United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge 3395 US Route 20 East

Seneca Falls, New York 13148-9778

Performance Work Statement

Common Reed (Phragmites australis) Herbicide Application at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Seneca Falls, NY

1. Site Description:

1.1. Locations (maps provided below):

1.1.1. Montezuma NWR

1.1.1.1. Hidden Marsh on the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is in the town of Galen, Wayne County, NY. It is the emergent marsh north of Armitage Rd.

and west of Hogback Rd.

1.1.1.2. Wildlife Drive on the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is in the town of Tyre, Seneca County, NY. The marshes along our Wildlife Drive north of Route 5/20 and west of Route 89.

1.2. Site Descriptions:

1.2.1. Montezuma NWR

1.2.1.1. The Hidden Marsh is an impounded wetland with no continuous outflow.

The water level in most of the unit ranges from 1 – 2’ deep; it is shallower where the Phragmites is growing. The dominant plant in the unit is cattail (Typha spp.). The dominant plant in the treatment area is Phragmites. See attached photo from August 2025 for some Phragmites locations within the marsh.

1.2.1.2. The marshes along the Entrance Road and Wildlife Drive include both impounded wetlands with no continuous outflow and seasonally flooded wetlands adjacent to the barge canal.

1.3. Target Species for Control: Common Reed (Phragmites australis).

2. Treatment Description:

2.1. Treatment Objectives:

2.1.1. Spray all of the Phragmites australis in the interior of the 550-acre Hidden Marsh for a total of approximately 100 acres. See attached map for approximate locations of Phragmites patches within the marsh.

2.1.2. Spray all of the Phragmites australis between the refuge’s Wildlife Drive and the barge canal and within 500m of the west and south sides of the Wildlife Drive for a total of approximately 50 acres.

2.2. Application Technique: – foliar. Technique must not cause compaction or damage to the ground of the marsh.

2.3. Pesticide/Surfactant: Aquatic-approved herbicide with 53.8% glyphosate active ingredient such as RoundUp Custom with LI-700 or similar aquatic-approved nonionic surfactant. Use of a marking dye is allowed if it is safe for aquatic application.

2.3.1. Refuge will provide herbicide, surfactant, and dye.

2.3.2. Contractor will mix all chemicals.

2.4. Application will be at a rate consistent with the herbicide label for controlling Phragmites (e.g., 2 – 3.75 quarts per acre).

2.5. Staging area is available on site on the levee adjacent to the marsh. There is no water source on site.

2.6. Treatment Date: September 14, 2026 – October 16, 2026 in Montezuma NWR. Exact date is weather-dependent and must be coordinated with refuge staff.

2.7. The contractor is responsible for re-treating if rain occurs within six (6) hours of the original treatment.

3. Contractor Requirements:

3.1. Contractor must possess a valid commercial pesticide applicator license issued by the

NY State Department of Environmental Conservation and be certified in category 5 (aquatic). Contractor must possess all applicable federal and/or state licenses for pesticide/herbicide application for the delivery method selected for NY.

3.2. Contractor must provide:

3.2.1. Contact information, including names, addresses, and phone numbers for at least three references from prior herbicide applications completed in the last three years.

3.2.2. A performance guarantee including an estimated percent control one-year post-treatment. The contractor is expected to achieve a minimum of 85% kill of Phragmites within the specified treatment area. Percent control will be assessed by Refuge staff in July 2027.

3.2.3. A per acre cost estimate for the above-described work including all personnel, equipment, materials, transportation, clean-up, and documentation costs. A site visit prior to the cost estimate is encouraged but not required.

3.2.4. Bid is due by September 7, 2026.

4. Deliverables to the Refuge Biologist by October 30, 2026:

4.1. a final map identifying all areas sprayed (e.g., in jpg or pdf format),

4.2. a shapefile of the exact area treated to include each individual spot treatment and not just the flight paths, and

4.3. a report listing the total amount of chemical used, and date(s) of application. Report must show:

4.3.1. total gallons of pesticide used,

4.3.2. total gallons of surfactant used,

4.3.3. total gallons of dye used,

4.3.4. total gallons of mix used (i.e., water, pesticide, surfactant, and dye combined),

4.3.5. gallons of pesticide used per acre sprayed

4.3.6. gallons of surfactant used per acre sprayed

4.3.7. gallons of dye used per acre sprayed

4.3.8. gallons of mix used per acre sprayed

5. To request a site visit:

5.1. For Montezuma NWR: Contact Linda Chorba Ziemba, Wildlife Biologist, at (315) 406-

0052 or Linda_Ziemba@fws.gov.

6. Bids will be evaluated based on past performance, performance guarantee, price, and qualifications of operators.

The above photo was taken on August 8, 2025, and shows a portion of the Hidden Marsh including some Phragmites patches (photo credit NYSDEC).

The above image shows an aerial image of the Hidden Marsh. The pink polygons are approximate locations of Phragmites patches based on 2021-2022 imagery. Exact locations will need to be mapped during or prior to spraying.