WALWORTH, Wis. — The Walworth County Government is seeking property owners to take part in the living snow fence program.
The project is an effort to reduce blowing snow on the roads during winter months.
Bob Pearce of Pearce Family Farm Stand is one of the property owners that already participates in the program.
“We grow just about everything under the sun. We are very very diversified with our vegetable program and our farm market. We do a lot of pumpkins, a lot of wholesale shipping or fall ornamentals, cornstalks, pumpkins, gourds and stuff like that,” said Pearce.
For the past two years, Walworth County has approached him about not cutting down all his cornstalks.
Pearce said by not harvesting the corn, it creates a living snow fence along parts of his property.
“It’s the blowing snow that the fence catches and it’s not necessarily during the snow. It’s also the next day and two days after. There are many, many times where you will see the plows actually lift up and not even plow the road going across,” said Pearce.
David Woodhouse is the Walworth County Highway superintendent.
Woodhouse said a living snow fence can be made not only from cornstalks but also shrubbery, trees, and pines.
“The snow fence works as a windbreak. The blowing snow comes through it. It gives it a place to settle and collect and as it collects, it just keeps collecting upon itself, so it works very well,” said Woodhouse.
Woodhouse said the goal is to reduce the amount of snow along county and state highways.
He said he hopes more property owners in Walworth County make their own living snow fences and he is thankful the Pearce family is already helping out.
“This is a very prone area for blowing and it helps the county snow plowing efforts and the traveling public through this area. It helps them tremendously, so we are very thankful they have taken the time and energy,” said Woodhouse.
Pearce said he’s just glad to be making a difference.
“Just makes the roadway safer and helps out with the plows. Our guys at the county plow for countless hours and this is kind of a little relief stretch for them, I feel, with how nice this keeps the area,” said Pearce.
While the living snow fence lowers Pearce’s yield, he said he believes it makes his community safer during the winter months.
Other interested property owners or those wanting to learn more about the living snow fence program are encouraged to contact the Walworth County Department of Public Works at 262-741-3114 and select option 1.