Windbreaks are essential for controlling blowing snow and dirt on the county's roads. The planning of effective windbreaks is emphasized and planning assistance is provided for windbreak design. The district held it's annual tree sales program in the spring and provided conservation-grade tree seedlings to the public. The Tree Program provides landowners and affordable way to plant windbreak tree rows. These rows in turn provide many benefits to Big Horn County including protecting and improving the environment, conserving natural resources and energy, increasing property values and enhancing the beauty of the land. The Conservation District has worked with landowners in designing and offering species of trees that are suited for specific soil types. The program has reached a point where people are replacing trees that did not survive the winter rather than establishing new windbreaks, although there will always be some new trees put in and the ornamental use of them has increased. Landowners that have a lot in town or small acreage may be looking for ways to help with the heating and cooling of their homes and to provide shelter for their animals. This past year 3,000 trees were sold to the landowners in the district.

Information and Supplies

• Tree and shelterbelt catalogs are kept in the office.

• A tree planter is available for public use.

• Help designing windbreaks and selection of trees that will survive best.

• Information on tree maintenance and problem trees is available.