A04_FY24_Statement_of_Work_for_Invasives_Species_Removal.docx

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Statement of Work for Savanna Restoration Support through Black Locust Herbicide Treatment

SCOPE: This statement of work defines the work required to perform herbicide treatment of an extensive black locust infestation within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The extent of the herbicide treatment is assigned to the area on the attached map labelled “Trempealeau NWR FY24 ISST Contract Map,” which is a collection of 18 polygons that totals approximately 78 acres of distinct treatment areas. The entire herbicide treatment area is assigned to the refuge’s Prairie Oak Savanna Management Unit, a sandy upland zone bounded completely by wetland marsh, bottomland forest, and open water. Portions of this roughly 550-acre management unit were treated with foliar application in 2021, 2022 and 2023, with follow-up mechanical treatment already completed to remove deadened stems and plant material to improve access for future treatments.

The treatment strategy in 2024 will focus on foliar treatment of black locust saplings/clones that persist within portions of the unit as labelled on the attached map. Foliar treatments will focus on black locust in select areas and buckthorn along the outer edge of the eastern auto tour loop. The second treatment strategy within this management unit is to utilize basal bark treatment methods to control woody targets within portions of the unit as labelled on the attached map. Basal bark treatments will focus on all invasive woody species within the polygons less than 7’’ diameter at breast height other than bur oak. If time and funding permits, additional management units may be targeted for treatment at the discretion of the Refuge Manager. Priority for treatment should be given to black locust, however, an intended secondary objective for this scope of work will focus on opportunistically treating woody invasive (to include but not limited to; Siberian elm, bush honeysuckle, prickly ash, mulberry, honey locust, black cherry, hill’s oak and buckthorns) that are abutting or occur within black locust infestations. It should be noted that several oak trees have been planted in the treatment areas. Care should be taken to avoid herbicide treatments of bur oak and white oak trees.

The items listed below are in priority order. If the lowest bid exceeds the funding available, a portion of priorities one and two will be awarded with total acres dependent on bid package proposals. The third priority will be awarded if remaining funding is available.

1. Apply a foliar herbicide application to black locust and other target woody species within the “Contract Foliar Chemical Treatment” polygons identified in the attached map in pink shading. A total of 26 acres of area is included in these foliar treatment polygons.

· Black locust foliar treatments are to consist of TerraVue and an approved surfactant per application rates specified in Pesticide Use Proposal #R3-24-32579-008 (attached)

· Buckthorn and other woody species foliar treatments are to consist of Vastlan and an approved surfactant per application rates specified in Pesticide Use Proposal # R3-24-32579-001 (attached)

· If conditions warrant the use of tank mixes of herbicides, the following Pesticide Use Proposals could be considered and approved by the Refuge Manager:

· Terravue and Vastlan: # R3-24-32579-019

· Terravue and Garlon 4 Ultra: # R3-24-32579-017

· Garlon 4 Ultra, Milestone and Polaris AC: # R3-24-32579-023

· Polaris AC and Garlon 4 Ultra: # R3-24-32579-022

2. Apply a basal bark herbicide application to black locust and other target woody species within the “Contract Basal Bark Chemical Treatment” polygons identified in the attached map in blue crosshatch shading. A total of 56 acres is included in these basal bark treatment polygons. Priority basal bark treatments should begin with the outermost polygons on the map, ending with the large oak-based polygons in the open prairie.

· Basal bark treatments are to consist of herbicides and herbicide mixtures with existing Pesticide Use Proposals:

· Garlon 4 Ultra, Milestone and Polaris AC: # R3-24-32579-023

· Polaris AC and Garlon 4 Ultra: # R3-24-32579-022

3. If funding and time remains, consult with Refuge Manager to continue treatment into previously mapped/known infestation areas in additional management units.

This scope of work covers complete treatment of the infestation areas or up to available funding amount, whichever is met first. When bidding please provide an approximate range of rates per acre to complete the work split out by each priority (i.e. Priority 1 $$/acre; Priority 2 $$/acre). The refuge will not provide herbicide and surfactant to the contractor for this job.

LOCATION: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Rd, Trempealeau, WI 54661

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Foliar applications should occur during the following environmental conditions:

· active growing season while foliage on trees is 90-100% green

· 20ft winds are less than 10 mph

· rain is not forecasted for the workday or for 48 hours post-treatment

· woody stems are not wet or ice/snow covered

Ideally, foliar applications will be completed by September 30, 2024 or two weeks before the first frost. If vegetation conditions remain favorable for treatment beyond that date an extension may be granted with written Refuge Manager approval. Basal bark applications are utilized as a method for treating areas that cannot be foliar sprayed, and those treatments should occur during dry stem conditions per the product label for that application method at any time during the performance period. The scope of work needs to be completed no later than July 31, 2025.

WORK SCHEDULE: Work will be performed Monday – Friday, except on Federal Holidays.

Site visit is not required, but highly recommended. Areas to be treated are densely vegetated and can be difficult to access. Multiple ATV spray rigs are the likely choice of equipment for this scope of work.

CONTACTS:

Casey Bryan, Refuge Manager, casey_bryan@fws.gov, office: 608-539-2311 Ext. 6: Cell: 608-780-7301

Chery Groom, Acting Project Leader, cheryl_groom@fws.gov, office: 608-779-2399: Cell: 608-780-7302