Windbreak & bird friendly grouping

I am submitting a proposal on Thursday to replant an area damaged by ice storms last winter and a flash flood 2 weeks ago. The objectives are: add vegetation & root mass to break up the flow of water downhill (10* slope), add attractive spring -summer-fall color to an otherwise bland area, provide habitat & winter food for birds, all kid-safe plants. This area is one of 2 that we will continue to maintain as part green lawn so it will be watered 3x a week. The budget must be < 5K, and most of the labor will be volunteer. Site is North and West-facing, full sun, adjacent to a parking area. We have to avoid anything that might fling branches & such onto parked cars in winter weather (obviously silver maples are out of the question). I would like to use only determinate species, with relatively low maintenance (touchups 2x a year, occasional deep watering). All must be relatively fast-growing. Ground at the base of the planting will be all mulched, no mowing within 5' of any trunk. An existing mature spruce will remain. Total of 2700 sf, in a wedge-shaped planting area that varies from 10-20 feet deep.

Here is my planting list:

(1) Viburnum, European Cranberry
(1) Spirea, Bridal Wreath
(3) Korean Spice Viburnum
(3) Dogwood, Pagoda

Why European Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus)? - that only grows to about 20cm tall, and needs wet, boggy ground.

I'd add in some rowans (Sorbus species, maybe S. americana would be best as it is native in CO, but European S. aucuparia would be good too.

Also add some conifers - Colorado Pinyon (Pinus edulis) would be my choice. Good for winter cover, and (when old enough to produce cones) to attract Pinyon Jays and Clark's Nutcrackers.

Resin

Mainly because I liked the leaf color. The source I was working from suggested that it would be MUCH larger also. Can you recommend something better (pref. viburnum) with a nice fall leaf color?

Here is the description I am working from:
" European Cranberry Viburnum, Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)"

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1746/index.html

They've got the wrong name for it there - cranberry is Vaccinium, not Viburnum

Resin

Res, he's talking about the American common name, cranberry viburnum. Just like poison oak is not really an oak, umbrella pine is not really a pine, sycamore is a plane instead of a maple, lime is a citrus instead of linden, etc. -- we use different vernacular names over here across the Puddle. This viburnum was named for its cranberry-like fruit.

Guy S.

Does the European cranberry bush viburnum need as much water as our native Viburnum Trilobum?

Bill

Cedars, Hawthorns, Ashes and Elderberries all have a great attraction for birds and animals, although i don't know what grows in Colo.

How much natural water does the site get, as well as potential for more flooding? Is it a dry site with a few flood times each year?

right now it is covered in KBG lawn. It will only be watered 1" /week after conversion to a shrub mixed planting area. When it rains, it gets considerable runoff from the area above, but we can't count on that rain to occur with any regular frequency.