The major snowstorm that hit our area last month caused a lot of damage to trees and other plants in our region.

Altona public works initiated cleanup operations throughout the town, which has generated a mountain of branches at the local compost site.

Public Works Manager Clint Derksen said there was a lot of damage, but overall the town was lucky compared to some of the communities to the west.

"The damage will definitely impact the tree program next year. We'll be considerably busier on trees next year replacing some of the trees we lost this year."

Meanwhile, that pile of branches and small trees will need to eventually be mulched for compost but that's going to take some time, according to Derksen.

"It will take a lot to move them all. Luke was moving them, but with the amount of rain and snow that we had, the path he was taking basically turned to mud which slowed things up. We'll have to wait for freeze-up now."