140L5725Q0003_-_Attachment_005_-_UpperBearRiverWet-MesicMeadowSOW_ZeeDykes_(1).pdf

Statement of Work Upper Bear River –Wetland and Mesic Meadow 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. Gully erosion and channel incision are reducing the function and resilience of wet and mesic meadows within the area. The loss of natural water storage capacity is of concern because wet-mesic areas represent a small fraction of the landscape.

The wet and mesic meadows within this area are important for a wide variety of wildlife including Greater sage grouse. The objectives of this project are to: 1. Kickstart hydrologic and ecological processes to reduce or reverse degradation over time, 2. Implement structures to slow and disperse water, dissipate energy, capture sediment, allow for channel recovery and increase soil moisture by promoting mesic and wetland plant species expansion, 3. Improve wildlife habitat, water quality, forage for livestock, drought resilience, soil health, carbon sequestration and overall watershed function. By reaching these objectives there will be increase in wet and mesic meadow 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 Zeedyke techniques to reduce erosion and sedimentation, improve riparian vegetation, water quality, and improve overall watershed function on BLM administered lands 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 implementation of Zeedyke structures.

Base Tasks

The project will include the following:

• Completion of a detailed wetland and mesic meadow condition assessment prior to project implementation

• Completion of a restoration plan utilizing Zeedyke techniques and principles

• Pre and post monitoring data collection (e.g., drone flights, aerial imagery, wetland and mesic meadow surveys). 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 July/August 2025. Post monitoring data (e.g., drone flights, wetland and mesic meadow 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., Let the Water do the Work: Induced Meandering, an Evolving Method for Restoring Incised Channels) 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 a minimum of twenty-five and a maximum of fifty Zeedyke structures (e.g., One Rock Dams, Rock Laybacks, Zuni Bowls, etc..) would be constructed in a training setting with stakeholders and partners that are representative of a variety of goals and objectives ) 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 within a wetland meadow within the Upper Bear River (Utah – Rich County) area.

• The Zeedyke 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 (Year 1) September 1 – October 31 Post Monitoring (Year 2) 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 emphasis is on addressing relatively shallow head cuts or small incised channels where recovery to desired floodplain or meadow surfaces can be achieved in a reasonable timeframe without using heavy machinery.

Zeedyk structures are low profile, hand-built treatments made of rock or wood intended to restore hydrologic and ecological function of wet meadows and small streams impacted by head-cutting, gully erosion, and channel incision. The structures help to slow and disperse water, dissipate energy, capture sediment, and increase soil moisture thereby promoting mesic and wetland plant species expansion that prevents further degradation and fosters channel recovery.

Typical installation requires multiple structures to achieve desired effects within a reach.

A Successful contractor will: a) Prepare a restoration plan to install a combination of Zeedyke structures to provide and increase in wet and mesic meadow habitat, 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 restoration plan is by hand labor and hand tools only.

The only power equipment allowed will be vehicles with trailers and UTVs to deliver rock to the project site. 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 the restoration plan.

Zeedyke structures are built primarily using rock. Zuni bowls are rock-lined, step falls with plunge pools to dissipate the energy of falling water to stabilize a headcut. These structures stabilize the headcut by both stepping down the water in a way that minimizes the erosive and scour potential of falling water by protecting and maintaining moisture and vegetation at the pour-over. One rock dams slow the flow of water, increase bank infiltration, capture sediment and helps recruit vegetation, which can raise the channel bed elevation in gradual increments.

Rock Rundown are used to stabilize small headcuts (< 1.5 ft. tall) and prevent upstream erosion.

Rock laybacks are used to treat long headcuts that are often in areas subject to sheet flow events.

Log and fabric step falls are used on large headcuts (up to 4 ft. tall) and in areas where access to logs is more practical than rock. Filter dams are structures that are used to raise the bed of a gully by temporarily impounding shallow water, allowing it to seep through rock slowly allowing for sediment trapping. Media Luna’s are used to manage overland sheet flow.

Optional Year 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 (Zeedyke structure build) and final monitoring report) completed by contractor

The contractor would complete the following work on wet and mesic meadows that are prioritized for restoration by the BLM using tools identified in the Base Tasks section above under Optional Task 2: a) complete a detailed condition assessment, b) complete a restoration design plan using Zeedyke structures and principles (e.g., identification of structure type, structure locations, goals/objectives of each structure, etc.…) so that the contractor can build the structures within priority wetland and mesic meadows, 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 15 acres of wet and mesic meadow restoration 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., 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

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

The contractor would complete the following work on wet and mesic meadows that are prioritized for restoration by the BLM using tools identified in the Base Tasks section above under Optional Task 3: a) complete a detailed condition assessment, b) complete a restoration design plan using Zeedyke structures and principles (e.g., identification of structure type, structure locations, goals/objectives of each structure, etc.…) so that the BLM and partners can build the structures within priority wetland and mesic meadows, 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 15 acres of wet and mesic meadow restoration 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., stream alteration permits) (Final Submitted to BLM)

April 15

Project Implementation (on-the-ground) - Contractor June 1 - July 31 Post Monitoring (Year 1) August 1 – October 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 natural resources, hydrology or similar discipline that gives the contractor competency in reading the landscape (landform, morphology, soils and vegetation) to recognize resource problems and restoration opportunities. The contractor must understand and be familiar with the Rangeland Technical Note No. 40 (attached) and Let the Water Do the Work: Induced Meandering, an Evolving Method for Restoring Incised Channels to implement treatments effectively in this system.

The contractor shall pay careful attention to landform, grades and changing elevations, vegetation types that may inform site conditions, areas where water moves faster and becomes concentrated, or where it slows down and spreads out. All of these site details inform effective treatment design. Learn to identify resource problems, such as, headcuts, channel incision, and areas that are drying out due to de-watering.

Also, look for opportunities to reconnect the channel with its floodplain, areas of deep soils that can hold water in the system for longer periods when saturated, and landforms where water could be spread out further on the land surface. Multiple structures are often installed together to achieve desired objectives within a reach. The contractor must also look for restoration opportunities where raising the grade of an incised channel could reconnect the floodplain and cobble/gravel layer for subirrigation of the meadow, or for areas where treatment efforts could spread concentrated flow wider on the landscape.

The contractor will be required to show how they have implemented a Zeedyke 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 condition assessment, collect pre and post monitoring data (e.g., capabilities to complete drone flights, aerial imagery, wet and mesic meadow surveys), planned and constructed Zeedyke 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.

• 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 the project area by locating staging or storage facilities out of the floodplain.

• 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 standards applicable to each type of treatment as listed in the Range Technical Note No. 40 (attached).

• Develop a restoration plan and implement actions 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 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.

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 and the following specifications:

• Site Conditions and Objectives o Wet and/or mesic meadow ID o Length o Baseline Conditions o Management Objectives o Success Criteria

• Treatment Specifications o Wet and/or mesic meadow ID o Structure Number o Structure Type o Dimensions (ft) (L X W X H) o Materials o Site Specific Notes o Materials, equipment and staging instructions o Planned installation dates o Permits, notifications and stipulations o Design drawings, plan maps and additional notes o Operations and Maintenance

• Logistics (e.g., Material Delivery, Project Layout and Staking Structures) prior to construction o Mark structures with wooden stakes to denote the structure type and size o Develop a protocol for estimating materials that are needed to complete each structure o GPS structure locations and record structure dimensions o Identify areas for staging rock and other materials and reclamation of these areas following project completion o Source and deliver materials (e.g., granitic angular rock from a local quarry) prior to construction from local private sources

• Training and Engagement Partners and Stakeholders (Discussion) – On-the-Ground

Project Implementation (Demonstration Project) o Why structures are being built o How to effectively build them o Understand the ecological importance of mesic measures o Function and desired outcomes for individual structures o Safety and proper rock handling techniques to avoid injury

• Inspection and Maintenance Recommendations o Identify inspection and maintenance schedule

• Pre and Post Monitoring Assessment (e.g., drone flights, aerial imagery, wetland and mesic meadow surveys) o Collect pre and post monitoring data to allow for the completion of a project report that showcases improvements that are made.

• 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 rock from local private entities within the vicinity of the project.

The contractor will work with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to identify viable opportunities for obtaining rock 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 the attached Range Technical Note No. 40. 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 wet and mesic meadows.

• Adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures identified in the attached Range

Technical Note No. 40. Follow guidelines and specifications for implementing different treatment types which can be found in Range Technical Note No. 40. 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 (e.g., One Rock Dam, Zuni bowl, Rock Layback, 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 Range Technical Note No. 40.

• Only use material approved by the BLM. All materials must be natural materials that are sourced locally.

Contractor Shall Provide (Base Year, Optional Task 1 and Optional Task 2) Rock and wood poles (e.g., log step fall if determined necessary) to implement treatments within each wet and mesic meadow 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. 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 https://lowtechpbr.restoration.usu.edu/resources/recipes/Rock/erosionControl.html

Kraebel, C.J. and Pillsbury, A.F., 1934. Handbook of Erosion Control in Mountain Meadows, U.S. Forest Service, California Forest and Range Experiment Station, Berkeley, CA.

Maestas, J.D., Conner, S., Zeedyk, B., Neely, B., Rondeau, R., N. Seward, Chapman, T., With, L.

and Murph., R., 2018. Hand-built structures for restoring degraded meadows in sagebrush rangelands: Examples and lessons learned from the Upper Gunnison River Basin, Colorado, USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Range Technical Note No. 40. Denver, CO.

Zeedyk, B. and Clothier, V., 2009. Let the Water Do the Work: Induced Meandering, an Evolving Method for Restoring Incised Channels. Island Press, Washington D.C., 256 pp https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/etalweb.joewheaton.org/Workshops/CheapCheerful/2018/NRCS/Resources/Handbook+of+erosion+control+in+mountain+meadows.pdf http://www.sagegrouseinitiative.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/CO-NRCS_Range_Technical_Note_40_Gunnison_Zeedyk-Structures_5-18.pdf http://www.sagegrouseinitiative.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/CO-NRCS_Range_Technical_Note_40_Gunnison_Zeedyk-Structures_5-18.pdf https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/let-the-water-do-the-work/ https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/let-the-water-do-the-work/