Resource_Protection_Measures.pdf

RESOURCE PROTECTION MEASURES (RPM}

The contractor shall adhere to the following Resource Protection Measures (RPM) for each resource area:

Wilderness/Wild and Scenic Rivers

1. The contractor will be briefed on minimum impact/leave no trace ethics prior to starting work in the wilderness and will follow minimum impact/leave no trace ethics while working and camping in the Wilderness. The contractor will camp in established campsites or existing hardened sites, as specified by the Wilderness Specialist. No long-term holding of stock will be permitted at either bridge site.

2. Stock used to support project work will be tied and/or held in the Wilderness in such a way as to minimize soil disturbance and avoid loss of native/desirable vegetation.

3. Packstock and helicopter transportation will be restricted to weekdays and non-holidays when possible to minimize impacts to Wilderness visitors.

4. Motorized tools and mechanical transport will be restricted to the uses approved in the MRDG and minimized in project work.

5. Bridge design and materials will be compatible with the Wilderness setting.

6. Old bridge materials will be sawed up and piled for burning in hardened sites outside the riparian area. See #26 for burn pile specifications. Nails, bolts, metal, and any treated bridge materials will be packed out using packstock and/or flown out. Burning of piles will be coordinated with District fire personnel.

7. Staging of materials and equipment and establishment of a helispot at the North Fork Trailhead will be coordinated with the Wilderness Specialist to ensure for safety and avoid conflicts with Special-Use Permittees and other users of the trailhead.

8. The existing bridges will not be deconstructed prior to July 1 to minimize the amount of time access is restricted across the North Fork of the Blackfoot using a bridge or ford.

9. Borrow sources for gravel and fine material will be weed-free, located off trail, and rehabilitated to a natural appearance following use. Rock will be obtained from the existing piers or collected across a dispersed area to avoid removing noticeable quantities from any single concentrated area.

Fisheries/Hydrology

10. Work within the wetted stream channel (e.g., removing existing piers) will be conducted between July 15 and September 1. Work may occur outside of the wetted channel at any other time of the year. All regulatory permits (e.g., 124 Permit) will be obtained prior to ground-disturbing activities. The 124 permit will be obtained by the Forest Service.

11. Clearing of riparian vegetation will be minimized to that necessary for bridge construction and generally limited to the immediate bridge sites to conserve existing vegetation for shade and stream bank stability.

12. All project activities will cease, except efforts to minimize storm or high flow erosion, during precipitation and high flow events that result in uncontrollable erosion at each bridge site.

13. Native materials collected on site (e.g., logs, slash, rock, gravel, fine material, etc.) for construction and rehabilitation activities will be collected from areas outside of the ordinary high water mark (i.e., the bankful channel) of the North Fork Blackfoot River.

14. Best Management Practices (BMPs) for using treated wood in aquatic environments will be followed.

15. All tools and boots/waders will be cleaned of mud, dirt, or plant materials before entering the work site and when leaving the work site to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species.

16. Motorized tools will be fueled and serviced, and fuel will be stored, outside of the riparian habitat conservation area. This BMP does not apply if motorized tools requiring fuel are not used.

17. If fords are improved to accommodate project activities or provide temporary access around the project sites, they will be restored to pre-project conditions upon completion of the project. Any channel or soil disturbance caused by the use of fords during bridge construction will be naturalized using native materials.

18. Felling of hazard trees for safety of construction activities, helicopter operations, spike camps, etc. within 100 feet of the river will be directionally felled towards the river and left in place.

19. Spike camps, latrines, and temporary stock holding will be located greater than 150 feet from the river and streams.

20. Blasting within 150 feet of the river will not occur between July 1 and September 1.

Soils

21. Slash will be used to stabilize bare soils and streambanks during and following project implementation. Slash of mixed sizes (at least 50% < 6 inches diameter) will be placed over approximately 65−70% of the bare soil and streambanks to a depth of approximately 2−3 inches where available (approximately 10-15 tons/acre). Most slash will be in direct contact with the soil surface.

22. Burn piles will be located in areas of disturbed soil if possible. The size of pile should be limited to existing disturbance footprint. If burn piles are located in an undisturbed area, piles will be limited in size to 10 x 10 feet. Following burning, native duff from adjacent areas should be incorporated (raked) into the burn pile (see #23). Slash (following guidance in #22) should then be placed to cover the burn pile to provide shading, erosion control, and discourage re-use of the burned areas.

23. Social trails established during construction that are not part of the National Forest trail system will be decommissioned after use. Decommissioning will include:

a) Decompact the trail tread to a depth of at least 6 inches using hand tools.

Decompaction techniques should avoid mixing topsoil (4-6 inches in depth) with infertile subsoil below (> 6 inches).

b) Native duff will be placed over the decompacted area to re-introduce soil microbial populations and native seed (see #23).

c) Slash will be placed over decommissioned trails to provide shading and prevent erosion (see #22).

Wildlife

24. During helicopter operations, to minimize disturbance to wildlife and especially grizzly bears, the helicopter will take as close to the same flight path as possible for each trip to and from each bridge site.

25. To eliminate the chance of food habituating grizzly bears and other wildlife, garbage will be stored in a bear proof container throughout the duration of the project and bear attractants will be removed if/when a spike camp is unoccupied overnight. Food and other bear attractants will be stored in compliance with the Lolo National Forest Food Storage Order.

26. If any threatened, endangered, or sensitive species are located/encountered during project layout or implementation, the botanist, wildlife or fisheries biologist will be notified.

Management activities will be altered, if necessary, so the resource is protected.

Cultural Resources

27. If previously unrecorded heritage resources are encountered during project implementation, activities will be halted and an archeologist will be notified. If necessary, additional RPMs will be devised in consultation with the Montana State Historic Preservation Office.

28. Ensure project actions do not adversely affect the historic North Fork Cabin Administrative Site (24LC0429) just above the Upper Bridge northwest of the River/Trail. Such inadvertent or intentional effects could be damage to the structure with equipment and material; vandalism and/or looting.

Botany

29. If new occurrences of Federally-listed or Region One sensitive plants are detected within the project area, the botanist will be contacted so protective measures may be revised, additional buffers implemented, or activity timing restrictions applied.

30. All revegetation efforts will use native material collected on site.

31. Seeding in the Wilderness should be avoided or seed should be collected within or near the project area to prevent the use of non-native cultivars.

Noxious Weeds

32. Minimize transport and establishment of weeds on National Forest System lands.

33. Implement required weed protection measures outlined in Forest Service Manual 2080

(Noxious Weed Management) including:

a) Use certified weed-free feed if feed is needed for stock while being used to access the bridge sites and feed stock weed-free feed for a few days prior to entering the Wilderness. Brush stock to remove any weed seed prior to entering the Wilderness.

b) Work crews will regularly inspect, remove, and properly dispose of weed seed and plant parts found on their clothing and equipment.