs and
native grasses along highways, roads and ditches that create a
vegetative buffer that traps and controls blowing and drifting
snow. These strategically placed fences have been shown to be
cost effective in reducing highway maintenance associated with
blowing and drifting snow conditions. This is not a new concept.
As early as 1905 railroad companies planted trees as barriers to
control blowing snow along rights of way. By 1915, the Great
Northern Railway Company had planted over a million trees. In
North Dakota over 96,000 trees and shrubs were established. This
action reduced snow drifting, line closure and helped maintain
an expected level of service along the rail line. Many Highway
road system designs do not take into account the potential of
using living snow fences. It is possible that DOT and/or
consulting designers do