A04_SOW.pdf

2023 DESATOYA LOP/SCATTER

STATEMENT OF WORK

5/25/2022

PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to secure the service for cutting of 1,398 acres of pinyon and juniper trees. The objective of this project is to improve and protect sage-grouse habitat by modifying the structure and continuity of the existing vegetation. The treatment is designed to reduce wildfire intensity caused by the expanding pinyon and juniper trees. This project consists of three treatment areas (Big Den, Haypress Meadow, and Smith/Dalton Creek) located in the Desatoya Mountains.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK AREA

Work areas are in the Desatoya Mountains in central Nevada, which are located south of Highway 50 in Lander County, between the towns of Austin and Fallon. Vegetation in the project area is typical of the western Great Basin and consists of a diverse mix of grasses and forbs, sagebrush, mountain mahogany, rabbitbrush, Mormon tea, pinyon and juniper trees etc.

All project units are re-treatments of lop and scatter units originally completed between 2012 and 2014, where trees have grown back since original treatment, and/or trees were missed during initial treatment.

Big Den area (282 acres) 100% 3A-Level 1 These two disconnected units are located in the vicinity of Big Den Creek and Park

Canyon Creek. See vicinity and project maps. This is a re-treatment of a lop and scatter unit completed in 2012. Trees to be cut were either missed during the original treatment or have grown since the original treatment. Loppers with occasional cutting will be required to complete these units.

The treatment unit is on the western side of the Desatoya mountain range. Elevation ranges between 5,600 and 6,000 feet, aspect will vary and slope ranges between 0 and 20 percent. The number of trees per acre and tree density varies throughout the unit from scattered to widely scattered. Trees are generally small to medium size for the species. The project area topography is typical for the western Great Basin.

Haypress Meadow area (172 acres) 100% 3A-Level 1 The unit is located in the upper Haypress Creek watershed. See vicinity and project maps.

This is a re-treatment of a lop and scatter unit completed in 2014. Trees to be cut were either missed during the original treatment or have grown since the original treatment. Loppers with occasional cutting will be required to complete these units.

The treatment unit is in the central Desatoya mountain range. Elevation ranges between 7700 and 8300 feet, aspect will vary and slope ranges between 10 and 70 percent. The number of trees per acre and tree density varies throughout the unit from scattered to widely scattered.

Trees are generally small to medium size for the species. The project area topography is typical for the western Great Basin.

Smith/Dalton Creek area (944 acres) 90% 3A-Level 1, 10% 3B-Level 2 The units are located in the Smith Creek and lower Dalton Creek area. See vicinity and project maps. This is a re-treatment of lop and scatter units completed in 2013. Trees to be cut were either missed during the original treatment or have grown since the original treatment.

Loppers with occasional cutting will be required to complete these units. A few moderately dense patches of mature trees (approx. 30 acres total) missed during the original treatment will be removed.

The treatment unit is in the central Desatoya mountain range. Elevation ranges between 6500 and 7100 feet, aspect will vary and slope ranges between 0 and 50 percent. The number of trees per acre and tree density varies throughout the unit from moderately dense to widely scattered. Trees are generally small to medium size for the species. The project area topography is typical for the western Great Basin.

TREATMENT SPECIFICATIONS

The Contractor is expected to manually cut all live mature and immature pinyon and juniper trees on 1398 acres. This includes saplings and seedlings.

Tree boles shall be cut as close to the ground as possible with a target stump height of less than 6 inches.

Stumps will be cut so that no living branches are left attached.

Material from cut trees will be treated so that it lays no higher than 24 inches above the ground.

Trees very large for the area (individual stems >24 inches in diameter 12 inches above ground) will not be cut.

Trees of any size displaying old-growth characteristics will not be cut. Old-growth characteristics include flat crowns, plate-like bark, and large gnarled limbs, located on rocky slopes with no understory vegetation.

Standing dead trees will not be cut, and will be left as wildlife habitat, up to 2 stems per acre. If density of standing dead currently exceeds 2 stems per acre, some trees will be cut to reduce density to 2 stems per acre.

Pinyon and juniper trees with obvious signs of wildlife use, such as cavities in the trunks or large stick nests, will not be cut.

A minimum of one crew member will utilize hand loppers to cut the smallest trees and lowest live limbs on the larger trees that cannot safely/effectively be cut with a chainsaw.

Depending on unit, one of more crew members utilizing hand loppers in addition to others using chainsaws is recommended.

Refueling of chainsaws and equipment shall be done at least 50 feet away from water bodies and wet meadows.

Vehicles shall operate on existing roads only. No cross-country travel is authorized.

No trees other than pinyon and juniper trees shall be cut or damaged (do not cut Aspen, willow, mountain mahogany, wild rose etc.)

A requirement of no more than one live stem per acre (except those designated leave trees) remaining after treatment will be adhered to. If inspections indicate the quality of the work does not meet this standard the unit will be reworked. Standard will be randomly sampled during inspections by the government representative and communicated to the contractor point of contact. The sampled areas may involve portions of a unit and not the entire unit and will be at the discretion of the government representative.

ACCESSIBILITY

The nearest full support community to the project is Fallon, NV. Average travel time from Fallon to the project site is 1.5 hours. Limited support is available in Austin, Cold Springs Station and Middlegate, Nevada. Access to the project is on dirt roads. Access is limited during the winter months due to weather and road conditions. Although most of the project area can be reached by high clearance two-wheel drive vehicles (in dry conditions), four-wheel drive high clearance vehicles will improve access options. The Haypress Meadow unit in particular is located down a long and narrow dirt road. The Government does not assume obligation to plow snow or conduct special maintenance to keep roads open and maintained.

There are no seasonal weather restrictions unless heavy rains occur or during periods of snow melt which may result in an intermittent work schedule due to muddy conditions. Work shall not occur if driving on roads during project implementation is creating excessive rutting.

Roads will be considered impassable when saturated and access into the project area may be closed by the government during this time.

WORK LAYOUT

The Government will provide a map to the Contractor with the treatment area boundaries necessary for the work executed under the Contract. The Government will provide a shapefile (for upload on GPS unit) of the project area boundary to the Contractor. A map with avoidance areas (archaeological sites; springs; structural range improvements; survey markers mining claims etc.) will be provided to the Contractor. Survey markers disturbed or removed during structures damaged or removed during operations shall be repaired or replaced at the Contr

SCHEDULE/PROGRESS OF WORK

The notice to proceed will be issued approximately September 15, 2022. The project needs to be completed by February 24th, 2023. Due to timing restrictions for sensitive resources, treatments will not occur between March 1st and August 31st. These timing restrictions shall be built into the proposal.

Pre-Work Conference - Prior to the start of and during the period of the contract, the Government may specify priority areas to be treated. The Contractor will maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion within the contract time. At the pre-work conference, the Contractor will provide a work schedule which must be acceptable to the Government.

Progress Meetings - Meetings may be called by either the identified Federal Representative (s) or the Contractor. Meetings shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the identified federal or state agency representatives.

Final Inspection - The meeting shall be held at the project site, or as determined by the identified federal or state agency representatives. The Contractor shall notify the identified federal or state agency representative(s) at least two (2) working days before the completion date, so the agency representatives can schedule a final inspection. The Contractor must be present for the final inspection, unless otherwise approved by the government Project Manager

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS

The Contractor will provide all tools, materials, equipment and labor necessary to complete the work as specified in the contract.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL

CONSIDERATIONS

The project site shall be cleaned up, and all refuse removed to an approved landfill at the permission is granted by the appropriate federal agency. Existing access roads and trails within the project area that are damaged by to the same condition they were in at the commencement of work. Stream channels, springs and other wet areas shall be avoided by vehicles and heavy equipment. Work shall not occur in either project area if project implementation is creating excessive rutting during or after precipitation events when the ground is saturated. Work may resume only when the area has sufficiently dried out.

Camping - Camping will be allowed during project implementation only at sites approved by the appropriate federal agency and identified federal agency representative. All fire regulations and permits shall be followed. All garbage and refuse shall be removed from the camp site by the Contractor within seven days of camp abandonment. Final payment will be reserved subject to inspection of these sites by the identified federal agency representative and approval of site cleanup.

Weed Control - Contractor will ensure all equipment moved onto public land is free of soil, seeds, and vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. Contractor will employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure compliance prior to beginning the work and following completion of the work and will notify the Government prior to moving each piece of equipment onto public land. Notification will include identifying the location of

Cultural Resource Protection - Locations of known historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to American history, architecture, archaeology, and culture, such as settler or Indian artifacts that need to be avoided by the Contractor will be identified on the ground by the Government.

operations will be promptly reported to the other party and operations will be suspended at that location until the significance or potential significance of the resource is determined.

Sensitive Plant and Animal Protection - Rare plant and animal surveys may be necessary to be conducted by the Government prior to treatment. Locations of any sensitive resources that need to be avoided by the Contractor will be identified on the ground by the Government by flagging and will not be disturbed.

Fire Prevention/Suppression - Vegetation occurring in the Great Basin can be highly flammable. Under dry and windy weather conditions the potential for a fire start is high. The risk of wildfire is year-round. Be extra careful when working on or around the dry grasses.

Check under vehicles when parking off road. Plan any activity that could cause a spark, in the morning, when the relative humidity is higher and the temperatures are cooler (grinding or welding). The Contractor will, independently and in cooperation with the Government, take all reasonable action to prevent and suppress fires on the project. Independent initial action will be prompt and will include the use of all personnel and equipment available in the project area.

Emergency Reporting Requirements - 911 (initial call for all emergencies) Central Nevada Dispatch Center: 775-623-1555 (wildland fire emergency line)

Information needed in reporting a wildland fire would include: Location: Geographical reference and if possible, Latitude/longitude coordinates. Description on what the fire is doing size, spread, color of smoke, etc.

The Government may require emergency measures, including the necessary shutting down of equipment or portions of operations during periods of high fire danger.

Under Title 43 CFR 9212 the holder of this permit may be held liable for any and all costs should a wildland fire occur caused by the activities associated with the construction, maintenance, or operation of this project. Fire trespass action might be initiated, and wildfire suppression costs may be collected from the holder of this permit.