Enhancement of Livestock Water
Supplies by Snow Fencing

Installation of dugout snow fencing - November 1992

by Orin Kenzie, Alberta Agriculture, Lethbridge, Alberta

If you live in Southern Alberta, it is often said that you may only be one year away from a drought. Nature can be harsh and being located outside an irrigation district can result in drought problems and inadequate livestock water supplies. Although snow fencing is not new, snow fencing dugouts to enhance livestock water supplies is not a common practice. In November 1992, three sites were chosen to demonstrate the value of snow fencing dugouts to increase water supplies. These sites not only created a producer interest in and an awareness of snow fencing dugouts, but also resulted in snow accumulations which ranged from good to poor, (due to lack of snowfall). In summary, it is reasonable to conclude that placing snow fencing around dugouts, at least in drought situations, does supplement existing water supplies. With improved water supplies, it is often possible to extend the grazing season. General observations and conclusions from the project include:

1. Actual water volume resulting in the dugout from snow accumulations in Southern Alberta depends largely on the type of thaw. Chinooks are frequent. A short warm chinook may see much of the water going into the dugout. A long windy, warm chinook will no doubt see high rates of evaporation.

Snow accumulation resulting from dugout snow fencing - February 1993

Equivalent water volume and actual water volume contributed to the dugout can vary greatly.

2. Portable snow fencing, being light, durable and easy to install, is a quick low-cost method of saving water. Long-term considerations might include the establishment of shelterbelts in conjunction with snow fencing.

3. Do not depend entirely on given wind values and directions when deciding where to locate your snow fence. Look closely at the specific site. Wind patterns and drifting can be altered by small hills, dugout spoil piles, bushes, fence lines, etc. Placement of fencing material on three sides of the dugout may compensate for a number of variables and result in a maximum snow accumulation.

4. With a fair interest in establishing intensive rotational grazing systems on dry land, snow fencing may be an option in providing and/or supplementing livestock water supplies. On a properly fenced dugout, with no direct livestock access, one might water 100 cow/calf pairs for approximately 20-30 days as a result of snow accumulations due to snow fencing. Under ideal snow pack and wind conditions, a 50 percent porous snow fence four feet high can catch up to 700 gallons of water (in the form of snow) for every lineal foot of snow fence.