c.APPENDIX A_work_activity.docx

Peep Stewardship Appendix A Page 1 of 4

APPENDIX A

Item 1 – Green Convertible Biomass thinning and Fuels Treatment:

Green Convertible Biomass Thinning – Includes contractor selection of trees 4.0 – 6.9” DBH to be left or cut. Trees to be cut greater than 7.0” DBH are described in Appendix B. Volume estimates for biomass thinning are part of green convertible biomass product shown in Appendix B.

Description 1A – Cutting Units 1, 3, 5, 9, 14, 15, 19, 20C, 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26.

The objective of the prescription shall be to cut poor condition biomass trees (crown ratios less than 40%) and thin good condition biomass trees (crown ratios greater than 40%) at an average spacing of 20 feet from one another.

Description 1B – Cutting Units 16A/B, 20A/B and 24.

The objective of the prescription shall be to cut poor condition biomass trees (crown ratios less than 40%) and thin good condition biomass trees (crown ratios greater than 40%) at an average spacing of 20 feet from one another.

Biomass trees in this group of units have been marked with orange paint by the Forest Service.

The Contractor shall cut orange mark trees less than 7.0” DBH or leave unmarked trees less than 7.0” to apply the prescription. All orange marked trees greater than 7.0” DBH shall be left uncut. The Forest Service marking provides a guide for the implementation of the prescription and selection of cut and leave trees by the contractor.

Description 1C– Cutting Unit 6.

The objective of the prescription shall be to cut poor condition biomass trees (crown ratios less than 40%) and thin good condition biomass trees (crown ratios greater than 40%) at an average spacing of 20 feet from one another.

Biomass trees in this unit have been marked with blue paint by the Forest Service.

The contractor shall cut or leave blue marked trees less than 7.0” DBH to apply the prescription. All unmarked trees greater than 7.0” DBH shall be left uncut. The Forest Service marking provides a guide for the implementation of the prescription and selection of cut and leave trees by the contractor.

Desired Outcome - The end result of biomass thinning in the 4.0-6.9 inch DBH category is retention of vigorous trees spaced/thinned to appropriate site conditions.

Work item includes contractor recognition and cutting of poor vigor trees.

Technical Specifications

· Cut all trees with poor vigor (live crown ratios < 40%).

Crown ratio – expressed as a % of total tree height, it is the portion of the tree bole that supports green foliage.

· Thin healthy trees (live crown ratios > 40%) to an average of 20 foot spacing (20X20).

Spacing shall be varied up to 25% to select the most desirable trees; however, maintain 20 foot spacing whenever possible.

· Select leave trees within the following order of preference, the most preferred species listed first: PP, WL, DF, GF, LP.

Government Quality Assurance Plan – Green Convertible Biomass Thinning

1) The government will conduct visual inspections, with random plots, on each cutting unit to determine compliance with technical specifications. Initial inspection will consist of a review of the trees cut, trees left in terms of tree condition, spacing and species selection. When work appears satisfactory, it will be accepted. When work appears unsatisfactory, the contractor will be responsible for rework necessary to meet the desired outcome. Operations may be suspended by the Forest Service when it is apparent that the contractor is cutting unwarranted numbers of leave trees.

2) If the contractor disagrees with the random walk thru results of the Forest Service, the contractor may request a formal systematic sample across the unit. A series of ten -1/20 acre plots (26.3 ft radius circular plot) will be placed and distributed across the unit. Plot centers will be marked. On each plot, the Forest Service will record the plot number, whether the plot is satisfactory or unsatisfactory and the reason the plot is unsatisfactory. Each plot will be examined to record findings on cut and leave tree selection. Each plot will receive a rating of pass or fail. Plot will receive a pass rating when no more than one unacceptable tree is left within the plot and no more than one leave tree is cut within the plot. At the end of the inspection, the percentage of acceptable plots will be determined by the following formula:

Acceptable plots/Total number of plots X 100 = Work Quality %.

Where work quality is > 90%, work item will be accepted.

Where work quality is <90%, contactor shall pay for the costs of Forest Service inspection, re-work to meet the required specifications, and may receive negative rating as part of contractor evaluation.

Fuels Treatment Description All non-usable material shall be reduced to a fuel bed depth less than 18 inches above ground level. The term nonusable material means all vegetative material including stems, limbs, branches, damaged or destroyed reproduction, saplings, or poles which were created or disturbed by Contractors activities.

Desired Outcome - The expected result of this project shall be removed, mechanically alter, or mechanically pile fuel loadings from; 1) slash created by commercial harvest/thinning operations 2) natural build up of woody debris on the forest floor. The end result of activities performed under this contract would produce areas where a wildfire (should it occur) may be contained quickly, provide greater safety for firefighters, and produce less damage to natural resources.

Technical Specifications

· Reduce down dead wood – Reduce down dead wood (where available) to the levels listed in the table below. The remaining down wood left on site shall be at least 50 % sound fiber.

Table A-1

length Total lineal length

· Pile landing slash at landings approved by the Forest Service; slash piling operations shall not unnecessarily damage young growth or other trees to be reserved.

· Reduce fuel bed height – Non-usable material within cutting units and not piled at landings shall be reduced to a fuel bed depth no greater than 18” above the ground.

Government Quality Assurance Plan – Fuels Treatment

1) The government will conduct visual inspections, with random plots, in each cutting unit to determine compliance with technical specifications. Initial inspection will consist of a review of down logs, landing piles, fuel depth and fuel pullback. When work appears satisfactory it will be accepted. When work appears unsatisfactory, the contractor will be responsible for rework necessary to meet the desired outcome.

If the contractor disagrees with the random walk thru results of the Forest Service, the contractor may request a formal systematic sample across the unit. A series of ten plots will be placed and distributed across the unit. Each plot will consist of a 100 foot transect and a 1/5 acre plot(52.7 ft radius). The direction of the transect will be determined by randomly selecting an azimuth. Plot centers and the 100 foot point of the transect will be marked. On each plot, the Forest Service will record the plot number, whether the plot is satisfactory or unsatisfactory and the reason the plot is unsatisfactory. Each plot will be examined to record numbers of down logs and fuel depth. Each plot will receive a rating of pass or fail.

Fuel Bed Depth will be measured perpendicular to the slope at 10ft intervals on a 100ft transect starting at the plot center. At the end of the inspection, the percentage of acceptable plots will be determined by the following formula:

Acceptable plots/Total number of plots X 100 = Work Quality %.

Where work quality is > 90%, work item will be accepted.

Where work quality is <90%, contactor shall pay for the costs of Forest Service inspection, re-work to meet the required specifications, and may receive negative rating as part of contractor evaluation.

Down dead wood reduction – A series of ten 1/5 acre plots will be randomly distributed across the unit. The total lineal length of down wood that meets the requirements in table A-1 will be measure and recorded. The total lineal length found in each plot will be averaged to determine a lineal length per acre for the entire unit.

Total lineal length per acre for all plots/ number of plots = lineal length for the unit If the lineal length for the unit is between 90ft and 120ft the contractor shall receive a pass rating.

When the lineal length is above 120ft the contactor will pay for the costs of Forest Service inspection, re-work to meet the required specifications, and may receive negative rating as part of contractor evaluation.

When the lineal length is below 90, contactor shall pay for the costs of Forest Service inspection and may receive negative rating as part of contractor evaluation. Operations may be suspended by the Forest Service when it is apparent that the contractor is removing excess amounts of dead wood.