Some rural landowners maintain snow fences to prevent blowing snow from reaching highways, decreasing the resources MnDOT spends on winter maintenance. A recent project provided new information and updated tools to encourage more landowners to adopt this alternative snow control method.

Minnesota spends close to $100 million annually on equipment and maintenance, deicing material and labor to clear snow and ice from the roads. Preventing or decreasing blowing and drifting snow from obscuring the roadway in known problem areas has multiple benefits. In addition to improved safety and cost savings from the decrease in required winter maintenance, alternative snow control measures diminish the costs of lost travel time and enhance environmental benefits as a result of decreased vehicle emissions and the elimination of salt and chemicals entering the ecosystem.   

“This work builds on our previous snow fence efforts by providing a more in-depth understanding of landowner motivations and concerns. MnDOT can facilitate greater adoption of this alternative snow control strategy, saving the resources we would otherwise use to clear snow and ice,” said Daniel Gullickson, blowing snow control supervisor, MnDOT Living Snow Fences Program.

Previous research identified the costs and benefits of snow fences to control blowing and drifting snow, with benefits far outweighing costs. Some fences are structural, constructed from metal, plastic or wood. Other fences are living (created by planting shrubs and trees) or vegetative (commonly formed by rows of cornstalks left standing after harvest). 

A MnDOT program provides financial incentives to property owners to implement snow fences, which are generally built or grown and maintained by private landowners. Yet some owners remain reluctant or unaware of the program and its benefits. There are inconveniences—real and perceived—of installing, maintaining and farming around snow fences. MnDOT would like to improve communication with landowners regarding fences and ultimately increase their use.

Leveraging previous work, this project aimed to refine tools and methods to facilitate landowner and public engagement toward increased adoption of snow fences to address blowing and drifting snow problems.

Because of the clear and compelling benefits of snow fences, MnDOT has put significant, ongoing effort into facilitating their use. In previous MnDOT studies, researchers developed a tool to calculate landowner compensation for installing fences and also created an outreach program that MnDOT district offices could use. 

Most recently, MnDOT sponsored a study to understand landowners’ knowledge of snow fences, their attitudes toward implementing this alternative snow control measure and their practices using snow fences. The current project takes the next step to encourage the adoption of snow fences through direct engagement with landowners.

Researchers conducted a series of activities aimed at tracking snow fence use and better understanding landowner attitudes and beliefs regarding this alternative snow control measure. They first prepared 30 case studies of property owners who currently use snow fences, interviewing these owners to better understand their motivations and experiences. Case studies represented geographically diverse areas and a range of fence types and practices. 

Next, the team adapted an existing database tool to include snow fences. Farmmaps, an online resource designed to track soil health and conservation practices, contains a public interface that allows anyone to share techniques and access information. The team also made improvements to SFMap, the online snow fence inventory database and reporting tool previously developed for MnDOT. 

“Building on what we have learned through previous projects, we’ve made tools and training more effective for MnDOT’s snow control program to increase the promotion, adoption and documentation of snow fences,” Dean Current, director, University of Minnesota Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management.

Finally, researchers consolidated and modified existing curricula for training MnDOT staff to work with landowners in promoting snow control measures. They also held a limited number of training sessions. 

Researchers gathered information that enabled them to expand data sets and improve tools to help MnDOT increase landowner adoption of snow fences to control blowing snow. In general, researchers found that the majority of early adopters have had positive experiences with the program. Several conclusions were drawn from these interviews:

The Farmmaps tool was amended to include a variety of operational details on the snow fences identified in the 30 case studies. Additionally, researchers expanded the database and added functionality to SFMap to include truck stations and district boundaries to allow MnDOT to better document and monitor snow fence practices. 

Case study observations were used to refine the training materials for MnDOT district staff. While the number of planned training sessions was reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions, researchers did hold two online training sessions, which allowed them to reach a broader audience than in-person trainings.

Using the tools developed in this project, MnDOT’s snow control staff members will continue reaching out to landowners and communities to increase adoption of snow fences. Further, they will expand entries in the SFMap tool and incorporate it into the agency’s transportation asset management system.

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Crossroads is a collaborative effort among MnDOT’s Office of Research & Innovation, the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies and the Minnesota Local Road Research Board. This jointly produced blog is devoted to highlighting the latest news and events in transportation research and innovation in Minnesota.