Assessment and placement of living snow fences to reduce highway maintenance costs and improve safety (living snow fences).

Details

• Creators:
  Sundstrom, Greg
• Corporate Creators:
  Colorado State Forest Service
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Snow fences
  • Vegetation
  • Snow and ice control
  • Highway maintenance
  • Winter maintenance
  • Trees
  • Shrubs
  • Snowdrifts
  • Guidelines
• Publication/ Report Number:
  CDOT-2015-01
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Colorado
• Corporate Publisher:
  Colorado. Dept. of Transportation
• Abstract:
  Living snow fences (LSF) 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. ; The objective of the study is to equip Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) with the tools and ; knowledge to expand the use of living snow fences. These tools should provide a roadmap for local CDOT ; maintenance staff which includes: Identifying the best locations, Identifying land owners and securing their ; cooperation, Engaging resource agency support of the design and establishment, Insuring initial maintenance, ; Tracking these assets over time and documenting the benefits ; Implementation: ; To initiate the study the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) conducted an informal survey of Colorado Natural ; Resources Conservation Districts, CDOT Maintenance supervisors, and CSFS field offices to inventory existing ; LSFs along Colorado state highways. The inventory identified approximately 177 existing LSFs along state ; highways. Training sessions designed to meet the study objectives were held for CDOT staff in each of five CDOT ; Regional Offices. A notebook entitled “Colorado Living Snow Fence Guidelines and Short Course” was prepared ; and provided to attendees at these sessions. The notebook contained a PowerPoint training presentation with notes ; along with all reference material used for the training. The training sessions were attended by 60 CDOT employees ; and 7 CSFS foresters. Three methods for CDOT to implement a LSF program at either a local or state wide basis ; were provided: Conduct a program entirely within CDOT; involve other partners in an interagency cooperative ; program; or for CDOT to provide funding for another agency to manage and implement a program with this being ; the preferred alternative due to expertise and landowner relationship needs.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29022/dot_29022_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.96 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:629a95899735dc7f78a417bbe65b700851bed82f8de84b7874b82fc7c00847c1