SOW.pdf

WFM-0900-9HFR-690-0915-02

TASK 7

Jackson Creek Wood (566 acres)

Cutting and Cut Surface Herbicide Treatment

This task consists of two tracts: Jackson Creek Woods West (394 acres) and Jackson Creek

Woods East (172 acres). Woody vegetation up to 6” DBH (diameter breast height) will be cut to within 4” to 6” of the ground surface. Only vegetation over 2’ in height will be treated. The cut material should be cut up into smaller pieces so that it doesn’t extend over 12’’ in height. The cut surface will be treated with Glyphosate (Roundup or equivalent product). In riparian areas nearest the stream, cut surfaces will be treated with a wetland approved herbicide (Rodeo or equivalent). For Glyphosate, a 50% solution with a product having a 40 – 60% active ingredient will be used. The herbicide concentrations to be used are based on the manufacturer’s label directions for cut surface treatments. Other concentrations or herbicides may be acceptable with prior approval of the COR. Any substitute herbicides proposed must be covered under the

Midewin Herbicide environmental assessment.

A forestry type mower can be used within both areas. Within the riparian areas around Jackson

Creek and several wooded areas (totaling 221 acres), a forestry type mower can only be used when the ground is frozen to contain ground disturbance. These restricted areas can be cut by hand if the contractor so desires. Small truck, ATV or UTV mounted sprayers with hand spray guns are permitted for treatment with the same restrictions. Backpack sprayers may also be used. Even in non-restricted areas, ground disturbing activities should be kept to a minimum and under no circumstances should ground disturbance exceed 6” in depth. If the ground becomes too wet, work must stop until the ground is dry enough. Work will only be performed from the period of August 15 th through April 15th. One cut surface application will be made. Some hand cutting may require hand work where access may be difficult for a mower.

The open wooded portion of the Jackson Creek Woods East was used as an officer’s housing unit. The closed woodland was left undisturbed, while most of the remaining area was a pasture.

Open areas in Jackson Creek Woods West was used a pasture while the wooded areas appear to have been left alone. The open areas have been historically mowed semi-annually and have little woody vegetation except in areas where the mowers can’t go.

One project goal is to decrease the woody vegetation that prescribed fire can’t kill, only top kill.

A secondary goal is to control invasive woody vegetation to keep it from spreading out into areas of Midewin that have been restored to native vegetation. Once the woody vegetation is removed, periodic prescribed fires should keep seedlings from being re-established. Target species include: bush honeysuckle, Autumn olive, willows, dog woods, osage orange, small cottonwood, small hawthorn and small ash trees.

TASK 8

Tract 214, Tract 215, Tract 42 (825 acres)

Cutting and Cut Surface Herbicide Treatment:

This task order consists of three tracts: Tract 214 (226 acres), Tract 42 (198 acres, only 108 acres will be treated) and Tract 215 (491 acres). Woody vegetation up to 6” DBH (diameter breast height) will be cut to within 4” to 6” of the ground surface. Only vegetation over 2’ in height will be treated cut surface treated. The cut material should be cut up into smaller pieces so that brush piles do not extend over 12’’ in height. The cut surface will be treated with Glyphosate

(Roundup or equivalent product). In riparian areas nearest steams and drainage ditches and within wetlands, cut surfaces will be treated with a wetland approved herbicide (Rodeo or equivalent). For Glyphosate, a 50% solution with a product having a 40 – 60% active ingredient will be used. The herbicide concentrations to be used are based on the manufacturer’s label directions for cut surface treatments. Other concentrations or herbicides may be acceptable with prior approval of the COR. Any substitute herbicides proposed must be covered under the

A forestry type mower can be used to cut most of the woody vegetation. Small truck, ATV or

UTV mounted sprayers with hand spray guns are permitted for treatment. Backpack sprayers may also be used. Ground disturbing activities should be kept to a minimum and under no circumstances should ground disturbance exceed 6” in depth. If the ground becomes too wet, work must stop until the ground is dry enough. This work will only be performed from the period of August 15 th through April 15 th in Tract 214 and Tract 42. Tract 215 is regularly grazed and treatment can only occur once the cattle are out, from December 1 st through March 31.

One cut surface application will be made. Some cutting may require hand work where access may be difficult for a mower.

Tract 214 and Tract 215 are old munitions storage areas with concrete bunkers. Tract 215 has been grazed yearly while both tracts are mowed regularly. Woody vegetation to be removed is located in areas where obstacles make mowing difficult including on the bunkers. Roads and old rail lines cross the area.

Tract 42 has 90 acres that are still in row crop agriculture. Portions of the tract are mowed on a regular basis. The woody vegetation is located within areas where obstacles make mowing impossible.

One project goal is to decrease the woody vegetation that prescribed fire can’t kill, only top kill.

A secondary goal is to control invasive woody vegetation to keep it from spreading out into areas of Midewin that have been restored to native vegetation. Once the woody vegetation is removed, periodic prescribed fires should keep seedlings from being re-established. Target species include: bush honeysuckle, Autumn olive, dogwood, willow, small cottonwood, hawthorn, small ash, black locust and osage orange.

TASK 9

Tract 70, Tract 208N and Vulcan Prairie (537 acres)

This task order consists of three tracts: Tract 70 (193 acres), Vulcan Prairie (81 acres) and Tract

208N (263 acres). Woody vegetation up to 6” DBH (diameter breast height) will be cut to within

4” to 6” of the ground surface. Only vegetation over 2’ in height will be treated cut surface treated. The cut material should be cut up into smaller pieces so that brush piles do not extend over 12’’ in height. The cut surface will be treated with Glyphosate (Roundup or equivalent product). In riparian areas nearest steams and drainage ditches and within wetlands, cut surfaces will be treated with a wetland approved herbicide (Rodeo or equivalent). For Glyphosate, a 50% solution with a product having a 40 – 60% active ingredient will be used. The herbicide concentrations to be used are based on the manufacturer’s label directions for cut surface treatments. Other concentrations or herbicides may be acceptable with prior approval of the

COR. Any substitute herbicides proposed must be covered under the Midewin Herbicide environmental assessment.

A forestry type mower can be used in each tract to cut most of the woody vegetation. Small truck, ATV or UTV mounted sprayers with hand spray guns are permitted for treatment.

Backpack sprayers may also be used. Ground disturbing activities should be kept to a minimum and under no circumstances should ground disturbance exceed 6” in depth. If the ground becomes too wet, work must stop until the ground is dry enough. For the Vulcan tract and Tract

208N the work will only be performed from the period of August 15 th through April 15th In

Tract 70 there is a pasture within the chain link fence. This area can only be done when the cattle are off the tract for the winter, usually December 1 st through March 31 st . If the cattle are taken off earlier, then work can start earlier. One cut surface application will be made. Some cutting may require hand work where access may be difficult for a mower.

The Vulcan prairie tract has been restored to wetland and prairie and can be quite wet in spots. It might be possible to use a forestry type mower in a dry year and when the ground is frozen, otherwise hand removal will be required. In riparian areas nearest steams and drainage ditches and within wetlands, cut surfaces will be treated with a wetland approved herbicide (Rodeo or equivalent). Tract 70 includes a pasture that is periodically mowed, but has woody material surrounding it and within areas where obstacles make mowing difficult. Tract 208N has some small hay fields which are mowed regularly; the intervening areas have varying amounts of woody vegetation.

One project goal is to decrease the woody vegetation that prescribed fire can’t kill. A secondary goal is to control invasive woody vegetation to keep it from spreading out into areas of Midewin that have been restored to native vegetation. Once the woody vegetation is removed, periodic prescribed fires should keep seedlings from being re-established. Target species include: bush honeysuckle, Autumn olive, dogwood, willow, cottonwood, hawthorn, ash, black locust and osage orange.

TASK 10

Tract 48/60 (635 acres)

This task order consists of Tract 48/60 which consists of 388 acres. Fifty acres are in crops and won’t be treated. Woody vegetation up to 6” DBH (diameter breast height) will be cut to within

4” to 6” of the ground surface. Only vegetation over 2’ in height will be treated. The cut material should be cut up into smaller pieces so that it doesn’t extend over 12’’ in height. The cut surface will be treated with Glyphosate (Roundup or equivalent product). For Glyphosate, a

50% solution with a product having a 40 – 60% active ingredient will be used. The herbicide concentrations to be used are based on the manufacturer’s label directions for cut surface treatments. In riparian areas nearest steams and drainage ditches and within wetlands, cut surfaces will be treated with a wetland approved herbicide (Rodeo or equivalent). Other concentrations or herbicides may be acceptable with prior approval of the COR. Any substitute herbicides proposed must be covered under the Midewin Herbicide environmental assessment.

A forestry type mower can be used in tract 48/60. Small truck, ATV or UTV mounted sprayers with hand spray guns are permitted. Backpack sprayers may also be used. Ground disturbing activities should be kept to a minimum and under no circumstances should ground disturbance go below 6” in depth. If the ground becomes too wet, work must stop until the ground is dry enough. For Tract 48/60 work will only be performed from the period of August 30 th through

March 1st. One cut surface application will be made.

Tract 48/60 consists of open fields that have been mowed on a regular basis and will be mowed this fall. There are small areas of targeted shrubs in areas where it’s difficult for the mower to get into due to obstacles. Some of these areas can be cut with a forestry type mower; others may have to be cut by hand due to rocks and other obstacles. The areas adjacent to drainage ditches will have thicker concentrations of invasive shrubs and small trees. Target species include:

Autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, hawthorns, multiflora rose, osage orange, willows, ash and cottonwoods.

TASK 11

Prairie Creek Riparian Area – east side (509 acres)

This task order consists of 4 miles along the Prairie Creek riparian area from Hoff Road southwest to Road 1 West. Woody vegetation up to 6” DBH (diameter breast height) will be cut to within 4” to 6” of the ground surface. Only vegetation over 2’ in height will be treated. The cut material should be cut up into smaller pieces so that it doesn’t extend over 12’’ in height.

The cut surface will be treated with Glyphosate (Rodeo or equivalent product approved for wetland use). For Glyphosate, a 50% solution with a product having a 40 – 60% active ingredient will be used. The herbicide concentrations to be used are based on the manufacturer’s label directions for cut surface treatments. Other concentrations or herbicides may be acceptable with prior approval of the COR. Any substitute herbicides proposed must be covered under the

Within the riparian areas along Prairie Creek a forestry type mower can only be used when the ground is frozen to contain ground disturbance. These restricted areas can be cut by hand if the contractor so desires. Small truck, ATV or UTV mounted sprayers with hand spray guns are permitted for treatment with the same restrictions. Backpack sprayers may also be used. Ground disturbing activities should be kept to a minimum and under no circumstances should ground disturbance go below 6” in depth. If the ground becomes too wet, work must stop until the ground is dry enough. Work along Prairie creek will be done from the period of December 1 st to

April 1 st . One cut surface application will be made.

The Prairie Creek riparian area is a young secondary growth wooded area along the creek. This area can be mowed with a forestry type mower only if the ground is frozen. Portions of this area can be thick with shrubs. One project goal is to decrease the woody vegetation that prescribed fire can’t kill. A secondary goal is to control invasive woody vegetation to keep it from spreading out into areas of Midewin that have been restored to native vegetation. Once the woody vegetation is removed, periodic prescribed fires should keep seedlings from being re-established. Target species include: Autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, mulberry, multiflora rose, osage orange, willows, ash and cottonwoods.

General Herbicide Treatment Specifications

Large scale broadcast or aerial spraying will not be allowed. The FS will consider other types of application than those specified, but must have approval by COR prior to application.

Contractor will place “Caution Herbicide Application---Keep Off) flags up around the areas being sprayed and will remove the flags after an appropriate interval has occurred (as per label directions). Midewin will supply the flags.

Contractor will mix herbicides in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and any applicable laws or regulations. The contractor is responsible for the cleanup of any spills and will notify the COR immediately of any spills. Foliar application will only occur when wind velocity is less than 12 MPH, unless permission is granted by the COR or designated Inspector.

Contractor must have herbicide Labels and Material Safety Data Sheet on site and provide the

COR with copies prior to start of work. Application must be performed within specifications indicated on the herbicide label. Contractor must have a valid Illinois herbicide applicators license and all employees spraying herbicide will need valid Illinois operators or applicators licenses.

Contractor must take care to minimize the drift from herbicide application. Under no conditions will contractor allow over-spray of herbicides to drift into more than 10% of the area within 1 yard of the target plant, and no herbicide damage can occur beyond 3 feet of the target infestation.

The contractor will keep a daily log of work activities. The Forest Service will supply the forms and the forms should be turned into the COR on a weekly basis. The log will include item worked on, weather conditions (temperature, wind direction, and wind speed), number of man-hours, herbicide used, quantity of herbicide used and approximate acreage covered. The log must be submitted with the final bill. Complete payment will not be made without the daily log.

If requested Midewin can provide a copy of the daily log data sheet.

At least a 90% kill rate will be guaranteed by the contractor. FS will accept work based upon a visual inspection, but the contractor has the option to ask for sampling to be done to confirm visual kill rate. This sampling will consist of ten 1/100 hectare plots unless less than 10 target plants are found in a plot in which case the size of the plot will be 1/10 hectare. Plot points will be established in the field prior to treatment and marked by GPS. Plots will be representative of the density of the target species within the project area.

General Specifications:

Work under this contract will not be performed when ground or access road conditions would result in damage to access roads or to the natural resources. If precipitation makes the ground wet enough to cause rutting, then work will be temporarily suspended or the contractor can bring in machinery with a lighter ground pounds per square inch, for example a PSI of less than 4.0 that won’t cause ruts. Soil ruts deeper than 2 inches or covering more than 10% of the designated work area must be avoided or mitigated by the contractor.

Prior to starting work the FS will inspect the contractor’s equipment (heavy equipment or off-road equipment) to be sure that it meets fire and safety requirements. All equipment must be steam cleaned or run through a car wash prior to coming on site to remove any invasive plant species seeds. Compressed air cleaning may be an adequate cleaning method, but must be approved by the COR. COR or designated Inspectors will inspect equipment upon being brought onto Midewin for the first time, or subsequent returns if the equipment is taken off site and returned.

Any spill of fuel or hydraulic fluid greater than one (1) pint must be immediately reported to the

COR or PM. Contractor personnel must have training to ensure they are qualified to identify such releases and are competent to provide proper cleanup and reporting. All spilled materials and impacted soils will be removed and properly disposed as necessary.

Sensitive areas, cultural resource sites, wetland, species habitat and native vegetation may exist within the project area. These areas will be marked by Midewin staff as needed and avoided by the contractor or performed only with an appropriate Midewin staff member on site.

In areas which will be open to the public the contractor will put up warning signs in ingress and egress lanes to the work area . Operating areas, temporary storage areas, and equipment ingress and egress lanes for equipment will be approved by the COR in advance of work in each area.

Wet weather conditions may preclude the use of vehicles or ATVs on portions of the tract or possibly the entire tract at certain times. The USDA Forest Service ecologist will determine in conditions warrant cession of vehicular traffic.

See attached maps for further information. More detailed maps are available upon request.

Arrange site visits with William Glass at 815/423-2129.