001 - Statement of Work Q0081.pdf

Grouse Creek Fire Annual Grass/Noxious Weed Management on the Boise National Forest

Mountain Home Ranger District

Specifications February 1st, 2023

OBJECTIVE(S):

While some weed treatments have slowed the rate of annual grass and noxious weed populations from growing, there is a need for additional treatment to slow the expansion of new populations. The first objective of this project is to restore forest, rangeland and watershed health in the 2020 Grouse Creek Fire area, located on the Mountain Home Ranger District within the South Fork of the Boise River watershed. The second objective is to decrease the risk of several annual grass and noxious weed species that are affecting the natural recovery of native plant communities. Lastly, the third objective is to have these treatments assist in the natural recovery of the designated Sacajawea's bitterroot habitat which is found adjacent to some of the fire suppression points.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Fire-produced disturbances directly favor colonization of new and survived annual grass species and noxious weeds. Early detection and treatment of small annual grass and noxious weed patches in a burned area are crucial to prevent or mitigate further establishment, and to establish and maintain healthy plant communities. If these invasives are allowed to become large-scale, the infestations can persist and become very difficult and expensive to manage. In addition, since the seeds from annual grasses and noxious weeds can remain viable in the soil for several years it is critical that burned and adjacent areas be surveyed and treated for several years post fire.

An EDRR (Early Detection and Rapid Response) approach of invasive weed management and treatment during the growing season through the use of chemical controls within annual grass and noxious weed infestations will occur on approximately 340 total acres. Approximately 55 acres will be treated for annual grasses within dozer fire lines and 285 acres of roadside and trail treatments for noxious weeds will be completed.

PROJECT INFORMATION:

Treatment will occur specifically within known and newly discovered annual grass and noxious weed infestations. See attached map(s) for identification and site information. In addition, any Idaho State listed noxious weed population found within the treatment areas may be treated. However, in the event available funding will not allow for treatment of all known or discovered infestations, priority will be given to annual grasses (cheatgrass, ventenata and medusa head) and to Idaho State listed species that are of particular local concern (rush skeletonweed, spotted knapweed, diffuse knapweed, leafy spurge, field bindweed, and white top). Sites will be checked for effectiveness after the initial herbicide treatment and re-treated if necessary.

Additionally, a global positioning unit (GPS) will be used (provided by the contractor) to record areas of treatment by species. New infestations encountered will be inventoried using a GPS, and then treated according to the specifications.

The contractor will provide transportation, supervision, labor, operating supplies, appropriate herbicide as specified below, sufficient amounts of dye, surfactant, and incidentals.

Contract Option Items:

Estimated Implementation Timeline:

Task #1 Treatment for the annual grass area component occurs in the fall of 2023, starting around the time of the first rains and completed before winter dormancy.

55 acres

Task #2 Treatment for the noxious weed area component starts in May of 2023 and finished by September 30, 2023.

285 acres

Task #3 Retreatment of same noxious weed area in 2024, starting in May of 2024 and finished by September 30, 2024.

285 acres

Task #4 Retreatment of same noxious weed area in 2025, starting in May of 2025 and finished by September 30, 2025.

285 acres

Methods and Chemical:

• Treatments for the dozer fire lines for the annual grass treatments will be done on foot with a backpack sprayer and/or horseback, mules or goats using a mounted sprayer. The roadside (about 285 acres) treatments for noxious weeds will be done using a pickup or ATV with mounted sprayer and/or a backpack sprayer and the trail treatments on foot with a backpack sprayer and/or horseback, mules or goats using a mounted sprayer. Note, motorcycles can be used to access the small trail portion (approximately 3.4 miles/10 acres)

• Tordon will be the preferred chemical used on rush skeletonweed, leafy spurge, spotted knapweed, diffuse knapweed and field bindweed. Plateau maybe also be used on leafy spurge and milestone can be used on the knapweeds. Telar XP is best used on white top. Cheatgrass, medusa head and ventenata would be treated with imazapic in the fall only. Treatment for the annual grass portion would start in the fall of 2023 after some “green up” from the vegetation being treated and would be finished later in the fall of 2023. Treatment for the noxious weed portion along roads and trails would start about mid-May and finish at the end of September 2023. If infestations show high density in areas, they may receive two treatments throughout the season to ensure all plants are treated.

Project Monitoring and Data Management:

After work is completed, areas will be checked for coverage effectiveness. In evaluating treated areas, chemical effectiveness in reduction of non-desirable or noxious weed species and decrease in infested area size will be checked.

Treatments completed will also be documented by the Forest Service in a corporate database that tracks all inventories and treatments for spatial and tabular data.

Rehabilitation and Restoration Prospects:

It is critical to continue the EDRR approach for weed treatments on these burned landscapes to maintain healthy community types and wildlife habitats. It is expected that post treatment we will see an increase in perennial grasses and forbs, and a reduction in noxious weed presence. It is also expected that improving the overall landscape in this project area will aid in increasing its post-fire resiliency in addition to providing a healthy habitat in this project area.

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION:

The overall project area map shows the overall treatment locations. Additional treatment area maps will also be provided.

We are requesting treatment of approximately 340 acres between the two project areas. Attached project maps identify the treatment areas and approximate acres to be treated, based on known locations. A written description of the general area and driving instructions to the treatment sites is provided below, as well as attached maps showing boundaries of areas to be surveyed, mapped with a GPS, and treated.

Treatment Area and Acres (Units) to be Treated Treatment Area Number of Treatment Acres (Units)

1. Grouse Creek Fire Annual Grass Treatment Approximately 55

2. Grouse Creek Fire Noxious Weed Treatment Approximately 285

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

Work Item

Sub Item/Description Unit of measure Quantity Unit Price Total Price

0001 Grouse Creek Fire Annual Grass Treatment

Acres – Treated 2023

Work Item

Sub Item/Description Unit of measure Quantity Unit Price Total Price

0002 Grouse Creek Fire Noxious Weed Treatment

Acres – Treated 2023

0003 Grouse Creek Fire Noxious Weed Treatment

Acres – Treated 2024

0004 Grouse Creek Fire Noxious Weed Treatment

Acres – Treated 2025

The three vicinity maps and four site maps show the project area and close-up view of locations. Within that project area, there are approximately 340 acres of known noxious weeds. Attached site maps identify the treatment areas and approximate acres to be treated, based on known locations. A written description of the general area is provided below, as well as attached maps showing boundaries of areas to be surveyed, mapped with a GPS, and treated. Driving instructions to the general treatment areas are also provided below.

A. Grouse Creek Fire Annual Grass Treatment Area:

Since this area was burned and contains highly disturbed soils, it is important to get a good early detection and eradication plan in motion to further prevent the spread of noxious weed infestations. This treatment area includes approximately 55 acres of noxious weeds located at various locations along dozer fire lines within the Grouse Creek Fire boundary area, within the Boise National Forest/and the portion identified on the Sawtooth National Forest ADMINISTERED by the Boise National Forest only. NO locations outside of this area on the Sawtooth National Forest is included in this contract.

B. Grouse Creek Fire Noxious Weed Treatment Area Since this was a high traffic area used to access the fire, it is important to get a good early detection and eradication plan in motion to further prevent the spread of noxious weed infestations. Thus, treatment within this area will take place over a three-year period. Approximately 285 acres will be treated in 2023, in 2024 and again in 2025. This treatment area includes approximately 285 acres of noxious weeds located at various locations along Grouse Creek Road (Forest Service Road #166 – approx. 128 ac) and the following side roads; 166B – approx. 13 ac, 166B3 – approx. 27 ac, 166D – approx. 16.5 ac, 166E-- approx. 6.5 ac, 166E1 – approx. 4.5 ac, 166E2 – approx. 4.5 ac, and approximately 3.4 miles (about 10 ac) of Forest Service trail #037. Also included is this area is the Pine ICP (Incident Command Post) – 75 ac, used for the main fire camp during the Grouse Creek Fire, located in Pine off of the main Forest Service Highway 61 Road right before crossing the Pine Bridge.

Access to Treatment Areas

The Grouse Creek Fire annual grass treatment sites, along fire dozer lines, will be limited to 100% hiking with backpack sprayers or using livestock (horses, mules, goats etc.) with mounted spray equipment. The terrain is variable throughout these treatment areas, gentle and rolling at some sites while steep and rocky at others. Using a motorcycle to stash chemical and spray equipment for a short period at key locations within this area is an option to aid in the spraying efforts.

All invasive sites in the Grouse Creek Fire noxious weed treatment area, are located along well-maintained dirt/gravel roads and will be easily accessed with two or four-wheel drive vehicles or ATVs. The locations of the various weed infestation sites are shown on the attached site maps. Hose and/or mounted spray pumps will be necessary for all of these applications; backpack spraying is of course an option too. ATVs with mounted sprayers can be used safely at all of these locations.

All identified infestations within both these treatment areas will be inventoried with a GPS unit and treated.

Driving Directions: Grouse Creek Fire Treatment Areas (for both the noxious weed treatment area and the annual grass treatment portions):

Driving Directions: Pine Bridge area (Pine ICP location):

The Pine ICP location (part of the Grouse Creek Fire noxious weed treatment area) is separate from the other locations for noxious weed sites for this portion of the noxious weed contract; but is directly along the same route used to access the rest of the treatment areas.

Take exit 95 and head northeast on Hwy 20. After approximately 35 miles head north (turn left-Glenns Ferry Highway District shop is located at this junction) on Forest Service Hwy 61. Drive approximately 35 miles just before the Pine Bridge. The treatment area is located here directly off of the main FS Highway 61 road (on the south side of the main road), approximately .5 miles on the east side of the South Fork of the Boise River before the Pine Bridge.

Driving Directions: Grouse Creek Fire areas for both the annual grass dozer fire line and noxious weed and treatment areas:

Starting from the Pine ICP site mentioned above, continue on Forest Service Highway 61 heading towards Pine. At this junction, head north (turn right) towards Featherville. Proceed approximately 5 miles north on FS Hwy 61 and head east (turn right) on Forest Service Road #166. The Grouse Creek Fire noxious weed treatment area, for roadside treatment portion, begins at this junction of FS Hwy 61 and FS Road #166 and continues approximately for 20 miles to the very end of FS Road #166. The FS trail #037 portion to be treated is located between the FS Road #166B and FS trail #037 junction and FS Road #166N and FS trail #037 junction (approximately 3.4 miles in length).

For access to the starting point of the Grouse Creek Fire annual grass treatment areas drive approximately 8 miles up the main FS Road #166 and head northeast (turn left) on FS Road #166D at Burgy Creek. The closest fire dozer line starts about 1 mile up this side road heads north and northeast towards Grouse Butte. Access points to the remainder of the dozer fire lines are at different locations farther up the main FS Road #166, see attached vicinity and site maps for directions to these exact points.

Please note that infestation sites fall within recent wildfire areas and precautions should be taken for overhead hazards and any dead fall on the ground. Hardhats in the fire area are recommended but NOT required. If livestock is used to treat any portion of the areas, there is an option to camp out and utilize some Forest Service sheep shipping corrals located approximately 10 miles up the main FS Road #166. This already disturbed dispersed camping site would provide easy access and a short commute.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Work for the noxious weed treatment portion could begin by May 15th but no later than May 31st, 2023, depending on snowpacks hindering access to some of the treatment areas. The contractor shall complete work on this bid item no later than September 30th, 2023. The annual grass portion will start in the fall of 2023 after some “green up” of the vegetation being treated, and the work will be finished later in the fall of 2023. Work periods may be adjusted if road and weather conditions or plant phenology require a change. Working on weekends and holidays is acceptable.

The following precautions are partly derived from the Pesticide Discharge Management Plan and Pesticide Use Proposals for the Boise National Forest/Mountain Home Ranger District:

• Do not apply directly to water or to areas where surface water is present below the mean high-water mark.

• Individual rosettes will be sprayed.

• Bare ground and non-target vegetation will not be sprayed.

• Known infestations on Private Land will NOT be treated by the contractor.

• Herbicide application rates and distance from water will be consistent with the Pesticide Use Proposals and current herbicide label-Table 1.

• The specific weed species (if they occur), timing, and treatments will be as identified in Table 2.

1. Herbicide Application Rates Active Ingredients Common Product Names Planned Application Rates

Aminopyralid Milestone 4 to 7 oz./ acre

Chlorosulfuron Telar XP .5 to 1 oz./acre

Picloram Tordon 22K or Outpost 22K 1 to 2 qts./acre

Picloram and 2,4-D Tordon 22K or Outpost 22K with Platoon

1 to 2 qts/acre

Imazapic Plateau 4 to 12 oz /acre

2. Treatment by Species Weed Species Infestation Info Timing Treatment Method Medusa Head Taeniatherum caput-medusae

Ventenata Ventenata dubia and Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum

Scattered plants

September to October

Plateau (Imazapic) 4 to 12 oz /acre

Spotted Knapweed Centaurea maculosa and Diffuse Knapweed Centaurea diffusa

Scattered plants May 15 to September 30

Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K (Picloram) 1 to 2 pints/acre

Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K with Platoon (Picloram and 2,4-D) 1 to 2 pints/acre Milestone (Aminopyralid)

5 to 7 oz./acre

Telar XP (Chlorosulfuron) .5 to 1 oz./acre

Rush Skeletonweed Chondrilla juncea

Scattered plants May 15 to September 30

Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K (Picloram) 2 to 4 pints/acre With Syltac surfactant

Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K with Platoon (Picloram and 2,4-D) 2 to 4 pints/acre Milestone (Aminopyralid) 5 to 7 oz./acre With Syltac surfactant

Leafy Spurge Euphorbia esula

Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K (Picloram) 2 to 4 pints/acre Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K with Platoon (Picloram and 2,4-D) 2 to 4 pints/acre

White Top Cardaria draba

Telar XP (Chlorosulfuron) .5 to 1 oz./acre

Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis

Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K (Picloram) 2 to 4 pints/acre

Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K with Platoon (Picloram and 2,4-D) 2 to 4 pints/acre

All others As encountered May 15 to September 30

Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K (Picloram) 2 to 4 pints/acre

Tordon 22K/Outpost 22K with Platoon (Picloram and 2,4-D) 2 to 4 pints/acre

Milestone (Aminopyralid) 5 to 7 oz./acre

Telar XP (Chlorosulfuron) .5 to 1 oz./acre

Dye will be used @ 2oz. per gallon. Surfactant must be used when treating toadflax. An MSO/Organo-silicone surfactant like Syltac should be used for Rush skeletonweed. The contractor will provide Spreader (or acceptable equivalent) @ 2

oz. per gallon. The only surfactants allowed are Activator 90, Spreader 90, LI- 700, Syltac, R11, and MSO.

CONTRACT TIME:

Estimated Start Date Completion Date September 1, 2023 October 31, 2023 – Task #1 listed above May 15, 2023 September 30, 2023 – Task #2 listed above May 15, 2024 September 30, 2024 – Task #3 listed above May 15, 2025 September 30, 2025 – Task #4 listed above

CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Any vehicles necessary for transportation of Contractor personnel, equipment or supplies will be provided by the

Contractor. ORV’s (Off-road vehicles) and vehicles will only be used for treatment along designated motorized trails and roads.

2. The Contractor shall be responsible for transporting all materials to the work site.

3. The Contractor will provide all necessary PPEs (personal protective equipment) necessary in the loading, mixing, and spraying operations.

4. The Contractor will be required to submit written reports for each day of treatment. These reports will show areas treated, amount of herbicide used, amount of time required to treat area, weather conditions at time of application and species of weed(s) treated. A calendar schedule to supply the weekly reports will be negotiated prior to the contract period. Treatment Report Form will be supplied to the contractor.

5. The Contractor will provide a final map and shape file of all GIS data (completed with a GPS). Data will be collected in NAD83 datum.

6. The Contractor will provide a phone number where they can be contacted after hours (when not working on the contract).

7. Times that the work can be performed will be dependent on environmental factors such as wind speed and temperatures.

8. Contractor will clean all equipment (weed wash) prior to accessing & leaving the project area.

9. Contractor must be able to identify target weed species. These may include leafy spurge, spotted knapweed, diffuse knapweed, white top, rush skeletonweed, field bindweed, cheatgrass, ventenata and medusa head.

10. The contractor will have to have in its possession and the contractor will have to read the Pesticide General Permit and Pesticide Discharge Management Plan issued to the Boise National Forest by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS:

a. Mixing of chemicals and preparation of treatment devises will occur only on asphalt surfaces or on the main dirt roads.

b. Plants may be treated in any stage of development.

c. Areas will be inspected during and after treatment. An acceptable level of treatment will be met when all above ground noxious weed growth within the designated areas have been chemically treated with the specified herbicide. Excessive chemical application will result in a top-kill only and does not allow the plant to translocate the chemical throughout the plant.

d. All treatment practices will comply STRICTLY with the directions on the herbicide label.

e. Spray calibration and equipment maintenance records will be provided by the contractor.

f. Adverse incidents will be reported as required by the Boise NF Pesticide General Permit.

g. Attachment G of the Pesticide Discharge Management Plan will be completed by the contractor.

h. A fifty foot buffer zone is required to survey (and treat if necessary) around known weed infestation sites to ensure noxious weed coverage is optimal and to stop any new “satellite” patches that may be starting from existing sites.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

The Contractor shall have knowledge of herbicides, proper application techniques, safety precautions, noxious weed identification skills, and experience treating noxious weeds or invasive annual grasses. The Contractor or designated representative will be required to hold and possess the appropriate State of Idaho Commercial Applicator License on the site during the performance of the contract and will be required to show proof of license to the Contracting Officer (CO) at the time of bid. For further information please contact The Idaho Dept. of Agriculture, PO Box 790, Boise, ID, 83701 or phone at (208)–332-8500.

GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION:

First Aid: In case of an emergency involving any of the following please contact the designated Contracting Officer or their designated representative.

Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and wash skin thoroughly with water and then with soap and water.

Eye Contact: Flush eyes with water for 10-15 minutes using an approved eye was bottle, remove contacts, do not rub eyes, transport to a physician.

Inhalation of fumes: Get into fresh air, if breathing problems, transport to a physician.

Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting; contact one of the following numbers for ingestion.

Rocky Mountain Poison Control Center @ 1-800-860-0620 or 1-800-222-1222

Hazardous Materials Spills call Chemtrec @ 1-800-424-9300. Dupont @ 1-800-441-3637, or Dow @ 1-517-636-4400. MAJOR SPILLS call Division of Environmental Quality @ 1-208-373-0502.