140L5725Q0003_-_Attachment_001_-_DRAFT_UpperBearRiverStreamStructureSOW_3.pdf

Statement of Work Upper Bear River – Stream Restoration Project

1. Background Information

The Upper Bear River Restoration Landscape project area is located in Rich County, Utah consisting of 171,405 acres of public land that is administered by the Salt Lake Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. The streams within this area are important for a wide variety of wildlife including Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (BCT) and Greater sage grouse. The objectives of this project are to 1. Increase channel-floodplain connectivity, 2. Reduce channel incision, 3.

Increase ground water tables and water storage, 4. Convert single-threaded channels to multi-threaded channels, 5. Recover and sustain natural habitat forming processes. By reaching these objectives there will be increase in riverscape resiliency and improvement of habitat conditions for wildlife and riparian vegetation.

2. Project Description

The Salt Lake Field Office is requesting bids for a contractor to implement a demonstration project that will engage and instruct stakeholders and partners in how to utilize Low-Tech Process Based Restoration (LTPBR) to reduce erosion and sedimentation, improve riparian vegetation, water quality and in-stream aquatic habitat along approximately 2 miles of BLM administered streams in Rich County, Utah. The contractor must work with the BLM to identify the site for the demonstration project within the Upper Bear River area that will showcase

LTPBR.

Base Tasks The project will include the following:

Completion of a detailed riparian and geomorphic condition assessment prior to project implementation using a variety of restoration tools including Beaver Restoration Assessment Tools (BRAT), and Riparian Condition Assessment Tool (RCAT)

Completion of a restoration plan utilizing Low Tech Process Based Restoration techniques and principles

Pre and post monitoring data collection (e.g., drone flights, aerial imagery, stream surveys, photos). Pre-monitoring data shall be collected in Spring 2025 (prior to May 31st) due to potential weather concerns. This pre-monitoring data will be utilized to develop an on-the-ground training in June/July 2025. Post monitoring data (e.g., drone flights, stream surveys, photos) would be collected within one month following the completion of the LTPBR structures. Post monitoring would occur again during the summer of 2026 to determine success of the demonstration project.

Provide materials (e.g., LTPBR handbook and pocket guide) to stakeholders and partners that participate in the on-the-ground hands on training. On-the-ground training will be completed in July/August 2025.

Provide BLM with a training plan in advance of the on-the-ground training for review and approval.

It is expected that during this training course that up to 30 students will be able to construct minimum of fifty and a maximum of seventy-five LTPBR structures (e.g., Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs), Post Assisted Log Structures (PALS), Postless

Structures) in a training setting over a period of one week (e.g., 4 days (40 hours)) with stakeholders, partners and youth crews that are representative of a variety of goals and objectives along 1 miles of stream within the Upper Bear River (Utah – Rich County) area.

The BDA/PAL structures will serve as a pilot project to test the site-specific geomorphic and hydrologic responses, which will inform the potential for larger-scale restoration within the area.

The following timeframes will be identified for the project

Activity Date Pre-Monitoring April 1 – May 31

Training Plan (Draft) (Submitted to BLM For Review) June 15 Training Plan (Final Submitted to BLM) June 30

On-the-Ground Partner and Stakeholder Training July 1 – August 31 Post Monitoring September 1 – October 31 Post Monitoring July 1 – October 31

Final Monitoring Report December 31

Based on lessons learned from the pilot project the scale will be expanded as needed to achieve restoration objectives. The final placement of the pilot structures will be determined by the contractor in cooperation with the BLM. The instream structures will mimic the structure and function of beaver dams, while other structures will mimic natural accumulations of large woody debris. All the different structure types will help to expand the riparian corridor. A healthy riparian corridor will increase the surface roughness of the floodplain, which will increase the magnitude of overbank deposition during high flows providing an increase in sediment storage on the floodplain and other structure types will cause an elevation in the water table and groundwater levels, which will aid in riparian recovery and expansion. The structures will be of high enough density to allow for opportunities to elevate base flow in the dry season while improving water quality. The structures will also essentially provide the same function as beaver dams allowing for capture and stabilization of stream supplied sediment, increased water levels and corresponding water table and aid in establishment of riparian vegetation on banks and adjacent floodplains.

A Successful contractor will: a) Prepare a restoration plan to install a mix of LTPBR structures (e.g., BDA, PAL), large woody debris (LWD) and in-stream habitat structures (rock and LWD) scattered throughout the designated project stream reach that will provide an overall increase in stream habitat complexity (increase the amount of pools, riffles, backwater habitats and cover within the stream channel); b) Implement the restoration plan to engage and provide on-the-ground training to a variety of partners and stakeholders; c) Provide documentation of the plan and as built conditions and d) Collect pre and post monitoring data to allow for the completion of a project report that showcases improvements that are made.

As discussed, the contractor will provide training to a variety of partners and stakeholders.

Implementation and construction of the design plan is by hand labor and hand tools only. The only power equipment allowed will be a hydraulic post-pounder (if needed), portable power pack

(generator), chain saws and ATVs. No heavy equipment and machinery will be allowed in the project area. The contractor will be responsible to oversee, provide training and direct construction, as well as provide equipment and labor to fully implement their design.

BDAs are built by using a variety of materials (e.g., sagebrush, willow, cottonwood, conifers) that are woven between wooden posts driven into the stream bed in the same manner as PALS (in the case of post-assisted BDAs). The main difference between BDAs and PALS is that BDAs are always channel spanning and local fill from the banks or bed are used to promote ponding of water during low-flow conditions. The fill is typically sourced from the banks and bed upstream of the structure from the area that will be inundated by the pool formed by the BDA. The fill is placed on the upstream side of the BDA to slow water moving through the structure and increase ponding. Material is collected using shovels and picks and moved by hand using 5-gallon buckets.

PALS are constructed by hand placing the wood in the channel and then using the hydraulic post pounder to pound 2-4” diameter untreated wooden posts into the channel to secure the wood.

Posts are typically driven in 2-3’ and cut off at approximately bank-full height.

Optional Tasks (based on funding availability)

Optional tasks will be based on funding availability. There will be several optional tasks as follows:

Optional Task 1 Optional Task 1 will include additional trainings (if determined necessary) and would be required to follow all activities identified under Base Tasks above.

Optional Task 2 (Multiple Options) – Project Implementation all phases (e.g., monitoring (pre and post), restoration design plan (Draft and Final), on-the-ground implementation (LTPBR structure build) and final monitoring report) to be completed by contractor

The contractor would complete the following work on streams that are prioritized for Low Tech Process Based Restoration (LTPBR) by the BLM using tools identified in the Base Tasks section above under Optional Task 2: a. complete a detailed riparian and geomorphic condition assessment, b. complete a restoration design plan utilizing LTPBR techniques and principles (e.g., identification of structure type, structure locations, goals/objectives of each structure, etc.…) so that the contractor can build LTPBR structures within priority streams, c. collect pre and post monitoring data to monitor the success of the project and d. complete a final monitoring report. Optional Task 2 may consist of up to 8 miles of streams each year for a period of 4 years based on funding availability.

Pre-Monitoring May 1 – October 31

Restoration Design Plan (Draft) (Submitted to BLM For Review)

February 1

Restoration Design Plan and Permitting (e.g., permitting - stream alteration permits) (Final

Submitted to BLM)

April 15

Project Implementation (build LTPBR structures on-the-ground) - Contractor

June 1 - July 31

Post Monitoring (Year 1) August 1 – October 31 Post Monitoring (Year 2) July 1 – October 31 Final Monitoring Report December 31

Optional Task 3 (Multiple Options) – Project Implementation (e.g., monitoring (pre and post), design, restoration plan (Draft and Final), and final monitoring report) to be completed by the contractor. Project on-the-ground implementation (LTPBR structure build) to be completed by BLM and partners

The contractor would complete the following work on streams that are prioritized for Low Tech Process Based Restoration (LTPBR) by the BLM using tools identified in the Base Tasks section above under Optional Task 3: a. complete a detailed riparian and geomorphic condition assessment, b. complete a restoration plan utilizing LTPBR techniques and principles (e.g., identification of structure type, locations, etc.…) so that the BLM and partners can build the LTPBR structures within priority streams, c. collect pre and post monitoring data to monitor the success of the project and d. complete a final monitoring report. Optional Task 3 may consist of up to 8 miles of streams each year for a period of 4 years based on funding availability.

Pre-Monitoring May 1 – October 31

Restoration Design Plan (Draft) (Submitted to BLM For Review)

February 1

Restoration Design Plan and Permitting (e.g., permitting - stream alteration permits) (Final

Submitted to BLM)

April 15

Project Implementation (on-the-ground) - BLM June 1 - July 31 Post Monitoring (Year 1) August 1 – October 31 Post Monitoring (Year 2) July 1 – October 31 Final Monitoring Report December 31

IMPORTANT

The Contractor (at least one person, key in the execution of, and involved throughout the term of the contract) must have formal education in hydrology or similar discipline that gives the contractor competency in fluvial geomorphology processes. The contractor must understand riverscape health, be familiar with the attached Low-Tech Process Based Restoration of Riverscapes Design Manual (hereafter referred to as Low-Tech PBR manual, see references), and follow all principals in the Low-Tech PBR manual to implement treatments effectively in this system.

The contractor will be required to show how they have implemented a LTPBR demonstration project that engaged and instructed stakeholders and partners. The contractor will provide materials for review by the Salt Lake Field Office (SLFO) that explain how they have developed a detailed riparian and geomorphic condition assessment using a variety of restoration tools, developed a restoration plan using LTPBR techniques, collect pre and post monitoring data (e.g., capabilities to complete drone flights, aerial imagery, stream surveys), planned and constructed LTPBR structures and provided hands on construction opportunities for a variety of stakeholders.

3. Project Information

A. Period of Performance Work identified under the Base Tasks will begin in early spring (est. April/May 2025) and will be completed no later than December 31, 2026 (see schedule above). Work identified under the Optional Tasks will begin in early summer/early fall (est. June 2025) and will be completed no later than December 31, 2028. The contractor will supply a Schedule of Values with the estimated start and completion dates, upon submittal of the bid for this contract.

B. Project Location

Project will be located in the Upper Bear River Watershed in Rich County, Utah. The training location will be required to be close to a main road, have adequate parking and be determined in coordination with the Salt Lake Field Office BLM.

C. Project Requirements The contractor will be required to provide and deliver materials (e.g., posts) to the project in advance of the training. Materials will also be provided by the contractor for Optional Task 2.

Vehicles shall be cleaned and weed-free before entering/re-entering the project site to prevent the transfer of noxious and invasive weeds.

Work would not be performed during periods when the soil is too wet to adequately support equipment/vehicles. If equipment/vehicles create ruts more than 3 inches deep, operations would cease, as the soil will be deemed too wet to adequately support equipment/vehicles.

Ground disturbance, including off-road travel will be kept to a minimum to avoid the appearance of an established route that could be mistakenly used by the public.

Operations of the contractor (including storage of materials, camping area, and vehicle parking) on BLM lands shall be confined to areas approved by the BLM COR. The surrounding landscape shall not be disturbed. Disturbance to the landscape outside of areas identified by the BLM COR will result in the cessation of operations and written permission from the BLM COR would be required prior to resuming work. If landscape outside of areas identified by the BLM COR for disturbance or operations are disturbed, the Contractor shall restore that area at the Contractor’s expense.

There are cultural and/or paleontological sites within the project area. These resources will be flagged for avoidance prior to implementation. If the Contractor disturbs or damages any cultural or paleontological sites, the Contractor would be liable for all costs incurred that result from evaluation of impacts to the impacted cultural or paleontological resources as well as any stabilization, repair, or restoration efforts.

Work affecting a streambed or stream bank will be completed in an expeditious manner to avoid unnecessary impacts to the stream; work will be completed during low to no flow periods.

Portable hand operated hydraulic generators that operate within the stream channel or riparian area will use biodegradable hydraulic fluid, such as synthetic ester or vegetable oil.

Surface disturbance will be limited by only clearing vegetation to an extent that is necessary for construction of the project. Precaution will be taken to preserve existing riparian vegetation. Native vegetation will be salvaged and reused where possible.

Temporary construction facilities will be configured to minimize disturbance to stream banks, stream bank vegetation, and the streambed by locating staging or storage facilities out of the floodplain.

Work will be conducted in a manner that minimizes turbidity and other disturbances to aquatic resources to ensure compliance with Joint Permit Applications with the Utah Division of Water Resources and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Appropriate restrictions may apply during times of elevated fire danger.

All waste, including scraps and packing materials (e.g., metal bands, plastic sacks, etc.)

resulting from implementation of treatments shall become the property of the Contractor and shall be removed from the site by the Contractor. Disposal of materials in a legal manner and payment of fees required shall be the Contractor’s responsibility. Burning of any waste materials is not permitted on the work site.

The work shall comply with codes and standards applicable to each type of treatment as listed in attached the Low-Tech PBR manual.

Design and implement actions on a reach-by-reach basis around project and complex-scale objectives to ensure that the selected treatments account for the unique, site-specific characteristics, but work together to cumulatively produce the desired outcomes.

Decisions regarding technique selection should generally be based on the physical parameters of the site, restoration goals, constraints imposed by adjacent land uses, as well as pragmatic considerations on how best to allocate limited project resources.

To the extent practicable, projects should be implemented in accordance with the following principles of process-based restoration:

o Target root causes of habitat and ecosystem change o Tailor restoration actions to local potential o Match the scale of restoration to the scale at which keystone processes create and maintain site attributes.

o Be explicit about expected outcomes.

o Where BDAs are installed, utilize combinations of primary and secondary dams to create a series of pools and elevation drops that mimic natural beaver dam complexes and correspondingly enable or enhance passage of native fish.

o Where posts are used to provide temporary stability by pinning structure material in place, only untreated posts shall be installed.

D. The Contractor Shall

Submit a plan showing the location, type, size, and density of structures, based on site-specific observations and coordination with BLM personnel. The number, type, size, location, and spatial arrangement of structures that best evokes the biophysical responses needed to achieve transect/structure, complex and project-scale objectives should be implemented. These decisions should be made in accordance with the standards of practice described in the attached Low-Tech PBR Manual. This includes adhering to Ten guiding principles, which are broken into: (1) riverscape principles and (2) restoration principles.

o Riverscapes Principles – would inform planning and design through an understanding of what constitutes healthy, functioning riverscapes and therefore what are appropriate targets and analogues to aim for. They include:

1. Streams need space. Healthy streams are dynamic, regularly shifting position within their valley bottom, reworking and interacting with their floodplain.

Allowing streams to adjust within their valley bottom is essential for maintaining functioning riverscapes.

2. Structure forces complexity and builds resilience. Structural elements, such as beaver dams and large woody debris, force changes in flow patterns that produce physically diverse habitats. Physically diverse habitats are more resilient to disturbances than simplified, homogeneous habitats.

3. The importance of structure varies. The relative importance and abundance of structural elements varies based on reach type, valley setting, flow regime and watershed context. Recognizing what type of stream, you are dealing with (e.g., what other streams it is similar to) helps develop realistic expectations about what that stream should or could look (form) and behave (process) like.

4. Inefficient conveyance of water is often healthy. Hydrologic inefficiency is the hallmark of a healthy system. More diverse residence times for water can attenuate potentially damaging floods, fill up valley bottom sponges, and slowly release that water later elevating baseflow and producing critical ecosystem services.

o Restoration Principles – Restoration Principles relate to specific restoration actions and gives clues as to how to develop designs to promote processes that lead to recovery and resilience. These principles are rooted in the notion that we are not designing and building the solution, but rather we are simply initiating and promoting natural processes with structural additions as efficiently as possible to maximize the miles of riverscape we can improve. The low-tech Restoration Principles elaborated below help place our restoration actions in the right context to maximize our effectiveness in promoting better riverscape health.

5. It’s okay to be messy. When structure is added back to streams, it is meant to mimic and promote the processes of wood accumulation and beaver dam activity.

Structures are fed to the system like a meal and should resemble natural structures (log jams, beaver dams, fallen trees) in naturally ‘messy’ systems. Structures do not have to be perfectly built to yield desirable outcomes. Focus less on the form and more on the processes the structures will promote.

6. There is strength in numbers. A large number of smaller structures working in concert with each other can achieve much more than a few isolated, over-built, highly secured structures. Using a lot of smaller structures provides redundancy and reduces the importance of any one structure. It generally takes many structures, designed in a complex (see Chapter 5: Shahverdian et al., 2019c), to promote the processes of wood accumulation and beaver dam activity that led to the desired outcomes.

7. Use natural building materials. Natural materials should be used because structures are simply intended to initiate process recovery and go away over time.

Locally sourced materials are preferable because they simplify logistics and keep costs down.

8. Let the system do the work. Giving the riverscape and/or beaver the tools (structure) to promote natural processes to heal itself with stream power and ecosystem engineering, as opposed to diesel power, promotes efficiency that allows restoration to scale to the scope of degradation.

9. Defer decision making to the system. Wherever possible, let the system make critical design decisions by simply providing the tools and space it needs to adjust. Deferring decision making to the system downplays the significance of uncertainty due to limited knowledge. For example, choosing a floodplain elevation to grade based on limited hydrology information can be a complex and uncertain endeavor, but deferring to the hydrology of that system to build its own floodplain grade reduces the importance of uncertainty due to limited knowledge.

10. Self-sustaining systems are the solution. Low-tech restoration actions in and of themselves are not the solution. Rather they are just intended to initiate processes and nudge the system towards the goal of building a resilient, self-sustaining riverscape.

Only use materials approved by the BLM. The contractor is responsible for collecting, transporting, staging, and all other aspects of material management. There are opportunities to source woody material (e.g., willow, sagebrush, conifers) in the vicinity of the project. The contractor will work with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to identify viable opportunities for obtaining woody material.

Furnish all labor, equipment, appropriately trained personnel, crew supervision, transportation, supplies, and incidentals, and perform all work necessary to apply appropriate treatments to meet the restoration objectives. All work will be in accordance with the scope of work and attached Low-Tech PBR manual. Work performance would be dependent on schedule being met. All contractor personnel must have expert knowledge, training, and formal experience applying the Principles of Riverscape Health and Restoration to the design and implementation of riverscape restoration projects.

Comply with all Federal and Utah state permits for working in stream beds and banks.

Adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures identified in the attached Low-Tech

PBR Manual. Follow guidelines and specifications for implementing different treatment types which can be found in the Low-Tech PBR manual. Ensure all personnel are familiar with this manual and properly trained in applying these types of restoration treatments.

Provide a Final Report describing your work with photos of treatments, GPS locations of each treatment, type of treatment applied (bank attached, mid-channel, etc.), and the purpose of each treatment (what function is the treatment expected to accomplish). The BLM will conduct compliance inspections of contractor treated sites.

Responsible for watching weather and ensuring contract is completed on time.

Ensure all PPE and OSHA Standards are followed.

Provide supervision to ensure the project is completed safely and treatments are implemented according to the attached Low-Tech PBR manual.

Only use material approved by the BLM. All materials must be native, natural materials that are sourced locally. No noxious weeds or invasive species, including Russian Olive or Tamarisk, may be used.

Contractor Shall Provide (Base Year, Optional Task 1 and Optional Task 2) All posts (untreated, 2-4” diameter, 6 ½’ long) required to implement treatments within each complex. Materials shall be delivered to the training location in advance of the training.

Communications and Invoicing

A pre-work conference will be held prior to work. Contractor will be notified in advance of meeting time, date, and location.

The contractor, subcontractors, and/or persons responsible for coordination of the work shall be present during all meetings and project inspections.

Progress meetings will be held at the project site, or as determined by the BLM COR.

Upon completion of field work and submission of all required data/application records, contractor shall give WRITTEN notice to both the COR and the CO via email. The BLM COR will complete a final inspection after written notification that the work has been completed and all deliverables have been submitted. The final inspection meeting will be held at the project site.

GIS data (meta data) shall be accurate and include appropriate points, lines, and polygons and attributes associated with projects in Riverscape Studio. Final Report shall be completed properly and include all required information. Failure to give written notice of completion to both the COR and the CO may result in delay of inspection.

Contractor shall submit an invoice electronically in IPP only upon notification that inspection has been completed and the work has been accepted. Invoices submitted prior to inspection shall be rejected.

References Wheaton J.M., Bennett S.N., Bouwes, N., Maestas J.D., and Shahverdian S.M. (Editors) 2019.

Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes: Design Manual. Version 1.0. Utah State University Restoration Consortium. Logan, UT. Available at:

http://lowtechpbr.restoration.usu.edu/manual

Cluer B. and C. Thorne. 2014. A Stream Evolution Model Integrating Habitat and Ecosystem Benefits. River Research Applications, 30: 135-154 (2014).