Willow Creek Restoration Project SOW.docx

Willow Creek Restoration Project-Upstream of Private Reach Work Statement

Description of Work Construction The intent of this contract is to secure services to complete final design and construct aquatic habitat restoration structures to restore the natural stream morphology of a reach of Willow Creek. High burn severity within Willow Creek’s watershed (from the 2012 Whitewater-Baldy fire) departed the hydrograph from natural conditions immediately following the fire and for several years afterwards. Loss of ground cover, loss of riparian vegetation, and temporary hydrophobicity in soils resulted in increased flows, which negatively altered the channel’s geometry, causing aquatic habitat to decline for the listed Gila trout. Proposed treatments to improve aquatic habitat and stabilize the stream channel include construction of rock clusters, J-hook vanes, cross vane weirs, bank sloping, willow bundle installations, brush revetment installations, and native seeding.

Design Final design for this project is required for the work prior to implementation. This includes an estimate of materials required, exact locations of erosion control structures, and engineering designs for these structures.

Location of Project The project is located on the Gila National Forest, Reserve Ranger District.

To reach Willow Creek: From Reserve, NM take State Highway 435 going south for 6.5 miles until you reach FSR 141. Follow FSR 141 for approximately 30 miles going east until you reach FSR 28. Follow FSR 28 going south for approximately 15 miles to reach County Road 073. Follow County Road 073 for approximately 3.5 miles until the end of the road. The project area is about .10 miles long from where County Road 073 ends to the wilderness boundary.

Under normal conditions the project area is accessible with a 2-wheel drive vehicle. It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to determine the most suitable route to the project area. All of the transportation of equipment, personnel, and supplies will also be the responsibility of the contractor.

Contractor Responsibility The Contractor shall provide everything--including, but not limited to, all equipment, supplies, transportation, labor, and supervision--necessary to complete the project, except for that which the contract clearly states is to be furnished by the Government.

The Contractor shall provide a full time on-site representative. It is the duty of this individual to closely monitor project implementation quality and safety of the crew and notify workers of any issues regarding site conditions, so that deficient trends may be remedied before becoming a detriment to the overall project quality. The Contractor’s Representative shall be fluent in the English language.

Due to the complexity of working in stream channels, the Contractor’s Representative shall participate in briefings as needed with the Forest Service Contracting Office Representative (COR) or the Technical Inspector to clarify treatment needs and answer questions as the project progresses. These briefings can occur anytime during contract operations. The Contractor shall submit a schedule of planned work to enable the COR or Technical Inspector to be on site to inspect critical work.

Additionally, the Contractor will cooperate and communicate with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, San Francisco Soil and Water Conservation District, and Natural Channel Design to ensure that stream restoration activities within the Upstream of Private Reach integrate with other restoration reaches within Willow Creek.

Lastly, contractor shall follow the forest-wide industrial precaution guidelines to reduce the risk of human- caused fires (Attachment: GILA NATIONAL FOREST Industrial Fire Precaution Guidelines 2023).

Project Specifications The Upstream of Private Reach of the Willow Creek Restoration Project requires the following items within a 0.10 reach of Willow Creek:

· Construction of 1+ Rock J-Hook Vane,

· Construction of 1+ cross vane weir,

· Construction of rock clusters habitat features,

· Construction of 500 linear feet of bank sloping,

· Placement of 500 linear feet of brush revetment (supply/place),

· Placement of 725 willow clusters (3 poles/cluster)

· Procurement of 2175 willows (may be harvested onsite at no charge)

· Placement of .2 acres native seeding

· Placement of 890 square yards erosion control fabric

· Mobilization/Demobilization

· Final Project design (this will determine exact quantities) Rock Clusters Rock clusters create heterogeneous currents and velocities in homogenous riffles and runs. They can provide vertical cover in midstream or bankside habitat. Three to four large boulders are placed in a group to break up high velocities and create low velocity resting habitat with vertical structure. The area immediately downstream of clusters can be excavated slightly to provide deeper habitat, which will be maintained by the cluster. Rock clusters can be installed midstream or along the shoreline. They are best used in groups of densely spaced multiple clusters to provide short reaches of complex habitats. Boulders are placed in a triangular or diamond shaped pattern with spaces between rocks ranging from 6 to 12 inches. The tops of boulders should be below bankfull elevation. An excavator is usually needed to place the boulders (See Exhibit A).

Willow Plantings Planting native willow poles is an economical way to rapidly establish vegetation along streambanks. Willows provide protection from erosion while shading the stream. Locally harvested dormant poles (1/2 to 2-inch diameter) can be planted with an auger or backhoe into permanently wetted soil along the bank. Poles will root and establish new plants quickly. Poles can be planted as clusters of several (~3) poles to increase establishment success. Disturbed bank areas and areas around new habitat structures should be planted with at least a single row of poles. The new vegetation will quickly provide shade, cover, and streambank protection. Pole planting on freshly worked banks should be accompanied by seeding with a mix of local native grasses on the bank with wetland plugs planted along the toe of the bank. Most of the structures discussed above will also include willow plantings to help stabilize the bank and provide additional protection from erosion (See Exhibit B).

J-hook Vanes The purpose of a J-hook vane is to turn high velocity water away from the bank and to encourage scour pool development. They are also suitable for providing stable drops and grade control in steep sections of channel. When closely spaced they can mimic a step-pool system. They are constructed of large rocks and footer rocks using an excavator. The bottom of the “J” shape is at bed elevation on the upstream side with the arm extending to the bank and tying in at bankfull elevation (See Exhibit C).

Cross Vane Weirs Cross vane weirs help restore the stream channel to a more stable geomorphic configuration. Cross vane weirs are installed to concentrate and center flows in overwide channels. They can also be installed at a steep grade break or headcut to drop flows in a stable manner. Weirs induce pool features and provide valuable pool habitat. Cross vane weirs consist of large rock locked together in an inverted horseshoe shape with arms extending from the channel bottom up to bankfull height. An excavator is needed to construct a cross vane weir (See Exhibit C).

Maps

Maps showing the general vicinity and/or specific work areas are included within the contract package. Maps are general in nature and are not to be considered as definitively identifying locations.

Any prospective contractor desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing from the Contracting Officer soon enough to allow a reply to reach all prospective contractors before the solicitation closing date. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding.

Estimated Start Date & Contract Time

Start: Feb/2/2024 End: 9/30/2024

The contractor shall begin work within 10 calendar days of receipt of the notice to proceed and complete the entirety of the work no later than 60 calendar days.

Restrictions on Work

Work may be performed at any time during the period of the contract, except as restricted within the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Biological Opinion for endangered species. Nothing in this part shall be construed to take away any of the Government's rights under the Suspension of Work Clause (52.242-14).

Camping and Housing

Camping for work crews will be permitted within the Ben Lilly Campground. Extended stays longer than 14 days will require written permission to extend stay and waiver fees.

Staging/Parking Areas

Equipment Parking Area: Equipment may be parked at the Ben Lilly Campground. Other parking areas can be designated if required.

Weather

Equipment shall not be operated when ground conditions are such that excessive rutting and soil compaction could occur. Stabilize project areas when the National Weather Service predicts a 50% or greater chance of precipitation. Keep erosion control measures sufficiently effective during ground disturbance to allow rapid closure when weather conditions deteriorate. Complete all necessary stabilization prior to precipitation that could result in surface runoff.

Refueling and Equipment Repairs

Refueling and equipment repairs may not occur within meadows boundaries or within 300 feet of streams. If critical equipment must be refueled or repaired within the meadow boundary or 300 feet of streams, spill prevention and countermeasures must be implemented by the contractor to avoid spills. This includes secondary containment such as drip pans and/or placement of absorbent material. No hazardous materials, fuels, lubricants, oils, hydraulic fluids, or other construction-related potentially hazardous substances should be stored within meadows or within 300 feet of streams.

Cleaning of Equipment

All equipment used on this project shall be washed before moving into the project area so that the equipment is free of soil, seeds, vegetative material, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds of noxious weeds. “Equipment” includes all construction equipment; it does not include service vehicles, water trucks, pickup trucks, and similar vehicles not intended for off-road use.

Equipment will be considered clean when visual inspection does not reveal soil, seeds, plant material, or other such debris. Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection equipment is not required. Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer Representative at least five days in advance of moving equipment in so that arrangements can be made for inspection.

The equipment shall be cleaned before moving to other Forest Service system lands to avoid the spread of noxious weeds.

Public Safety

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, when Contractor’s operations are in progress adjacent to or on Forest Service controlled 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 or potentially hazardous conditions associated with Contractor’s Operations.

Road Maintenance

Damage to project access roads caused by Contractor’s Operations, other than fire suppression activities, shall be repaired by Contractor in a timely and agreed manner to the extent practicable to restore and prevent further resource damage.