Oconee.docx

Eradication of Non Native Invasive weeds – Oconee Ranger District, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Location: Oconee Ranger District

All work will be performed according to the specifications in Contract; Mechanical and Herbicide Control of Nonnative Invasive Plant Species, including the Performance Assessment Methods and AQL.

As stated in the contract, the contractor will provide all labor, supervision, equipment, tools, herbicide, herbicide carriers or adjuvant, herbicide dye, permits and licenses, worker personal protective equipment (PPE), and incidentals necessary to perform the required work.

This task targets 77 acres total, of the invasive plants listed in the table below. Control activities will occur along roadsides and trails, wildlife openings, and at small isolated spots in interior areas of the Forest indicated in the following table. Location maps are attached.

Japanese honeysuckle

Moderate Low

and/or Triclopyr (see descriptions below)

Chinese privet Nonnative wisteria Chinaberry Multiflora rose Kudzu Tall Fescue Musk thistle

Very High Moderate Low Low Low Moderate

Triclopyr (see descriptions below)

* Very high = Approx. 50-100% cover; High = 25-50% cover; Moderate = 10-25% cover; Low = 5-10% cover *Application methods on each site will vary depending on species density, size, and chemical used. For example, one acre may have 3 different species to treat, so you may have 3 different applications and/or methods.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved herbicides will be used. The herbicide concentration applied must adhere to and not exceed the label directions for the appropriate techniques used by the applicator. Contractor will apply herbicide at a sufficient interval and concentration to meet or exceed the kill rate on target NNIS infestations.

A. Hillsboro Recreation Site:

The Hillsboro Recreation area will receive the adequate amount of herbicide to treat autumn olive. This project site has been sprayed in 2004. The area needs the treatment again and contractor will need to do both a foliar spray and cut/spray stumps of larger shrubs. Large shrubs that are cut should be piled away from the Recreation site (Inspector will have a site option for the area). There are large shrubs of Chinese privet within the area. Hillsboro Lake is not stocked with any fish. It has been drained. Water is backed up by beavers herbicides specifically labeled for aquatic uses are required within this area.

Treat invasive and noxious weeds with a 5% active ingredient of triclopyr. Invasives such as kudzu/nonnative wisteria need to cut and sprayed. Target species are kudzu, Chinese privet, autumn olive, nonnative wisteria, musk thistle (may be along the road), and multiflora rose. Some of the vegetation may be as high as 6 feet and would need to be cut and sprayed. Herbicide application equipment for foliar spray consist of low-volume, hand operated, back pack sprayers. Implementation of these species may occur as early as May-October.

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________

B. Smith Allotment-

Acreage to be treated is within a pasture which has fence lines with kudzu and Chinese privet. Fence lines can be sprayed. Boundaries of the areas to be treated are identified by flagging tape and fence lines. There is one hardwood area that the understory consists of autumn olive. There was a treatment done in 2007. The autumn olive sprouts need foliar spray within this area estimated at 5 acres.

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or Inspector will determine areas to be treated by flagging the perimeters with a color chosen by the Inspector. Flagging may also represent a no treatment area or shrub/tree. This flagging will be of a different color also denoted by the Inspector. No soft or hard mast producing trees will be treated at any site. The targeted areas to be treated are edge of wood and fence lines, gates, and open pasture. Mowing and chainsawing of shrubs less than 5 inches would be allowed to reach NNIS for treatment. Large shrubs of Chinese privet and autumn olive will be piled in designated areas at the project area.

Mowing of 25 acres will be required to control target NNIS plants in the pasture. Most of the targeted plants would be grasses such as tall fescue, however there are some other low vegetation that will also be mowed during the treatment. Areas to be mowed will be flagged. In the identified mowed areas, non-target vegetation may also be mowed. After mowing, spray all foliage of NNIS species (autumn olive, Chinese privet, nonnative wisteria, chinaberry, multiflora rose, kudzu, and tall fescue) to the point of saturation. Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Mow during the months of April to May and treat with herbicide during months indicated for each species.

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat using herbicide only: $____________ Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat using mowing and herbicide: $___________

Japanese honeysuckle The methods of control for Japanese honeysuckle shall include the application of a triclopyr herbicide to freshly-cut stumps of plants greater than or equal to 6 feet in height or to the foliage of plants less than 6 feet in height. The contractor shall cut Japanese honeysuckle plants greater than or equal to six feet in height to the ground without covering other live NNIS plants then immediately and fully apply Garlon 3A in dilutions as specified on the herbicide label to the cambium layer of the freshly-cut stumps. The contractor shall completely spray to saturation all green foliate on Japanese honeysuckle plants less than six feet in height with Garlon 3A or Garlon 4 as a 2-percent solutions (8 ounces per 3-gallon mix) in water with a surfactant. Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Treat during the months of July thru October.

In riparian sites, the methods of control for Japanese honeysuckle shall include the application of a triclopyr herbicide for aquatic use (such as Garlon 3ATM).

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________

Autumn Olive The methods of control for autumn olive shall include the application of a glyphosate herbicide to freshly-cut stumps of plants greater than or equal to 6 feet in height or to the foliage of plants less than 6 feet in height. The contractor shall cut autumn olive plants greater than or equal to six feet in height to the ground without covering other live autumn olive plants then immediately and fully apply a 20-percent solution of glyphosate (2.5 quarts per 3-gallon mix) to the cambium layer of the freshly-cut stumps. The contractor shall completely spray to saturation all green foliate on autumn olive plants less than six feet in height with glyphosate in water with a surfactant in dilutions as specified on the herbicide label. Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Treat during the months of April thru October. Severed vegetation shall be removed from trails/roadways as to not obstruct passage.

In riparian sites, the methods of control for autumn olive shall include the application of glyphosate herbicide for aquatic use (such as RodeoTM).

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________

Chinese Privet The methods of control for Chinese privet shall include the application of a herbicide to stems of plants greater than or equal to 6 feet in height or to the foliage of plants less than 6 feet in height. In riparian areas, the methods of control for Chinese privet shall include the application of herbicide with an aquatic label. The contractor shall cut Chinese privet plants greater than or equal to six feet in height to the ground without covering other live Chinese privet plants then immediately and fully apply herbicide to the cambium layer of the freshly-cut stumps. The contractor shall completely spray to saturation all green foliate on Chinese privet plants less than six feet in height with herbicide with a surfactant. Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Treat during the months of August thru December. Severed vegetation shall be removed from trails/roadways as to not obstruct passage.

In the Smith Allotment, a triclopyr herbicide will be used on large stems as a 20 percent solution in water (2.5 quarts per 3 gallon mix). Immediately treat cut stumps with this solution. For small stems, foliar spray a triclopyr herbicide (Garlon 4A) as a 3 percent solution (12 ounces per 3 gallon mix). In riparian areas, a triclopyr herbicide with an aquatic label (such as Garlon 3ATM) will be used.

In the Hillsboro Recreation Site, a glyphosate herbicide as a 3-percent solution (12 ounces per 3-gallon mix) will be used for foliar spraying or as a 20-percent solution in water (2.5 quarts per 3-gallon mix) with a surfactant. In riparian areas, a glyphosate herbicide with an aquatic label (such as RodeoTM).

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________

Kudzu The methods of control for kudzu shall include the application of a triclopyr herbicide in water with a surfactant using the foliar spray method. Spray all vines to the point of runoff and climbing vines with Garlon 4 as a 2-percent solution in water (1 pint per 3-gallon mix). Spray all climbing vines as high as possible. Cut large vines and immediately apply the herbicide to the cut surfaces. Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Treat during the months of July thru September.

In riparian areas, the methods of control for kudzu shall include the application of triclopyr herbicide with an aquatic label (such as Garon 3ATM) using the foliar spray method.

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________

Nonnative wisteria The methods of control for nonnative wisteria shall include the application of a glyphosate herbicide as a 2-percent solution (8 oz per 3-gallon mix) in water with a surfactant. Spray all foliage to the point of runoff and climbing vines as high as possible. Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Treat during the months of September to October.

In riparian areas, glyphosate herbicide with an aquatic label (such as RodeoTM) will be used.

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________

Chinaberry The methods of control for chinaberry shall include the application of triclopyr herbicide to freshly-cut stumps or hack-and-squirt of plants greater than or equal to 6 feet in height or to the foliage of plants less than 6 feet in height. Trees and shrubs shall be treated with Pathfinder II or Garlon 3A in dilutions as specified on the herbicide label applied to the cut stem or hack-and-squirt into the cambium immediately after the cut is made. The contractor shall completely spray to saturation all green foliate on chinaberry plants less than six feet in height with Garlon 3A or Garlon 4 as a 2-percent solution (8 ounces per 3-gallon mix) in water with a surfactant. Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Treat during the months of July thru October.

In riparian sites, the methods of control for chinaberry shall include the application of triclopyr herbicide for aquatic use (such as Garlon 3ATM).

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________

Multiflora Rose The methods of control for multiflora rose shall include the application of a glyphosate herbicide in water with a surfactant to freshly-cut stumps of plants greater than or equal to 6 feet in height or to the foliage of plants less than 6 feet in height. The contractor shall cut multiflora rose plants greater than or equal to six feet in height to the ground without covering other live NNIS plants then immediately and fully apply glyphosate herbicide as a 20-percent solution (2.5 quarts per 3-gallon mix) to the cambium layer of the freshly-cut stumps. The contractor shall completely spray to saturation all green foliate on multiflora rose plants less than six feet in height with a glyphosate herbicide as a 4-percent solution in water (1 pint per 3-gallon mix). Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Treat during the months of May to October. Severed vegetation shall be removed from trails/roadways as to not obstruct passage.

In riparian sites, the methods of control for multiflora rose shall include the application of an triclopyr herbicide for aquatic use (Garlon 3ATM).

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________

Tall fescue The methods of control for tall fescue shall include the application of a 0.5-percent solution of a glyphosate herbicide (2 quarts per 10 gallons mix per acre) in water with a surfactant. Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Treat during the spring months or when the vegetation is actively growing after mowing.

In riparian areas, the methods of control for tall fescue shall include the application of glyphosate herbicide with an aquatic label (such as RodeoTM).

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________

Musk thistle The methods of control for musk thistle shall include the application of a 2% solution of glyphosate herbicide in water with a 0.5% non-ionic surfactant wetting all leaves and stems. Inert dye (blue) provided by the contractor shall be added into all herbicide mixes for ease of inspection. Treat during the spring months or when the vegetation is actively growing after mowing.

In riparian areas, the methods of control for musk thistle shall include the application of glyphosate herbicide with an aquatic label (such as RodeoTM).

Submitted price per unit (acre) to treat: $____________