Site_Visit_Notes_by_Site_and_Duration.pdf

Site Visit One: Wenzel Heirs WRP in Butler County, KY

Duration of visit lasted approximately an hour

Q. What is the basal area opening and what kind of canopy opening is wanted?

A. We are not focused on the amount of canopy that is being opened; our main concern is that we are removing 30-40% of the basal area. This is to open the woods so that the crop trees have substantial area to grow.

Q. What happens if contractor is using a chemical method to treat the stumps and it splashes over to a crop tree?

A. The list of chemicals the contractor can use was thoughtfully selected to detract from using any chemicals that could potentially splash over. Therefore, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Q. If a contractor choses to use a chain saw, what should be done with the residues?

A. The residues should be left and all stumps must be chemically treated

Q. How many plots were taken?

A. On the Wenzel site (Butler County), stand one had four plots and stand two had one plot. On the Montgomery site (Green County), stand one had two plots. On the Evans site (Monroe County), stand one had two plots. On the E & E site (Livingston County), stand one had fifteen plots, stand two had two plots, stand three had two plots, stand four had two plots, stand five had three plots and stand six had two plots.

Q. Can a contractor use girdling as a removal method instead of stump cutting with chemical application?

A. Yes, A single girdling with a chemical application is acceptable method for performing the work.

Site Visit Two: E & E WRP in Livingston County, KY

Duration of visit lasted approximately two hours.

Q. Should the ground cover of trumpet creeper, etc. be cleared?

A. No, only the vines that are climbing up the trees.

Q. Should the contractor remove the invasive and non-native plants?

A. No, the contractor should remove only the trumpet creeper and other vines.

Q. Should the contractor clear the vines on all the trees?

A. No, the contractor is only responsible for removing the vines that are on the crop trees.

Q. Should the contractor cut the locust trees?

A. The contractor is not required to cut the locust trees.

Q. What happens if the E & E site is flooded throughout both periods?

A. If the site is flooding through the duration of both periods, the contract would most likely be extended.

Q. How high does the river have to be to flood the Livingston site?

A. This site is located on the Tennessee River at river mile 8 (8 miles above the Ohio river) the best river gauge to use is the Ohio River gauge at Paducah approximately 10 miles downstream. A reading of 34.5 on the Paducah gauge will start backing water onto the E & E WRP site. Flood Stage at Paducah is 39.0. For comparison recent crests have been 53.27 on 2/25/19, 42.83 on 1/5/19, 40.86 on 4/13/18, 51.43 on 3/2/18, and 40.65 on 5/13/17.

Q. What are the wage rates? And do they differ per county?

A. The Davis-Bacon Wage Determination No. 1980-0150 Revision 52 March 12, 2019 applies.

Site visits concluded at 4:00 pm eastern time.