attachment 21 Description of Services.docx

Attachment 21

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

Bid Item #1a. GAOA Creek Fire Burned Campgrounds and Boat Launch. In preparation for reconstruction of the campgrounds for future public use, all fire killed, and insect infested hazardous trees within 1.5 times the tree length from infrastructure, roads, camp sites and campground boundary shall be cut for site preparation. Cut hazardous trees and fallen woody debris shall be moved and piled to the 100-foot buffer zone surrounding the designated campground or transported to a nearby designated disposal sites. The burn piles shall be teepee/conical shaped with a fire line. Mastication and or chipping may be an alternative approach. In preparation for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the campgrounds and rest stop for future public use, no pile construction within the Campground boundary. Teepee shapes piles are only within the 100-foot buffer. Item #1a includes Soda Springs, Rock Creek, Fish Creek, Placer, Mammoth Pool, Little Jackass, Wagner’s, Sweetwater, Granite Creek Campgrounds, Mammoth Pool Boat Launch and Jackass Meadow Vista.

#1b. GAOA Creek Fire 100 foot-buffer around each of the GAOA Burned Campgrounds and Boat Launch. The 100-foot buffer area surrounding the campground shall be worked first. Cut and pile hazardous insect and or fire killed trees 1.5 times the tree length from infrastructure, improvements, roads and work boundaries. Trees, logs and accumulated fuels shall be placed in teepee/conical shaped piles with a fire line around the base of single or group piles. Piles shall be built to any size in appropriate openings, placed at least 25 feet from the outside edge of the dripline of the canopy of green alive trees and wildlife logs. After the 100-foot buffer has been cut and piled, work shall start in the campground. The 100-foot-buffer work areas include Soda Springs, Rock Creek, Fish Creek, Placer, Mammoth Pool, Little Jackass, Wagner’s, Sweetwater and Mammoth Pool Boat Launch and Jackass Meadow Vista.

#2a. GAOA Green Forest, Creek Fire Campgrounds and Rest Stop Area: In preparation for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the campgrounds and rest stop, all fire killed, dead top and insect infested hazardous trees within 1.5 times the tree length from infrastructure, roads, and camp sites shall be cut and moved to and piled in the 100-foot buffer. As needed, material shall be transported to designated nearby disposal sites. The existing and accumulated slash shall be piled in a teepee shaped burn pile with a fire line around individual or group piles. This includes Upper Chiquito, Texas Flat, Kelty Meadow Horse Camp, and Cold Springs Rest Stop.

#2b. GAOA Green Forest 100-foot buffer around each GAOA Green Forest Campground and Rest Stop Area. Cut and pile hazardous insect or fire killed trees 1.5 times the tree length from infrastructure, roads and work boundaries. Trees, logs and accumulated fuels shall be placed in teepee/conical shaped piles with a fire line around the base of single or group piles. Piles shall be built to any size in appropriate openings, and placed at least 25 feet from the outside edge of the dripline of the canopy of green alive trees and wildlife logs.

This includes Upper Chiquito, Texas Flat, Kelty Meadow Horse Camp and Cold Springs Rest Stop.

#2c GAOA Green Forest Cold Springs Meadow Vista Trail and buffer. Cut insect infested dead, dying and or hazardous conifers 1.5 times the height from improvements, roads, fences, meadow conditions, designated trail, elevated viewing platform and green forest trees. All existing, generated slash and logs shall be collected and transported to the designated Cold Springs disposal site and placed in teepee shaped burn piles with a fire line. Piles shall be built to any size in appropriate openings and placed at least 25 feet from the outside edge of the dripline of the canopy of green alive trees. The #2c work area includes Cold Springs Meadow Vista Trail and buffer.

C.1 SCOPE

The objectives of the 2025 Disaster GAOA Byway Recreation Site Preparation projects are to complete Phase 1 within campgrounds and their 100-foot buffer, that have been affected by the 2020 Creek Fire, and ongoing tree mortality. Cut and pile hazardous trees and accumulated fuels to reduce the future risk of high severity wildfire, restore forest health and allow Phase 2 to begin the rehabilitation, of designing these recreation sites for public use.

To accomplish these objectives, the contract requirements include the following:

1. The 100-foot-buffer shall be the priority of work. After the cut trees and teepee shaped burn piles have been finished, work shall begin within the adjoining campgrounds, rest stop, vista and trails.

2. Cut and pile dead, dying, burned and or hazardous trees that pose a safety risk of striking the public, existing infrastructure, roads, rest stops, trails and vista platforms. Work shall meet site preparation and fuels cleanup requirements to prepare the sites for the Phase 2 recreation rehabilitation engineering contract.

3. Cut trees and slash shall be piled with installed fire lines within the 100-foot campground buffer and or to the approved disposal locations. NO burn piles within the campground. Mastication and chipping activities may be an alternative.

4. Create conical/ teepee shaped burn piles with a fire line around individual or group of piles.

5. Protect natural and managed resources, wildlife and aquatic habitat, Range infrastructure, gates, corrals, fences, disperse campsites, archaeological control sites, healthy forest trees, infrastructure, improvements, trails, elevated viewing platforms, roads, meadows, SMZ’s and soil productivity. Follow Limited Operating Periods (LOP) and Resource protection measures.

6. The legend of the Contract maps displays the Acceptable Operational Dates for areas with Limited Operational Periods (LOP’s).

Protection Measures for Plants, Animals, Aquatic Wildlife, Cultural Resources and Improvements Locations of known areas needing special measures will be identified on the ground, and or the contract map.

Wheeled and track-laying equipment shall not be operated in areas identified as needing special measures for the protection of cultural resources, improvements, plants, frogs, riparian and springs, range fences and gates.

Some of the work areas within or adjacent to Control sites may require coordination and special instructions from the designated onsite Archaeological Monitor (GTM-Government Technical Monitor) and or the Aquatic Monitor (GTM). For example, equipment using a boom and or a rubber tire or belt type equipment tracks may be permitted to reach in to extract down logs and generated slash from Control sites. A Tribal Monitor may need to be hired by the Contractor for oversite during work at Sweetwater and Rock Creek Campground.

The District Aquatics Biologist or their representative will be a designated GMT for Cold Springs Rest Stop, Vista Trail and Jackass Meadow Vista Trail for the identification and protection of breeding and winter habitat for the Yosemite Toad. Early spring snow surveys will be conducted to determine when the felling and removal of woody debris will be allowed to start.

With the professional faller’s judgement, trees shall be felled away from all Control Areas, streams, meadows, trails, fences, corrals, gates, elevated platforms, known nesting sites, green trees, infrastructure, power lines and other land ownership. The attached project area maps include the campgrounds, boat launch, trails for the meadow vista and the 100-foot buffer area combined. As needed, a flag line will separate the campground and the 100-foot buffer work areas. Maps are geo-referenced to work with Avenza map app.

Teepee shaped burn piles shall be created 100 feet on the outside edge of powerlines and 100 feet from Power Poles, 100 feet from the edge of meadows and Riparian Conservation Area’s (RCA) or at an operationally capable distance. Trees shall be felled in a way that minimizes dispersal barriers to riparian and aquatic species. Maintain a minimum of 50% existing ground cover for erosion prevention and soil protection in campgrounds not receiving a Phase 2 rehabilitation contract, 100-foot buffers, trails and vistas. Install open ended soil water bars as needed on areas such as skid trails, fire lines, approaches to the road with culverts nearby and closed spur roads.

The Contracting Officer may request an order of work for some work areas due to the Operational Period of Work (outside of the designated LOP’s) and or the campground rehabilitation and reconstruction contract.

C.2 DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

It is recommended that the Contractor check the suitability of roads prior to transporting equipment.

The project is located between the elevations of 4,800 and 6,900 feet on the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest, Madera County, California. Work areas within item #1a and #1b are within the Creek Fire footprint with fire killed trees, brush, oaks, green trees and natural regeneration of conifers, hardwoods and brush species. Work areas within the Green Forest item #2a, #2b and #2c have insect mortality trees including some acreage with Creek Fire tree mortality.

The Campground signage, groups of flagging at the edge of the road and georeferenced project maps will assist with the location of the contract work areas.

Location and access to the work site and other information pertinent to each unit is contained on the project maps and the paragraphs below. Directions are given from the Bass Lake Ranger District office, 57003 Road 225, North Fork CA.

From the Bass Lake Ranger District office, turn left onto Road 225 and travel for approximately 5 miles to Mammoth Pool Trailer Park. At this point County Road 225 becomes Forest Road 4S81.

Proceed for approximately 17.5 miles, few curves past Road 7S07, Fish Creek Campground is located on the right side of Road 4S81. T7S R24E Sec 4, 4800 feet elevation.

Return to Rd 4S81 and turn right and proceed for 2+ miles to Rock Creek Campground located on the right side of Road 4S81. Contact office for assistance to gain access through the locked gates. T7S R24E Sec 28, 4400 feet elevation.

Return to Road 4S81 and turn right and proceed for 8 miles and Soda Springs Campground is located on the right side of Road 4S81. T6S R23E Sec 30.

Return to Road 4S81, turn right and travel approximately 3 miles, turn right onto Road 6S25 and travel for 1 mile and turn right onto Road 6S61 to reach Placer Campground. T6S R24E Sec 28. Return to Road 6S25 and travel 2.5 miles and on the right is Road 6S025B to reach Sweetwater Campground T6S R24E Sec 33. Return to Road 6S25, turn right, and proceed a short distance and turn right at the intersection of Road 6S25 and Road 6S76. Cross over the Chiquito Creek bridge, and Wagner’s Campground is located on the left side of the road before the gate T7S R24E Sec 3. Return to Road 6S76 intersection and turn right and travel approximately 2 miles. Turn right onto Road 7S13 to reach the Mammoth Pool Campground T7S R24E Sec 3. Return to Road 6S76 and travel 1.5 miles to reach the Mammoth Pool Boat Lunch T7S R24E Sec 3. Return to the intersection of Road 6S25 and travel back to Road 4S81. Turn right onto Rd 4S81 and travel for 1+ miles and turn right on Road 6S22 and travel approximately 1.2 mile and turn left to reach Little Jackass Campground T6S R24E Sec 15.

Return to Road 4S81 and turn left and travel approximately 3 to 4 miles towards Soda Springs Campground and turn right onto Road 6S71 and travel for 1+ miles. Proceed straight where the road becomes Road 6S01 and travel for 7+ miles to reach Beasore Road 5S07. Turn right onto Road 5S07 and travel for approximately 6 miles and turn left onto Road 5S11 to reach Upper Chiquito Campground T4S R23E Sec 12.

Return to Road 5S07, turn left and travel for 5 miles. On the right side of the road is Jackass Meadow Vista T5S R24E Sec 15. From Jackass Meadow Vista turn right and follow Rd 5S07 to the detour sign, turn left and proceed to reach Road 5S30. Turn left on Road 5S30 and travel for 4 miles to reach Granite Creek Campsites T4S R25E Sec 31, T4S R 24E Sec 36 and T5S, R25E Sec 5.

Return to Beasore Road 5S07, turn right and travel 10 miles to reach Cold Springs Summit and turn left to reach Colds Springs Rest Stop and Cold Springs Vista Trail T6S R23E Sec 18.

From Cold Springs Summit Vista cross Beasore Road to reach Road 6S10X and travel approximately 5 miles to reach Road 6S10, Sky Ranch Road. Turn left and travel a short distance and turn right at the Kelty Meadow Campground T6S R22E Sec 3. Proceed on the Sky Ranch Road for 2+ miles and turn left onto Road 6S40, travel for 1+ mile, cross the Willow Creek Bridge and turn left on Road 6S08. Travel 1+ mile on Road 6S08 and turn left onto Road 6S38. Proceed for 1.5 miles and turn right at Texas Flat Campground T6S, R22E Sec 10.

Attached contract maps are intended to show only the general size, shape, and location of the work areas. The work locations on the ground take precedence over the shapes on the Project Maps.

All work areas may be reached by roads that are accessible by a two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicle unless otherwise noted. Depending on weather conditions tire chains may be required to access some of the units. No vehicles will be permitted to operate off Forest Service system roads without prior approval.

C.3 DESCRIPTION, SPECIFICATIONS and STATEMENT OF WORK REQUIREMENTS Secure services to hand and/or mechanically cut and move logs and woody material to the buffer areas to create teepee/conical shaped piles. Many of the 2020 Creek Fire campground killed trees are still standing, broken, hung up, previously felled or fallen. The Green Forest Campground trees consist of insect killed, wind damaged, broken tops and or presently unsafe for the campground areas and the 100-foot buffer surrounding the campgrounds. Hazard trees 1½ tree lengths from Forest Service campgrounds infrastructure, such as vault toilets, gates, picnic tables, campfire rings, water source, roadway, asphalt berms and payment, parking areas, horse and foot trails, solar panels, benches, elevated viewing platforms, water lines, horse water trough and signage, range fencing, gates, corrals and loading chutes. Many of the campgrounds in item #1a and #2a are scheduled for rehabilitation work to re-construct the campgrounds. Some of the work sites have existing cut trees that have been bucked and piled that shall be moved to burn piles within the 100-foot buffer.

Sub-items #1a. and #1b include GAOA Creek Fire campgrounds and their 100-foot-buffer for Soda Springs. Rock Creek,Fish Creek, Placer, Mammoth Pool, Mammoth Pool boat launch, Little Jackass, Wagners, Sweetwater and Jackass Meadow Vista and Granite Creek Campground.

Refer to the Contract Data and Resource Concerns explanation.These areas include post fire restoration, site preparation activities to clean up the burned campgrounds for Phase 2 rehabilitation and reconstruction contract.

This contract work shall take place within in burned campgrounds, their 100-foot buffer and 1 boat launch adjacent to Mammoth Pool. These areas include directional falling of designated burned hazard trees that may be dead, dying, alive or have broken tops or branches. All improvements shall be protected during all phases of the hand and mechanical operations.

Subitems #2a and #2b. GAOA Green Forest Campgrounds, Rest Stop/Vista Area and 100-foot buffer around these work areas. To remove hazards and restore forest health, cut designated hazardous trees, existing and generated fuels to ensure safe public access within the Green Forest Campgrounds, Rest Area and the 100-foot buffer area. These areas include Upper Chiquito, Texas Flat, Kelty Meadow Horse Camp, Cold Springs Rest Stop. Work requirements include directional falling by professional tree fallers and skilled equipment operators. Designated trees may be dead, dying, alive or have broken tops or branches. They pose a safety hazard of striking existing campground/vista infrastructure, such as barriers, signs, tables, fire rings, campsites, bathrooms, asphalt parking zones, parking berms, toilets, bathroom building, fencing, solar panel, water trough, spring box, horse staging areas and bulletin boards. Improvements and existing infrastructure shall be protected during all phases of the hand and mechanical operations.

Existing dead standing and felled trees, down logs, woody debris, dead or damaged brush shall be transported to the 100-foot buffer to be piled into a teepee/conical shaped burn pile. A nearby designated disposal sites are available if the 100-foot buffer zone becomes unavailable. Mastication and or chipping is an alternative to manage the woody debris and small diameter trees and logs. Accumulated chipped and or masticated material shall be spread to a height of 4 inches. Living green conifers and hardwood trees shall be protected from operational damage. Polygons of living trees shall be protected from falling and piling activities.

Within the 100-foot buffer zone, retain stable 4 logs per acre. Conifers and down oaks can be retained for wildlife habitat. Short snags not hazardous to the campground and rest stop can also be retained. Project objectives and mechanical operations shall be completed, while ensuring natural resource protection measures are met. This includes aquatic and riparian habitat, vegetation, snags, down logs, foot, stock and motorcycle trails, Forest improvements and Heritage Areas, Sensitive and Noxious Plant areas while following the Limited Operating Periods (LOP) for wildlife and aquatic species.

For soil stabilization retain 50% ground cover and install open ended water bars along travel routes and as needed on slopes.

Subitem #2c GAOA Cold Springs Trail and Vista: Damaged, dead standing, hazardous and fallen trees adjacent to the 2-foot-wide foot trail including a clearing on each side, elevated platform, stock trail, Cold Springs Meadow and flagged habitat for the Yosemite Toad shall be mitigated by professional fallers and skilled equipment operators using low impact mechanical equipment operations with a boom and grapple style attachment. The recreation monitor will provide minor specifics for conditions adjacent to the foot trail.

The District Aquatic monitor (Government Technical Monitor GTM) or their representative will be onsite during operations for identification of micro sites for nesting burrows. All cut trees, down logs and slash material shall be loaded and transported for a short distance to a nearby disposal site on Rd 5S07 for the construction of teepee shaped piles.

To maintain and provide suitable Yosemite toad habitat, the on-site monitor will determine how much fine and heavy fuels will stay or be removed from the work area. Created and existing ground cover will create a mosaic condition to meet both the toad habitat and soil protection measures.

White with blue dot flags surround 2 small micro areas, designate a 4-foot “no disturbance” during the site preparation operations.

A 20-foot no work zone around the edge of the meadow to protect both the juvenile toads and their habitat.

A boom shall be used to reach to collect the slash and woody debris 20 feet from the meadow edge. Logs laying from the forest to the meadow shall be bucked at 20 feet from the meadow edge. The log laying in the meadow will be left in place. The section of log laying in the forest can be carefully removed.

Other protection measures for felling and equipment use, include low impact to the cattle trail and stock trail leading to the meadow, barbed wire fence and gate associated with the cattle permittee, foot trail to the elevated platform and the wooden bench. Retain a 3-foot clearing on each side of the gravel and dirt sections of the foot trail. Most likely the fence will be up. Fence and stock drive are identified on the contract area map. Some existing small hand slash piles shall also be removed to the disposal site.

Treatment of a borate compound registered by EPA for the prevention of annosus root disease for freshly cut green stumps greater than 3-inch diameter.

Retain 4 logs per acre with a variety of decay classes. Equipment tracks can cross the dirt section of the foot trail and shall be restored to previous conditions.

All cut hazard trees and generated slash will be carried out with low impact equipment (skid steer and or excavator) and placed into a truck to be transported to the nearby disposal site for the construction of teepee shaped burn piles. The disposal site is less than 1 mile to the south, on the west side of Beasore Road 5S07 LAT /LONG is N 37’ 24.505’ / W 119’ 29.932’. Elevation is 7162 feet.

When possible, all professional tree felling shall avoid landing in or on the edge of the meadow.

LOP requirements for the Yosemite Toad are 2 phases for decisions, the 2024/2025 winter weather conditions will determine when Phase 1 monitoring will begin to check the status of the breeding toads. Phase 2 will determine where and when work can start.

Possibly the Operation period will be the months of August and September.

Monitoring for the Great Gray owl nesting site will be completed by the Wildlife Biologist.

Equipment operators shall review 2 possible onsite travel routes from the main road to the Trail and Vista work area to protect the asphalt road and curb.

Treatment of Stumps Work areas within the developed recreation sites, (including campgrounds, rest stops and vista trails) the Contractor shall treat stumps of all live Conifers equal to or greater than 3 inches stump diameter, with a borate compound registered by EPA (Cellu-treat) for the prevention of annosus root disease. Treatment shall consist of removal of sawdust and other loose debris from the cut surface of the stump and provide an application of a thin layer of the borate compound, uniformly over the entire cut surface. This includes exposed wood surfaces on the stump sides, at the rate specified on the product label. An approved colorant mixed with the borate to ensure complete coverage. Treatment shall be done as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after felling, otherwise stumps shall be re-cut and treated.

Contractor shall not apply borate compound during heavy rainfall or when such precipitation rate is predicted within 24 hours of application to prevent borate compound to be flushed off the stump and become ineffective. In that case treatment shall be reapplied. Application shall be completed within 24 hours of the precipitation having ceased.

Borate compound shall not be applied to stumps located within 10 feet of sensitive plant location boundaries as flagged on the ground; Riparian Conservation Areas, of variable width 10 feet of live stream courses, and meadows/wetlands shown onsite and or the contract area map.

The buffer for using Borax compounds in known occupied habitats should align with the Mechanical Equipment Exclusion Zones (MEEZ) (which are basically the new SMZ for our new Forest Plan). Therefore, 100 ft from occupied meadows and streams would be the buffer distance. If applications need to be made within the 100 ft exclusion zone around occupied habitats, consult with the district aquatic biologist.

Although Yosemite Toads have been found to be associated with rodent burrows around decaying stumps, these freshly cut stumps would not yet qualify as suitable terrestrial habitat, thus the toad would not be expected to be around the area during application. Borax will be applied to stumps immediately following cutting. All spills will be cleaned up immediately. If any meadows become occupied, Borax would not be applied to tree stumps located within the SMZ of known occupied habitats.

Contractor shall provide the borate compound, colorant and apply it in compliance with the State of California laws and regulations pertaining to pesticides and pest control operations. Follow all label requirements for proper storage and prevention measures as not to contaminate water. All spills shall be promptly cleaned up and spilled material disposed of according to the product label. All spills shall be reported to the COR immediately. Contractor shall submit at the end of each month a Monthly Summary of Pesticide Use Report to the appropriate Madera County Agricultural Commissioner with a copy to the COR.

Cutting and Piling Specifications Track equipment with a boom, grapple or thumb, shovel type, cutting head and or heel boom attachment, that can lift cut hazard trees and limbs to stack into a teepee shaped burn pile. Hazard trees may consist of both conifers and hardwoods. Trees may have embedded nails, spikes, old fencing and or gate hinges. Sections of fencing, water lines and water tanks may be on some sites. All cut tree material partially pushed over or remain hung up in an unsafe position shall be reworked to mitigate the hazard.

Cut trees and woody debris from both the 100-foot buffer and the campground, rest stop and trail to the vistas, shall be built in a teepee shaped pile and orientated so that logs shall not roll down the slope during construction or burning. The piles shall be constructed as tall and wide as the natural openings allow, while providing for safe distance to protect leave trees, logs and snags from thermal damage.

The pile size and distance shall not result in unnecessary damage to residual timber and young conifer regeneration. If work is adjacent to overhead transmission lines, piles shall be constructed 100 feet from the outside edge of the electrical power line and the piles shall be no taller than 15 feet.

Piles shall consist of mixed conifer, dead brush and oak trees, tops, boles and bark from existing and activity generated slash, 90% free of soil.

Piles on steep slopes shall have three times the pile height in distance from residual trees on the uphill side.

Example, an eight-foot-tall pile shall have a minimum of 24 feet on the uphill side from all remaining leaves trees. Piles shall be 100 feet from meadows, streams and creeks or an operationally acceptable distance. Avoid establishing a teepee shaped burn pile within 500 feet of a Forest Service Sensitive species nest tree or den tree.

A small track equipment blade (such as skid steer) and or attachment on the end of a boom shall clear a fuel break around each pile or group of piles to an 8-foot-wide fuel break cleared of all but fine material, plus an 18-inch-wide fuel break shall be cleared to mineral soil around the outer ring of the fuel break. In areas where there is a potential for burning material to roll, fire lines shall be hand trenched on the downhill side of each pile to adequately prevent material from crossing fire lines.

When individual or group lining is not attainable, due to rocks, slope, or a cut bank, a fire line shall be installed along the workable edge.

Piled material shall not exceed into the 8-foot-wide fuel break.

When slope is greater than 30%, install water bars at a 30-degree angle to disperse the flow of water and to stabilize soil or as agreed to with COR.

Stump Height: Tree stump height shall not exceed 12” in the 100-foot-buffer work area and 10” above the ground or 6” above natural objects within the campgrounds, rest areas and trails to vistas.

Equipment operations shall follow all erosion control measures. Deep track berms shall be smoothed. Contract generated woody debris shall be removed from all Streamside Management Zones (SMZ) and roadside edges Water Bars New and or existing water bars on travel routes, fire lines and roads, shall be reinstalled or constructed so the mound extends the entire width of the travel route, and the top of the mound is a minimum of 18” above the natural ground-line along its entire length. The drainage of the water bar shall have a minimum slope of 2% and shall provide for the unrestricted discharge of water to the outside of the travel route. Erosion control work shall be completed as work is completed and in a timely manner to be prepared for any weather events that are predicted or may occur.

Erosion Prevention and Control

The contractor’s operations shall be conducted reasonably to minimize soil erosion and prevent any ground disturbing activity that will adversely affect hydrologic processes that maintain water flow and water quality. Monitor weather conditions and the need for controlling water runoff. Seasonal erosion control work shall be kept current immediately preceding expected periods of precipitation or runoff.

Erosion work includes water-bars or cross ditches, in skid trails, fire-lines, spur roads and roadblocks. The road surface and edge leading to the culvert approaches shall be cleared of work-related woody debris. Smooth excessive track soil berms and ruts. Water bars shall be spaced based on percent of slope, placed in locations where drainage would naturally occur. Slopes 0-15% shall have a maximum spacing of 90 feet. Slopes 15-35% shall have a maximum spacing of 45 feet.

These measures shall be completed in a timely manner to ensure that erosion structures are in working condition when a weather event is predicted regardless of progress of the other work, by September 15th, or during a dry winter weather workable period.

Where the natural vegetation has been cleared, fine fuels, twigs, grass, leaves organic mulch, slash and woody debris shall provide a 25% ground cover within campgrounds and rest areas, and 50% minimum ground cover within the trails, vistas and 100-foot buffer. Slash and brush may be left in place where vegetation is so close to leave trees that the removal of the vegetation would cause damage to the leave trees. Small amount of standing dead brush shall be left for wildlife habitat

Resource Protection Design Measures Work objectives shall be performed in a manner that protects residual live green trees including oaks and conifers (both mature and saplings), soil conditions, meadows, stream management zones (SMZ), other special areas including, roads, down logs, Control Areas, wildlife habitat, leave snags, Sensitive Plants, culverts and other vegetation not specified to be treated.

Snag Retention shall be selected for longevity on the landscape for wildlife habitat, within the 100-foot-buffer and greater than 1½ times their height from the campground outer edge. Snags can be left in clumps or around living oaks, in rocky conditions, where they will not cause a safety issue for public use. Snags of various DBH, with branches and at least 20 feet tall are a priority for retention and can include Incense Cedar, White Fir, Sugar Pine and Ponderosa Pine, Lodge pole pine, Jeffrey pine and Red Fir with defects and special characteristics such as broken tops, unique branching, large limbs, witch’s brooms, forked-tops, cavities, cat-faces, pileated woodpecker holes, partially burned and or bole cavities.

Down logs of various species diameters and length shall be stable and may be connected to the root wad.

Aquatic and Riparian Species and Habitat Design Refueling and maintenance of heavy equipment and chainsaws shall occur outside of the 100-foot buffer of all riparian areas including meadows, streams, seeps, springs, fens and or wet areas discovered during project implementation.

Report to the COR any sightings of amphibians or reptiles (frogs, toads, salamanders and turtles) during implementation of the work. Riparian vegetation shall not be cut during project implementation, unless coordinated with the District Aquatic Biologist. Brochures of local aquatic species are attached to the contract package.

District Aquatic Biologist will be designated as a Government Technical Monitor (GTM) to respond to onsite monitoring for the determination of start of work, modified LOP requirements, onsite guidelines for the protection of habitat used by frogs, toads and turtles.

For the protection of the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog habitat, Western Pond Turtle and Yosemite Toad, Class I and II stream SMZ’s and meadows will extend 100 feet on either side of the channel and upland habitat with no disturbance from October 16 through June 14.

Pacific Fisher Maintain stand diversity primarily to provide cover for the Pacific fisher as well as other native wildlife species within the edges of the 100-foot buffer area adjacent to rock out crops and vegetation islands.

If any Threatened, Endangered, or Sensitive Species (TES) are observed within or near the project during implementation, vegetation treatments shall cease in that area and the COR shall be notified immediately.

Heritage Resources Portions of the work area have designated archaeological protection requirements. These sites will be delineated with blue/black striped and solid white flagging prior to implementation and if necessary, a monitor will be onsite. Felling and removal of hazard, salvage, and other trees within the sites must be under the following conditions: trees may be limbed or topped to prevent soil gouging during felling, trees will be removed through hand bucking (with chain saws and hand carrying), rubber-tired loader, crane/self-loader, helicopter, or other non-disturbing, approved methods by the Heritage Program Manager/Designated Heritage Program Staff (HPM/DHS).

Equipment operators will be briefed to minimize ground disturbance, such as no skidding or tracked equipment shall be allowed within the sites. Woody material may be removed by hand, with off-site equipment, by rubber-tire equipment or may be chipped within the site boundary where the staging of chipping equipment does not affect the site and staging areas, are specifically approved. The use of tracked equipment to remove brush or woody material from within specifically identified areas of the site under prescribed measures shall be approved by the HPM/DHS. Piling of materials shall be outside of the site. Monitoring is required.

Some work areas may have designated archaeological protection requirements, including 100% avoided and some will have a designated Archaeological Monitor to provide and oversee the specialized work methods. For example, equipment operations may be permitted using a boom to reach into the protected area or a skid steer with belt type tracks or barriers are placed. Where monitoring is a condition of approval, its requirements or scheduling procedures should be included in a written approval. These activities need prior approval by the HPM/DHPS.

Coordination and communication shall be required between the designated Archaeological Monitor and the COR. Linear sites (e.g., historic trails, roads, railroad grades, ditches) may be crossed or breached by equipment in areas where their features or characteristics clearly lack historic integrity (i.e., where those portions do not contribute to site eligibility or values). Crossing shall be made perpendicular to linear site features. The remainder of the site shall be avoided, and traffic is to be clearly routed through designated crossings. These activities need prior approval by the HPM/DHPS. Prior to the start of work, and exchange of information will be provided to the Contractor regarding cultural resource locations and the specific Project Design Features and Standard Protection Measures (SPM) and needs for Tribe consultation.

If an archeological site is discovered during operations, stop working in the specified area and notify the COR. This information will be shared with the Heritage Program Manager (HPM) or Designated Heritage Program Staff (DHPS) to schedule a field meeting.

Range Management Design Criteria All contract activities shall avoid damaging range infrastructure that includes cross pasture fences, posts, H-braces, and associated gates, cattle guards, cattle guard wings, braces and stock trails. Prevent dirt and debris from being pushed into cattle guards. Any damaged infrastructure during the tree felling, piling or fire lining, shall be reported to the COR to ensure coordination with the Rangeland Management Specialist. Damaged infrastructure shall be replaced and/or repaired to pre-existing condition. A map or onsite visit will show the locations of these improvements. Avoid staging equipment, piling slash, placing burn piles, or any other debris that could either temporarily or permanently block any portion of the stock drive.

Kelty Meadow is a designated horse camp with hitching rails, pens at some sites for use by recreational horses and mules. Stock water is provided at the campground by a solar pump. The water is gravity fed to a water trough and a section of channel is enclosed from stock use, to protect channel banks from trampling.

Project Design Features for Kelty Meadow: Avoid activities that would remove and or damage the hitching rails, pens, stock water trough and or enclosure fencing. Protect the solar pump.

Granite Creek Project Design Features: This is a designated horse campground. Protect the corral pipe pens that are used for stock holding.

Jackass Meadow Vista: is authorized for grazing under a Term Grazing Permit. The Jackass Pasture was reconstructed in 2021 after the 2020 Creek Fire damage and the 2021 wind event blow down of trees. The current fence includes a swinging gate that opens to a platform trail that leads to the meadow overlook. Grazing fence is attached to dead and alive conifer trees. High stumps may be needed to retain the trees that are used as fence posts. Protect any corner trees and watch for nails and embedded wire in trees. Fence wires are up during the grazing season. Protect fence wire during log movement to designated burn pile construction area that is in openings, away from the meadow. Logs and woody debris shall be aerially lifted to protect the platform trail, meadow area and rangeland improvements.

Cold Springs Vista Trail: is adjacent to an authorized Term Grazing permit. Protect all fencing wire and posts, stock trail and gate. High stumps may be required to protect nails used for fence wire. Overlook trail passes through the pasture fence.

OHV and Recreation Trails All contract activities shall avoid damaging OHV and Recreation trails. Avoid staging equipment, piling slash in teepee shaped burn piles, or any other debris that could either temporarily or permanently block any portion of the system trails within the project units. Damage to trails shall be repaired to pre-existing conditions. COR will coordinate with the District OHV Manager as needed.

Botany All equipment, gear and trailers shall arrive clean to prevent introduction and spread of invasive plants. When indicated for a specific site where invasive weeds are present, decontaminate equipment and tools by washing or using compressed air prior to moving to the next work area.

Project Design Features for Invasive plants: After working in the campground and buffer area, wash or use compressed air to remove contaminated soil from equipment and machinery so that plants and seeds do not move to the next work area. Invasive plant areas are flagged with orange flagging with black letters showing NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Project Design Features for Protective plants: When removing hazard trees, avoid damage to soil and streamside within 75’ of Fish Creek and 75’ of Rock Creek to protect Rawson’s flaming trumpet. Protective plant flagging is a combination of 1 lime green flag with 1 green with black stripes.

Invasive/noxious weed prevention measures shall be followed as listed in the Equipment Cleaning clause. If avoidance of invasive weed infested areas is not practical, heavy equipment shall be washed after passing through these contaminated areas and before moving to other areas within the project or to other off-site areas. The COR will work directly with the Forest Botanist prior to any activities occurring within invasive weed locations.

When removing hazard trees avoid damage to soil and streamside within 75’ of Fish Creek and Rock Creek to protect Rawson’s flaming trumpet plants Bolander’s clover shall be protected in the meadowy area directly adjacent to the vista at Jackass Meadow Vista. Botany crew will survey and flag Bolander’s clover for avoidance prior to start of work at Jackass Meadow.

Cold Springs meadow Bolander’s clover plants grow in the central and northern areas of the meadow downslope of the vista and not a conflict for contractor’s work.

Botany Invasive Plants For Avoidance Botany Invasive Plants For Avoidance Botany Protected Plants For Avoidance

Invasive bull thistle

Wolly mullein

Rawson’s flaming trumpet

Mammoth Pool

Kelty Meadow

Bolander’s clover

Fish Creek

Jackass Meadow Vista

Texas Flat

Cold Springs Meadow Vista

Upper Chiquito

Little Jackass

Sweetwater

Granite Creek

Wagner’s

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Protect green/alive conifers and oaks during the mechanical and hand tree felling and fire line construction. The work in the unit shall be considered completed after all the piles are lined, water bars installed, and culvert approaches are free of debris, erosion control measures have been installed, and access is blocked.

C.4 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

The Contractor shall provide all transportation of equipment, tools, experienced personnel, and supplies to work sites. The Contractor shall be responsible for all fuel, lubrication, repair, and replacement of parts for the equipment. All chainsaws and other motorized equipment shall be equipped with Forest Service approved spark arrestors and meet California Division of Industrial Safety specifications. The Contractor shall provide all tools and equipment needed for the job. The following are minimum equipment requirements.

Equipment shall be in good running condition with no excess fluid leaks or overheating. The track operated equipment shall have an approved rollover protection system and shall be capable of working on 0 to 35% slope. It shall have a boom with a mounted adjustable hydraulically powered attachment to either cut standing hazard trees or pick up and collect whole or pieces of down logs and woody debris and carry to place them into teepee shaped piles. A shuttle process shall be developed to carry logs and debris from the campground to its 100-foot buffer area for piling. If the 100-foot buffer area becomes unavailable, a system shall be required to shuttle the campground woody material to the nearby designated disposal sites.

The Contracting Officer reserves the right to approve the type of equipment to be furnished. If the equipment is found to be in poor operating condition and has the need for frequent repairs or delay, another piece of equipment shall be provided.

To the best of professional skilled ability, equipment operations and hand felling of trees shall protect the residual leave trees, snags, logs, rock out crops and soil. Operations shall work carefully adjacent to alive trees, CA’s, designated Toad habitat, infrastructure, meadows, SMZ’s and main roads.

Utilize a small to medium size track mounted equipment that shall be operated to minimize soil compaction and disturbance on slopes and soil conditions while preparing a fire line around individual, group piles or edge of the work area and or carrying woody material to burn piles.

a) Equipment shall be in good running condition with no excessive fluid leaks or overheating.

b) Equipment shall be track mounted to minimize soil compaction and disturbance on slopes.

c) Excavator type of equipment shall be capable of using a boom mounted grapple head, cutting head and or shovel/thumb capable of lifting down logs and branches and placing them into a teepee shaped burn pile.

d) Equipment shall be clean and pass the equipment inspection prior to arriving to the work area and prior to leaving the work area.

e) Utilized a low impact excavator or skid steer for work requirements within the Cold Springs trail and vista.

2025 Disaster Relief GAOA Scenic Byway Recreation Bass Lake Ranger District Hazard Tree Removal for Site Rehabilitation Sierra National Forest

Utilize travel routes from the roads edge into the work area without damaging the road fill slope or cut bank. Rearranged soil shall be returned to its natural state and install water bars or log barriers as needed to prevent water damage or future unwanted access.

2025 Disaster Relief GAOA Byway Recreation Bass Lake Ranger District Site Rehabilitation Sierra National Forest

EQUIPMENT CLEANING

The Contractor shall ensure that prior to moving on to or leaving the project area, all off-road equipment is free of soil, seeds, vegetative material, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds of noxious weeds. “Off Road Equipment” includes all logging, construction machinery, hazard tree removal and brushing equipment (brush hogs, masticators, chippers). This is not required for log trucks, grapple truck with a box, service vehicles, water trucks, pickup trucks, and similar vehicles not intended for off-road use.

The Contractor shall notify the Forest Service at least 3 working days prior to moving each piece of equipment on to National Forest Land, unless otherwise agreed. Notification will include identifying the location of where the equipment inspection will occur. Generally, the inspection process takes place close to the road system of the work areas. For example, USFS North Fork main office or near the USFS Batterson work center located north of Oakhurst. Both locations are near a water source if needed.

The Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to thoroughly clean the equipment. For example, water pressure from a water tender, fire water tank or water truck. Equipment shall be considered clean when a visual inspection has been completed by the contractor. The Contracting Officer Representative verifies and documents the results of the cleaning inspection, that the equipment does not disclose soil, seed, plant material, and other such debris.

Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection tools is not required. For subsequent moves between project areas or to a new contract work area. Contractor may be required to wash or use compressed air or a leaf blower on equipment before moves between units and or moving off site to another project or to their equipment shop.

C.5 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED OPERATORS

The Contractor shall provide Equipment Operators with the following experience:

(a) Experience operating the equipment in a safe and practical manner while working in Natural Forest Stands, fire burned environment with hazardous standing and fallen trees, campgrounds with infrastructure, range land improvements, OHV trails and improvements, stock and walking trails, elevated vista platforms, designated toad and turtle habitat, paved and dirt forest roads.

(b) Experience operating equipment within or adjacent to Controlled Areas (CA-1, CA-3), meadows, sensitive plants, noxious weeds, SMZ’s while protecting down logs, snags, fences, and other improvements while following specific protection measure guidelines.

(c) Experience operating the equipment to meet work requirements without damaging green trees, meadows, leave logs, snags, riparian areas and resource protected sites.

(d) Experience operating the equipment on slopes 0 to 35% percent while protecting soil conditions and residual trees or vegetation not specified to be treated. Capable to install water bars in skid trails, fire line on slopes, and as needed, to prevent erosion and soil movement.

(e) The Equipment Operator(s) and Contractor’s Representative must be able to speak fluent English and understand the written English language.

C.6 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY, REPORTS AND SERVICES

The Contractor shall furnish all technical expertise, labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals necessary to complete the project, except for that which the contract clearly states is to be furnished by the Government.

2025 Disaster Relief GAOA Byway Recreation Bass Lake Ranger District Site Rehabilitation Sierra National Forest

Contractor shall provide labor and supplies to complete the project. All equipment used within the Contract area shall be an appropriate type to meet the requirements of the work. Equipment shall be capable of working on 0-35% slopes. All equipment shall meet or exceed OSHA specifications. Cal-OSHA regulations apply to contracts involving employees. At the end of each month a copy of the County Use Report if Cellu-treat was used for stump treatments will be provided to the Contracting Officer Representative

C.7 PUBLIC SAFETY

The Contractor shall provide and install large, easily read warning signs along the roads or access trails, warning the public or other visitors of the hazards of the tree felling and mechanical operations. These signs shall state that all persons shall remain at least 200 feet from the machine and or hand tree felling during operations. Approach only by permission of the operator.

Contractor's operation shall facilitate Forest Services' safe and practical inspection of Contractor's ongoing operation and be able to conduct other official duties in the contract area.

Contractor shall be responsible to clear overhanging or fallen trees and snags across roads accessing the project area and keep roads free of activity debris.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, when Contractor's operations are in progress adjacent to or on roads and trails open to public travel, the Contractor shall furnish, install and maintain all temporary traffic controls which provide the forest user with adequate warning of hazardous conditions associated with Contractor's Operations. Contractor and Contracting Officer and/or their Representative (COR) shall agree to a specific traffic control plan for each individual contract work area prior to commencing operations. Devices shall be appropriate to current conditions and shall be covered or removed when not needed. Except as otherwise agreed, flag persons and devices shall be as specified in the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highway" (MUTCD).

C.8 ORDER OF WORK

The…