Departee_Channel_SpecPackage_Signed2.pdf

NRCS—Arkansas 430-1 Departee Channel

Construction Specification

430. Obstruction Removal

1. SCOPE

This specification covers the debris removal, tree removal, and deposition removal within the designated areas.

2. DEBRIS AND TREE REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL (Clearing and Snagging)

All brush, trees, and stumps within the perimeter of the channel and being designated to be cut shall be cut as close to the ground level as cutting tools will permit. Trees shall be felled in such a manner as to avoid damage to other trees, property, or objects located in close proximity.

Down trees, brush, undergrowth, logs, drifts, debris and other obstructions lying wholly or partially within the channel shall be removed.

Trees, logs, and all nonhazardous combustible material resulting from the clearing and debris removal operations shall be burned in designated or approved disposal areas as specified for the project.

Residue from burning and noncombustible material shall be buried outside the channel or placed in approved disposal areas. All buried material shall have adequate earth cover to permit proper land use.

All removal and disposal activities shall take place within the established construction easement, (200) feet measured perpendicularly from the channel centerline on either side of the channel.

Equipment operators will work in manner to disturb as little of the channel as possible for clearing.

Existing timber and trees located outside the top bank of the channel shall remain undisturbed with the exception of periodic openings that must be cleared to allow for ingress/egress of equipment and removal and disposal of debris. These openings shall be limited with regard to location, size, and number that is necessary for efficient operation and shall be located no less than three hundred (300) feet apart or as directed by the engineer. Trees located outside the top bank and larger than fourteen (14) inches in diameter as measured 3 feet above the base shall remain undisturbed. Furthermore, ground disturbance shall be avoided below the drip line of these trees.

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality issues general storm water permits for construction activity including clearing, grading and excavation, except operations that result in the disturbance of less than five acres of total land area. Construction activity also includes the disturbance of less than five acres of total land area that is a part of a larger common plan of development or sale if the larger common plan will ultimately disturb five acres. Contractor should make sure to read and understand the conditions of the permit. A copy of the General Storm Water Construction Permit is available on the ADEQ web site at https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/water/permits/npdes/stormwater/. You may also obtain a hard copy by contacting the ADEQ’s General Permits Section at (501) 682-0623.

NRCS—Arkansas 430-2 Departee Channel

3. DEPOSITION REMOVAL

All deposition removal shall be conducted in accordance with Section 6. Deposition removal shall include, but not be limited to, the removal of silts, gravels, and rocks that are deemed by the engineer to be an impediment to the natural flow of the creek. Excavated deposits shall be placed in designated disposal areas. Excavated materials that include intrinsic organic matter which cannot be feasibly segregated from earthen material shall be kept separate from other depositions and placed in designated disposal areas.

The excavated surface shall be reasonably smooth. All excavation operations shall be conducted in a manner which will not restrict flow from existing channels. All stumps, roots, buried logs, brush, rubbish and similar material shall be removed from within the cross—sectional limits of the channel unless otherwise specified in Section 6.

Within the designated channel area, trees and rubbish identified for removal shall be cleared and snagged and disposed of as shown on the drawings or specified in Section 6. If any manmade materials such as trash, refuse, tires, or other materials unsuitable for combustion or spoil placement are discovered during the course of work, such materials shall be disposed of offsite in accordance with all local and state regulations.

Spoil shall be disposed of in the locations and in the manner shown on the drawings or specified in Section

6. Openings shall be left in the spoil to facilitate natural drainage. Spoil suitable for spreading in cultivated fields and pastures shall be placed so as to improve surface drainage from adjacent areas and shall be smoothed sufficiently to permit free operation of farm equipment. Spoil used for dikes and stream banks shall be placed to the line, cross section, and grade prescribed in the detailed drawings.

4. EROSION AND POLLUTION CONTROL

Construction operations shall be carried out in such a manner that erosion and air and water pollution are minimized. State and local laws concerning pollution shall be complied with.

5. MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

Method 1

Debris removal and disposal - For items of work for which specific lump sum prices are established in the contract, the quantity of debris removal and disposal will not be measured for payment. Payment for debris removal and disposal will be at the lump sum price established in the contract for all debris removal. This payment shall include full compensation for all labor equipment, tools, and all other items necessary and incidental to completion of the work.

Method 2

Deposition removal - For items of work for which specific lump sum prices are established in the contract, the quantity of deposition removal will not be measured for payment. Payment for deposition removal will be made at the contract lump sum price. This payment will include full compensation, for labor, equipment, tools and all other items necessary and incidental to completion of the work.

Method 3

For items of work for which specific unit prices are established in the contract, the length from which debris or deposition is removed from the channel will be measured by the station (100 feet) to the nearest 0.1

NRCS—Arkansas 430-3 Departee Channel station along the centerline of the channel. Payment for debris or deposition removal will be made at the contract unit price for the item and shall constitute full compensation for all labor, equipment, tools and all other items necessary and incidental to the completion of the work.

Method 4

For items of work for which specific lump sum prices are established in the contract, payment for debris disposal areas will be made at the contract lump sum prices for each area cleared. Such payment shall constitute full compensation for all labor, equipment, tools, and all other items necessary and incidental to completion of the work.

6. ITEMS OF WORK AND CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

Items of work to be performed in conformance with this specification and the construction details therefore are:

a. BID ITEMS 2, 3 AND 4 DEBRIS AND DEPOSITION REMOVAL

(1) These items shall consist of the removal and disposal of trees, logs, stumps, snags, brush, rubbish, manmade debris, beaver dams and sand and silt depositions from designated areas, including the route of ingress and egress along the channel and areas for disposal of sediment. It shall include treating tree stumps with chemicals to prevent regrowth or sprouting.

(2) Prior to the site showing, a typical 1,000-foot reach of each channel segment showing trees that will stay and sediment bars to be removed will be marked by means of stakes, flags, tree markings, or other suitable methods for each class of debris and deposition removal.

(3) During construction, identification of trees to stay will be marked by engineer, and sediment bars to be removed shall precede the contractor’s work by at least 1/4 mile. If at any time the contractor is unsure of materials to remove, he shall consult the engineer.

(4) The route of ingress and egress shall be constructed along a route staked in the field. When the route is constructed through wooded areas, minimum clearing required for construction will be permitted. The route of ingress and egress shall be obliterated and restored to the pre-altered condition to the maximum extent practicable after construction is completed.

(5) Debris and deposition removal will be classified according to the following definitions:

Segment A (Bid Item 2): Primary Channel from Station 640+00 to Station 765+00 Begins North of Lake Whitstine

Segment B (Bid Item 3): Primary Channel from Station 797+00 to Station 1215+91 Begins North of Meadow Lake

Segment C (Bid Item 4): Primary Channel from Station 1215+91 to Station 1318+20

(6) Standing trees to be removed that are not wholly located within the channel shall be marked in the field. Trees which will normally be removed are as follows:

NRCS—Arkansas 430-4 Departee Channel

(a) Those within the channel perimeter that are obstructing flow to a point that the actual channel capacity is less than planned capacity. Certain large outstanding trees that may reduce the channel capacity below design shall not be cut unless their falling in the channel is eminent.

(b) Those on the channel slopes that have root systems that are severely undercut or damaged to the point that they could fall in the channel.

(c) Those outside the channel but within the right-of-way that are dead, dying, diseased, or otherwise unstable.

(d) Those that must be removed for equipment access and efficient operation.

(7) Down trees, logs, drifts, debris and other obstructions lying wholly or partially within the channel shall be removed.

(8) Trees shall be felled in a manner that will avoid damage to trees left standing and existing structures. Root systems shall not be removed unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer.

(9) Trees felled in the channel shall be removed on the same day.

(10) Side ditches and natural drainage ways shall be left open so as not to obstruct the flow of water.

(11) Debris and sediment accumulations that are obstructing flows shall be removed. All free logs that are not rooted, embedded or lodged shall be removed unless otherwise directed by the engineer.

Isolated or single logs that are embedded, lodged or rooted in the channel and are not causing flow problems shall not be disturbed. Isolated accumulations of sediment, that in the opinion of the engineer are causing flow problems, shall be removed.

(12) Minimum clearing as required for disposal of deposition (sediment) will be permitted. Areas cleared for disposal of deposition will not be measured or paid for.

(13) Sediment shall be spread on the bank adjacent to the channel reach from which it was removed.

The disposal area for deposition shall be shaped so it will not block or pond water and will blend with the existing topography. Sediment removed from the channel shall be disposed of, so it will not damage trees left standing. No material shall be placed within the drip line of existing trees.

(14) Equipment that will cause the least damage to the environment shall be used for performing the work. Equipment shall be operated in a manner that results in the least damage to vegetation and soils. .

(15) Debris and deposition removal operations shall be performed with minimum disturbance to the channel banks. Deposition shall be removed to a depth that will establish free flow of the stream. The lateral limits of deposition removal will be staked in the field.

(16) Natural combustible materials cleared from designated areas shall be burned at locations and by methods approved by the engineer. All natural non-combustible materials, including residues from burning, shall be buried (with at least 18 inches of earth cover) at locations approved by the engineer.

Burning shall be controlled to the extent required by state and local regulations.

(17) All manmade debris such as appliances and tires larger than one cubic foot shall be removed from the designated areas. The removed debris shall be transported off site to an approved landfill or

NRCS—Arkansas 430-5 Departee Channel disposal area. The contractor must submit in writing to the Contracting Officer the proposed disposal site.

(18) All stumps (resulting from clearing operation) with a diameter of 2 inch and larger shall be treated with an herbicide.

(a) The herbicide shall be applied within two hours after cutting and the stump or root mass shall be totally saturated.

(b) The herbicide shall be applied following label precautions and manufacturer’s recommendations.

(c) A coloring agent shall be added to the herbicide to identify tree stumps treated.

(d) The herbicide and coloring agent to be used shall be approved by the contracting officer. For such approval, the contractor shall furnish a statement including the chemical composition of the herbicide and coloring agent he intends to use.

(19) Measurement and payment will be by Method 3.

b. BID ITEM 5, DEBRIS DISPOSAL AREAS

(1) This item shall consist of clearing areas along the channel for the disposal of (a) debris removed from the channel, (b) materials cleared from route of ingress and egress and debris disposal areas, and

(c) materials cleared from areas required for disposal of sediment removed from the channel. The location and size of the disposal areas will be staked in the field.

(2) Disposal areas will be within the right-of-way limits and will be spaced so that the maximum haul distance for disposing of debris and cleared materials will not exceed 2,500 feet.

(3) Disposal areas will not exceed 1/2 acre in size.

(4) Debris disposal areas located in open areas will not be paid for.

(5) Measurement and payment will be by method 4.