The Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District is sharing news about a program to assist landowners in the creation of windbreaks.

The Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program (NOWP) is a great opportunity for landowners to establish tree windbreaks in the county to
help reduce soil erosion, control drifting snow, and/ or improve wildlife habitat. The program is offered through ODNR Division of Forestry and
provides assistance with planting windbreaks.

SWCD/ NRCS staff will work with the landowner to design the windbreak and determine the type and number of trees necessary. ODNR forestry staff will then plant the trees in Spring 2023.

One of the unique aspects of this program is the Survival Guarantee. ODNR will provide the landowners replacement trees at no cost for any that do not survive the first year.

The cost for the 2023 Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program is $0.35 per row foot, cost share is available for the program through the Lake Erie CREP Program, that helps offset the cost of planting the windbreak. Certain eligibility requirements do apply for the NOWP program.

Applications will be accepted until December 1, 2022. Contact the Crawford SWCD/NRCS office for more information or for eligibility requirements at 419-562-8280 ext. 3.