A04_Statement_of_Work_Musk_Thistle_Control_2023_updated_with_acres.docx

Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District (WMD) Complex Musk Thistle Control 2023

SCOPE OF WORK

1. PROJECT STATEMENT

Statement of Need:

The Rainwater Basin encompasses 17 counties in southern Nebraska. The district boundary includes all or portions of 13 of these counties. The district has land-purchasing authority within Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Gosper, Hall, Hamilton, Kearney, Phelps, Polk, Saline, Seward, and York counties. The district manages Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) in all of these counties except Polk County. The district manages 230 tracts of land (more than 24,000 acres) that form 63 WPAs. In addition, the district manages 35 conservation easements (2,476 acres).

The district is in need of required noxious weed control of musk thistle (Carduus nutans) plants during the primary growing season of the month of June.

Performance Period: May 29th to July 2ndth (5 weeks total).

Deliverables: No specific project deliverables outside of the following goals & objectives.

2. GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Goal 1 – Treatment and/or eradication of musk thistle (Carduus nutans) which is considered a noxious plant species in the State of Nebraska.

• Objective 1 – Rainwater Basin WMD: Provide treatment to the identified Waterfowl Production Areas managed by the district in Kearney, Franklin, Adams, Clay, Fillmore, York, Seward, Hamilton, Hall, Saline Counties in the State of Nebraska. Aid in the restoration of Waterfowl Production Area wetlands and uplands by treating and/or eradicating musk thistle (Carduus nutans) plants. Contractors may bid on one or both of the following treatment areas:

· West District (8,478 acres): Provide treatment to the following 17 Waterfowl Production Areas managed by the district: Peterson (1,162) and Victor Lakes (236) WPA in Gosper County; Cottonwood (629), Linder (157), Jones (167), Johnson (582), and Atlanta (1,146) WPAs in Phelps County; Prairie Dog (897), Clark (451), Gleason (571), Bluestem (77), Lindau (159), Killdeer (40) and Frerichs (46) WPAs in Kearney County; Quadhamer (598), Spoonbill Flats (162), Ritterbush (202) and Macon Lakes (1,196) WPAs in Franklin County in the State of Nebraska.

· East District (11,962 acres): Provide treatment to the following 30 Waterfowl Production Areas managed by the district: Harvard (1,474), Hultine (1,003), Verona (160), Lange (159), Massie (1,009), Harms (62), Meadowlark (80), Moger (196), Green Acres (64), Smith (566), Eckhardt (175) and Hansen (642) WPAs in Clay County; Rolland (127), Rauscher (252), Morphy (90), Brauning (241), Wilkins (582), Krause (535), Miller’s Pond (131), Mallard Haven (1,247), Real (232) and County Line (412) WPAs in Fillmore County; Sinninger (158), Heron (371) and Waco (161) WPAs in York County; Springer (628), Troester (420) and Nelson (160) WPAs in Hamilton County; Freeman Lakes (348) and Tamora (277) WPAs in Seward County in the State of Nebraska.

3. PROJECT DETAILS

3.1 Project 1 – Rainwater Basin WMD Musk Thistle Control 2023

3.2 Project Description – The WPAs located within the district typically consist of small wetlands and associated upland prairie habitats. These WPAs are a vital resting and feeding areas for a substantial number of waterfowl and shorebirds as they make their annual migrations. The district also provides a high diversity of grassland habitat for the benefit of grassland birds. Removing noxious plants communities is a strategy outlined in the CCP to manage both wetlands and high diversity uplands. The contractor will perform habitat restoration by treating and/or eradicating musk thistle (Carduus nutans) plants. Methods may include ground application mechanical treatments with use of chemicals and surfactant. No aerial application of any kind is allowed. The contractor must be a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator and follow all herbicide/pesticide use label application, restrictions, and guidelines.

Contractor must survey and treat musk thistle on each WPA two times within identified Performance Period. Ideally the first treatment would be during the first half of the Performance Period and the second treatment would be during the second half of the Performance Period.

Any of the WPAs may have cattle grazing on them during the Performance Period. The contractor must be mindful of young calves in tall vegetation when driving around the WPAs, close all gates and must not damage any electric fencing found in the WPAs.

4. TOOLS & EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

District Will Provide:

Contractor Will Provide:

Not applicable for contract.

6. CONTACT INFORMATION

USFWS – Rainwater Basin WMD Complex Project Manager: Name – Brad Krohn, Project Leader 308-440-6656 RWB WMD Contact: Jessica Bolser, Station Manager 308-293-7307