Attachment 1 - Specification REV.pdf

Statement of Work:

Moore Cove Trail, Rainbow Falls / Horsepasture Trail, Fletcher Creek Trail, Squirrel Gap Trail Ivestor Gap Trail is included as an optional bid item.

Location: These trails are located on the Pisgah Ranger District, southeast of Asheville, NC.

Work to be performed: Maintenance is to be performed on 12.4 miles of existing hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails to bring them up to current USDA Forest Service trail standards on Moore Cove Trail, Rainbow Falls/Horsepasture Trail, Fletcher Creek Trail and Squirrel Gap Trail. An additional 4.4 miles of horse and bike trail maintenance on Ivestor Gap Trail is included as a bid optional item. Work will include, but may not be limited to, restoration of the trail tread, installation of steps and crib walls, armoring stream crossings, replacing culverts, creating and restoring drainage dips, brushing vegetation, and felling hazardous trees.

Schedule of items and Specifications:

Assessment logs identifying trail-specific maintenance needs are attached for Moore Cove Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, Fletcher Creek Trail, Squirrel Gap, and Ivestor Gap. Trail maps for all trails are included in this package. Design parameters for each trail are specified in the attached design parameters summary. Maintenance must meet these parameters unless otherwise specified in the trail assessment logs.

The trail logs illustrate items of work to be accomplished. The intent of the logs is to give a description of the work, at a minimum; however it does not describe the full scope of the work nor identify every work item. Bidders must view the trails to assess the full range of maintenance needs, access, and logistics of transporting imported materials. The Contractor shall maintain / improve the trail such that it conforms to current Forest Service standards. The primary goal of trail restoration is to establish positive drainage. Addition and restoration of grade dips are identified in the logs at specific locations; however, it is expected that installation of many more grade dips will be required, over and above what is called for. A minimum of 50 grade dips per mile is required.

There are a variety of techniques available to accomplish the goal of establishing positive drainage. It is expected that the appropriate combinations of these techniques will be used to optimize trail maintenance for the long-term. Suggestions of how positive drainage may be accomplished are given in the trail logs. It will be necessary to fill some areas with suitable, compacted material. Suitable material must be imported if adequate quantities are not made available within the existing, disturbed trail way (previously disturbed areas along the existing trail). All imported materials and materials harvested on-site are to be pre-approved by COR or inspector.

Bidders are to provide proposed quantities for work (based on their detailed site review) on Supplement to Schedule or Items form, attached.

• Moore Cove Trail (TR318) is a 0.67 mile Class 3 trail, designed and managed for hiking.

Work begins at US 276 and ends at Moore Cove Falls viewing area. Maintenance needs are identified in the attached trail assessment log.

• Rainbow Falls/Horsepasture Trail (TR499) is a 1.3 mile Class 3 trail, designed and managed for hiking. Work begins at the Pisgah National Forest/Gorges State Park boundary SE of NC281 and continues to the Gorges State Park’s new Rainbow Falls parking lot. Work also includes a spur trail toward the bottom of Rainbow Falls. Some sections adjacent to the trail are biologically sensitive and work in these areas will be restricted to the existing trail tread. Maintenance needs are identified in the attached trail assessment log.

• Fletcher Creek Trail (TR350) is 2.40 miles of Class 3 trail, designed for pack and saddle, and managed for pack and saddle, mountain biking and hiking. Work begins at the Fletcher Creek Reservoir Road and continues to the end of trail at FS 5097. Maintenance needs are identified in the attached trail assessment log.

• Squirrel Gap (TR147) is 7.98 miles of Class 2 trail. Work begins at the intersection of

South Mills River (TR133) and ends at End of Squirrel Gap Trail at junction of Bradley Creek (TR351). The east segment (0.00 to 2.46 mi) and the west segment (6.44 mi to 7.98mi) are designed for pack and saddle and managed for pack and saddle, mountain biking and hiking. The center segment (2.46 mi to 6.44mi) is designed for mountain biking and managed for mountain biking and hiking. Maintenance needs are identified in the attached trail assessment log. All of Squirrel Gap is located within South Mills River Inventoried Roadless Area. Live trees cannot be removed along or adjacent to these trails for the creation of trail maintenance structures. Trees may only be removed if they present a hazard to public health and safety.

• Item: Ivestor Gap Trail (TR101) is included as an bid item. Work begins at the Black

Balsam Trailhead and ends at Shining Rock Gap. The trail is comprised of two segments.

Segment 1 (0.00 to 2.3mi) is designed as a Class 3 pack and saddle trail, maintained for pack and saddle, mountain biking and hiking. Segment 2 begins at the Shining Rock Wilderness boundary and is designed as a Class 2 designed as a Class 3 pack and saddle trail, maintained for pack and saddle, mountain biking and hiking. Maintenance needs are identified in the attached trail assessment log. Work along segment 1 is located adjacent to Sam Knob Inventoried Roadless Area. Live trees along or adjacent to the trail here cannot be removed trails for the creation of trail maintenance structures. Trees may only be removed if they present a hazard to public health and safety. Work along segment 2 within Shining Rock Wilderness must be non-mechanized (hand-work only). The COR must be consulted prior to tree removal in this area.

In addition to trail specific needs identified in the trail logs, maintenance needs include:

• Referring to attached drawings and specifications for tread restoration, grade dips, and other drainage features.

• Establishing an average of 50 grade reversals per mile to ensure proper drainage off the entire length of the graded trail. Existing dips can be utilized if they produce adequate positive drainage off of the trail. Dip lengths may be constructed shorter than the 20 ft minimum shown on the drawing when site location does not allow this length.

Minimum length can be 12 ft or as approved by COR.

• Clearing vegetation shall be per the maximum clearing height and maximum clearing width as given in the Design Parameters for each type/class of trail.

• Dead or hazardous trees within 10’ of either side of the trail centerline shall be removed (i.e., a 20-ft wide corridor)

• Dead or hazardous trees within this clearing area shall be felled on Moore Cove Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail and Fletcher Creek Trail. Trees along Squirrel Gap and Ivestor Gap may only be removed if they present a hazard to public health and safety.

• Restricting ground disturbing work activities to the current trail-way. Rock and soil can be moved and utilized within this corridor, but not outside.

• Using pressure treated southern yellow pine timbers (P.T. S.Y.P.) treated with 0.6 ACA or CCA. Timber cuts shall be treated with 0.6 ACA or CCA.

• Installing replacement culverts (where identified in the trail assessment logs) to meet the following specifications: Use Corrugated Steel Pipe, 14 Gage, Aluminized Type 2.

Minimum cover = 12 inches. Crushed stone, gravel or compacted soil backfill material should be used as the bedding and envelope material around the culvert. Corrugated pipe should be laid on grade, on a layer of bedding material. If native soil is used as the bedding and backfill material, it should be well compacted in six inch layers under the haunches, around the sides and above the pipe to the recommended minimum height of cover.

• Verifying required materials prior to bidding. All imported material is at contractor’s cost and should be included in bid. Material brought in must be approved by the COR prior to installation.

• Armored water crossing approaches on hiking and hike/bike trails: Where identified in Trail Logs and/or where needed to stabilize soils, place natural-appearing flat stone having a minimum 3 inch thickness and 1 sq. ft. of surface area. The stone shall be approved by inspector or COR prior to placement.

• Armored water crossing approaches on Fletcher Creek Trail (bike/horse): Where identified in Trail Logs or needed due to unstable soils, install fully framed (with 6”x6” timber) turf-stone, filled with aggregate. Finished surface of installation must be at grade. Framing shall be accomplished as necessary to conform to existing slope.

Cross-timbers shall be placed at intervals of 3 ft., maximum. Materials, extent of area to be armored, and location of armoring shall be coordinated and approved by the Inspector or COR prior to placement.

Maintenance required under this contract must be done in accordance with agency standards found in this publication: “Standard Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Trails (EM-7720-103)”. These Trails Specifications are available in hardcopy booklet form from the Government printing office. They are also available via internet at the Government Printing Office. Visit at http://www.fs.fed.us/.ftproot/pub/acad/dev/trails/trails.htm for more information.

The Contractor shall have a copy of the specifications on the job site.

Contractors shall:

• Review the project site on the ground prior to submitting a bid.

• Lay out and flag dip locations and structures except for those already laid out by the

Forest Service. The Forest Service COR shall approve lay out prior ground disturbing work on the trail.

http://www.fs.fed.us/.ftproot/pub/acad/dev/trails/trails.htm�

• Post temporary trail closure signs when maintenance includes felling trees or poses a safety risk to users.

• Post signs indicating that ongoing work is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Signs will be provided by the USDA Forest Service.

• If notified, stop work on all or certain sections of the trails due to weather conditions, evidence of archeological sites or sensitive species.