LIVING SNOWFENCES ' ' ' PROTECTION THAT KEEPS GROWING TwoYear Growth Responses Davenport WA Demonstr

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LIVING SNOWFENCES . . . PROTECTION THAT KEEPS
GROWINGTwo-Year Growth ResponsesDavenport WA
Demonstration

• Gary Kuhn, USDA NRCS, Spokane WADonald P.
  Hanley, WSU Extension
• Dennis Robinson, USDA NRCS Spokane WA.

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What is a Living Snowfence?

• A windbreak specially designed to trap and hold
  snow

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Windbreaks are common in the great plains
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But not so common in Eastern Washington
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Structural Snow Fence in Wyomingwhere soils are
poor
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Michelin Wind-Hugger Windbreak
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Michelin Wind-Hugger Windbreak
So what wildlife species will use this windbreak
habitat?
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Michelin Wind-Hugger Windbreakmay provide
excellent habitat ?
Crotalus viridis
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Living Snow Fence Demonstration along I-84 in
Southern Idaho
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Rocky Mountain Juniper under dryland conditions
in Eastern Washington
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Note the clean cultivationand fabric mulch
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LSF Demo is located in NE Washington West of
Spokanein Dryland Wheat.
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Living Snow Fence Design-- Davenport WAEach row
of trees contains 133 trees---(Planted April 1,
2003 - Initial Measurements, October 1,
2003)?NORTH_____________________________________
________________________________________Hwy 25 -
approx 9 miles North of Davenport WA______ 100
feet from Road to leeward rowE2 X--X--X--X--X--X-
-X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X
--X--X-E1 X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--
X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--Sample Tree
1 at this end 42 feet between twin
rowsW2 X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--
X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X-W1
X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X--X-
-X--X--X--X--X--X--X--Sample Tree 1 at this
end Windward Side
Sampled every 5th tree. Measured (total height,
crown width, and stem caliper) so that we can
determine any differences between any rows. We
also looked for differences within the row.
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RESULTS

• After one growing season
• Mean height was 22 (14 growth) with no
  significant difference in rows
• Mean diameter was 0.23 with leeward rows better
  than windward rows
• Mean crown-width was 12 with leeward rows better
  than windward rows
• Mean crown volume was 730 cubic-inches with
  leeward rows better than windward rows
• Within row interactions were inconclusive

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RESULTS

• After two growing seasons
• Mean height was 40 (32 growth) with the
  windward row of the East pair significantly
  smaller. Variation in the field was evident with
  the south position being generally less than
  the center or north positions.
• Mean crown-width was 24 with leeward rows better
  than windward rows for both pairs

Year ONE
Year TWO
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Second year tree height results by year and
twin-row location, (Measurement 1 or 2 and Row
(West or East), for Davenport WA Living Snow
fence Demonstration Planting
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Second year tree height results by year, row, and
row position. (Measurement 1 or 2 Row (West or
East) and Row Position (North, Middle, South).
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Second year tree crown width results by year and
twin-row location, (Measurement 1 or 2 and Row
(West or East)
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Second year tree crown width results by year,
row, and row position. (Measurement 1 or 2 Row
(West or East) and Row Position (North, Middle,
South)
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In conclusion

• Living Snowfences show promise in dry land
  conditions of Eastern Washington
• Rocky Mountain Juniper appears to do well
• Growth rates were excellent and generally
  consistent for two years
• Mean crown widths were smaller on the windward
  side of the twin-rows and mean heights appear to
  be smaller.
• Functionality may be achieved in as little as 5
  years

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What is next?

• New demonstrations started in Anatone, WA and
  Athena OR with cooperation of the WA and OR
  Departments of Transportation respectively
• An Interagency Living Snowfence Workshop is
  Planned for Spokane WA in October 2005.
• Continued measurements and maintenance at all
  three sites will continue until functionally is
  achieved and beyond

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Sponsors Include

• USDA-NRCS Washington and Oregon State Offices
• USDA National Agroforestry Center
• Washington State University Extension
• Washington Department of Transportation
• Oregon Department of Transportation
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Lincoln County Conservation District
• and the landowner Bill Reibold

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For additional Information

• See the USDA-NRCS National Agroforestry
  Websitehttp//www.unl.edu/nac/
• Trees Against the Wind from WSU
  Extension(www.wsu.edu)