Shelter Belts are Tree Resources |
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| Barry Ragan, St. John Volunteer City
Forester Traveling around central Kansas during the past few years, I've noticed the gradual decline of the many shelterbels planted during the Depression Era. Many of the cottonwoods that were once planted in the center of these belts are gone now, replaced by the smaller Siberian elms. Of the cottonwoods that are left, many are on their last leg, their once stately silhouettes showing dead or diseased wood on their edges. These shelterbelts have been torn out at an alarming rate, making room for the large pivot systems that dot the area. Still, many farmers have resisted the urge to remove what's left of the existing belts, knowing the importance of having wind breaks to shield their crops from the harsh Kansas wind. In fact, may farmers have planted new shelterbelts, using the conservation planting program purchased through the Kansas Forest Service. In the spring of 1935, the much-discussed "Tree Belt", a strip of trees planted from the U.S.'s northern border to its southern border, came into partial reality. The program was started with the short-term leasing of land from the area's farmers. Since the supply of tree saplings was in short supply then, only a smattering of belts were planted. The federal government would do the planting, using local help working with the Works Progress Administration (later called the Work Projects Administration). Once the seedlings were planted, WPA workers would install protective fencing around each belt at no cost to the local lanowner. Trees and shrubs including wild plum, hedge (Osage orange), Caragana, Russian Olive, Mulberry, Red Cedar, Austrian Pine, Western Yellow Pine, Cottonwood, hackberry, Bur Oak, Honey Locust, Siberian and American Elm, and many others were the first to be placed in these first belts. As the planting program developed other species were added to the plant selection list: BlackLocust, Walnut, Kentucky Coffee tree, Catalpa, Ponderosa Pine, Lilac, Redbud, Tamaris, Green Ash, Ailanthus, and Apricot. Most of these earlier belts were ten rods (165') in width, |
usually having ten rows with trees spaced
fairly close together. It was the government's plans to have the farmers gradually thin
out the rows, using the excess wood for fuel and fence posts. In the later thirties, many
belts had seven tree rows. Plantings made during the early forties settled on five rows as
the common width. The earliest shelterbelts were planted in what was known as "the St. John District." This area included all of Stafford County, Pratt County, southern Barton County, and western Reno County. The first shelterbelt planted in Kansas was located in northern Pratt County close to Byers. Other shelterbelt districts included the Kingman District, the Kinsley District, and the Hutchinson District. During 1035 -1942, Reno County had the most shelterbelts planted in Kansas, followed closely by Stafford County. During the period from 1935 to 1941 over three million shelterbelt trees were planted in Stafford County alone under the WPA Program. In conclusion, all of the hard work and sweat these WPA workers put in during the Depression has benefited our Kansas environment many times over! Case studies verify that land protected by shelterbelts produces higher crop yields (and protect soil resources with reduced wind erosion). Shelterbelts provide increased wildlife habitat. The trees growing in them purify the air by replacing carbon dioxide with oxygen. For example, (studies have shown that, on average,) a single tree converts 13 lbs of carbon annually, then the 3 million shelterbelt trees planted in Stafford County alone would equal 39 million pounds of carbon a year! So you see, all the money spend on the WPA shelterbelt project was money well spent! All quotes are public domain taken from governmental sources. Remember the Conservation Tree Planting Program Call the KFS 1-888-740-8733 |
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| Earl Siefert won the State Forester award in 1993. | ||
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