Snow Removal Policy

The policy of the Siskiyou County Road Department is to remove snow from the County roads safely and quickly, considering the availability of labor, equipment, and funding. Only minimal sanding is done where warranted by traffic volumes and speeds or where dictated by roadway alignment and grades. Normally, sanding is done only on critical access road intersections, steep grades, bridge decks, sharp curves or other areas known to have accident problems associated with icy conditions. Funding limitations do not allow roads to be kept free of snow and ice at all times.

Winter maintenance is done on routes in order of importance, starting with major collectors, followed by minor collectors, local roads and ending with recreational roads. School bus routes are also given high priority while recreation-only routes are given lower priority. Uninhabited roads are not plowed or sanded. Plowing begins when approximately three inches of snow accumulates on the roadway. If accumulation is not reached until afternoon or night, then plowing does not begin until early the following morning. An exception might be limited plowing in critical areas.

Anti-Icing - The use of liquid Magnesium Chloride on portions of various County roads is used to control ice before it forms on the road. It also helps minimize the accumulation of snow during storms. This material is applied at 30 gallons per lane mile, and has a corrosion inhibitor additive.

Winter work hours are 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday (single shift only). Road Maintenance Supervisors may authorize emergency work (snow removal and certain ice control) on overtime up to 12 hours per day, 7 days per week. This work is limited to between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily for the work crews (supervisors may begin checking roads as early as 4:00 am). An exception might be if called out by law enforcement to assist in a specific emergency operation. Unless authorized by the Director, snow and ice are not removed from recreational roads outside the normal workday.

Snow usually is plowed to the right with the intent of creating equal berms in each direction. Berms are not removed from private road encroachments, mailboxes or driveways. Operators will attempt to avoid unusually high amounts of snow in berms at driveways around enlarged areas such as cul-de-sacs and intersections whenever possible. If time allows during normal work hours, crews may remove berms from driveways to certain public facilities or emergency services. Any work done outside the road right-of-way must receive prior approval by the Director and billed accordingly.

County Ordinance No. 770 prohibits parking in the roadway during snow removal operations. In order to enforce this ordinance, the area must be properly signed. Operators will attempt to warn offending motorists prior to contacting law enforcement for citation and towing.