72nd SWCS International Annual Conference July 30-August 2, 2017 Madison, WI

1. © 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Snow Control
Design and Cost Benefit
Web Tool
GARY WYATT, DIOMY ZAMORA, DAVID SMITH
DEAN CURRENT, DAN GULLICKSON
MnDOT - Transportation Research and Investment Group (TRIG)
Project # 99008
SWCS, Madison, WI
August 2, 2017

2. © 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
OUTLINE:
• Background
• Snow Control Tools Web Site
• Cost – Benefit Tool
• Design Tool
• Talking to farmers and landowners
• Hand Picking Standing Corn Rows

3. Snow States need to remove snow

4. MnDOT has
identified
3,700 snow
problem sites

5. © 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
MNDOT PAYS FOR AG STRUCTURES
(FOR WINTER SNOW PROTECTION TO HIGHWAYS)

6. snowcontroltools.umn.edu

7. Snow Control Tools
Design Cost Benefit

8. Use of Cost Benefit Tool
• State Transportation Authorities
• County or Township Transportation Authorities
• Highway Engineering firms preventing snow on
roads

9. Use of Snow Fence Design Tool
• SWCD
• NRCS
• Conservation Organizations
• State Department of Natural Resources
• Highway Departments

10. Compatibility
Desktop Smartphone - Tablet
(Recommended)
(version 9 or later)

11. Partners
Center for Integrated Natural
Resources & Agricultural Management

12. Blowing Snow Problems
Blow-Ice
Drifting Snow
MnDOT
MnDOT

15. Snow Control

16. This Honeysuckle single row protects Hwy 30
8 ft.
Snow catch area, south of planting

17. Do they work?
MnDOTMnDOT

18. Justify snow fence payments:

19. Is it Economical?
Positive Return on Investment
• Some snow problem areas return $14 for every $1 invested
• Goal is to reduce 65% of snow problem areas with:
(currently 2 %)
1. Living Snow Fences
2. Standing Corn Rows
3. Structural Snow Fences
4. Grading on new or reconstructed highways
• Snow Fences reduced accidents 40% - Super Elevated Curves
• Use tool for detailed analysis and justify MnDOT payments to
landowners.

20. snowcontroltools.umn.edu

23. © 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Snow Control
Cost Benefit
Web Tool

25. Snow Problem Area
Roadway
 Length
Land
 Value
 Crops
Traffic
 Annual Average Daily Traffic
(AADT)
 Heavy Commercial (HCAADT)
Crashes (Snow & Ice)
 Severity
Blow-Ice
 Events
 Equipment
 Hours/Miles
 Salt/Sand
Drifting
 Equipment
 Hours/Miles

26. Solutions
Living Snow Fences
Standing Corn Rows
Structural Snow Fences
Grading

27. Solutions
Living Snow Fences
 Installation
 Maintenance
 Conservation Program
– Farm Service Agency
(FSA)
 Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP)
 Environmental Quality
Incentives Program
(EQIP)
 Others…

28. Solutions
Standing Corn Rows
 Corn Yields:
– Ear corn can be picked
by hand by youth or
adult community groups
– Combined in the spring
 Rows:
– (6 to 12 rows)
 Area:
– Paid on a per acre basis

29. Solutions
Structural Snow Fences
 Installation
 Right-of-way acquisition
 Other Costs

30. Solutions
Grading
 Raising the road grade
 Flattening the backslopes
 Deepening the ditch
 Widening the ditch
 Berming

32. Suggested Values
Show/Hide Sections
Help Bubbles
Entry Validation
Links to Resources

33. Compare Solutions
Show/Hide Data
Agency and
Public Metrics
Popup Details
Payment
Ranges

34. © 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Snow Control
Design
Web Tool

35. Set Location:

36. Select your problem
snow site:
If outside the state of
Minnesota select the
area in Minnesota
similar to your state site.
At the summary page
you can go back and
change program values
to reflect your specific
site.

37. Units and Road or SF Design:

39. Average snowfall: (When average temperature is below 32 degrees)

40. Snow Water Equivalent Ratio:

41. Snow Relocation Coefficient:
Snow relocation
is based on wind
speed, topography,
vegetation or land
use.
70 % is the
maximum value.

42. Prevailing Wind Direction:

45. Fetch = Feet to upwind boundary
Boundary =
ditch, tree line,
farmstead, etc.

47. Snow Transport (Tons/foot)

49. POROSITY:
percentage of open area of side view

50. Height of fence needed:

51. Setback Distance of Fence:
Setback
distance should
be measured
from the road
right of way
(ROW)/edge of
field or edge of
shoulder.
More snow
capture on an
average year
would be stored
from the ROW
or field edge.

52. Setback from road ROW:

53. Windbreak Air Flow Patterns
 A portion of the air flows through the windbreak.
 The remaining air flows around the ends and over
the top in a compressed manner.

54. Don’t forget to extend fence:

56. Summary Page:
Review inputs:
Non - Minnesota residents
can adjust inputs to match
the snow problem site in
your state:
Click on the “Change and
Recalculate” box.

57. Revise or
enter data
here:

58. Summary Page:
Review Input and Results
Print
Can save page as pdf and
file electronically

59. © 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
IMPROVED CONFIDENCE AND COMFORT
WORKING WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS
 Enhance MnDOT
Effectiveness
Communicating with
Private Landowners
 Saving Time, Money,
and Energy Marketing
the Program
 Establish Trust
 Local Contact - Best

60. STANDING CORN ROWS:
HAND PICKING CORN

61. Farmer Hassles for
Standing Corn Rows:
 Ear corn left in the field
 Farmer combines in the spring with 50% loss
 Handle the corn (Store or haul to town)
 Possible volunteer corn in soybeans (next year)
 Additional spring tillage pass required
 Time required to get out the equipment and
complete the harvest and tillage passes

62. © 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
PICKING CORN PHOTOS:

64. z.umn.edu/hpcorn

65. © 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Gary Wyatt
wyatt@umn.edu
Diomy Zamora
zamor015@umn.edu
Dan Gullickson
daniel.gullickson@state.mn.us
Arlene Mathison
mathi032@umn.edu
QUESTIONS? THANKS!!!

66. snowcontroltools.umn.edu