green_tree_spec4 - final.pdf

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SITE 2 C

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HWY 81

Tree Planting Plan Green CountySection 12 - Spring Grove Township

T1N R9E Date: 02/23/2010

660 0 660 1,320

Feet

2009 cover alfalfa corn pasture reed canary grass soybeans access roads

Property_boundary

Proposed_EWP-FPE_boundary

Sections sheet 4 of 10

Green County EWPP_FPE Tree Planting Specification Page 7 of 10

TREE PLANTING SPECIFICATIONS

Green County, Wisconsin Emergency Watershed Protection Program – Floodplain Easement

1. Scope: Utilizing woody planting material to establish tree species within fields totaling 15,000 trees on approximately 53.0 acres. Field cover varies from corn and soybean stubble, alfalfa, pasture and idle fields. This work shall consist of furnishing and installing the necessary tree species as specified below and follow up maintenance activities located within the forest restoration areas shown on the included maps.

2. Pre-planting conference: A pre-planting conference will be held between the contractor and NRCS, the Green County Land and Water Conservation Department, or their delegate to discuss the planting operation. Planting will not begin before this meeting.

3. Site Descriptions

a. SITE 1 – one 3.4 acre field of existing corn stubble. Site 1 is located in Section 23 T3N R8E in

Green County, Wisconsin. The soil types are Marshan silt loam and Ossian silt loam. Both soils are deep, poorly drained soils on low benches in valleys. Ground water is at or near the surface most of the year.

b. SITE 2 – four fields totaling 17.7 acres with cover consisting of 2 idle fields, one of corn stubble, and one of soybean stubble. Site 2 is located in Section 12 T1N R9E in Green County, Wisconsin.

The soil types are Alluvial land, Marshan silt loam, Lawler loam, and Lawler silt loam. Alluvial land consists of soils formed in stratified material that varies in texture from sand and gravel to silt loam. The water table is normally at a depth of 3 to 6 feet. Marshan soils are deep, poorly drained soils on low benches in valleys. Ground water is at or near the surface most of the year.

Lawler consists of deep, somewhat poorly drained soils on low benches in valleys. Ground water is at a depth of 1 to 3 feet in wet seasons.

c. SITE 3 – one 13.0 acre field of existing corn stubble. Site 3 is located in Sections 2 and 11 T1N R9E in Green County, Wisconsin. The soil types are Alluvial land, Dakota loam, Lawler silt loam, and Pillot silt loam. Alluvial land consists of soils formed in stratified material that varies in texture from sand and gravel to silt loam. The water table is normally at a depth of 3 to 6 feet.

Dakota soils are deep, well drained soils on high benches. Ground water is at a depth of more than 5 feet throughout the year. Lawler consist of deep, somewhat poorly drained soils on low benches in valleys. Ground water is at a depth of 1 to 3 feet in wet seasons. Pillot soils are deep, well drained soils on benches in valleys. Ground water is at a depth of more than 5 feet throughout the year.

d. SITE 4 – one alfalfa field and two pasture areas totaling 18.9 acres. Site 4 is located in Sections 23 and 24 T2N R9E in Green County, Wisconsin. The soil types are Alluvial land, Alluvial land (wet), Dakota loam, and Ossian silt loam. Alluvial land consists of soils formed in stratified material that varies in texture from sand and gravel to silt loam. The water table in normally at a depth of 3 to 6 feet. Alluvial land (wet) consists of soils formed in sandy and loamy sediment deposited by streams. It is on the lower parts of flood plains adjacent to major streams. Dakota soils are deep, well drained soils on high benches. Ground water is at a depth of more than 5 feet throughout the year. Ossian soils are deep, poorly drained soils on low benches in valleys.

Ground water is at or near the surface most of the year.

Green County EWPP_FPE Tree Planting Specification Page 8 of 10

4. Woody Material Standards:

a. Contractor shall procure specified trees from a nursery that uses locally adapted plants (within

300 miles of the project area). Contractor is responsible for ordering, delivery, and planting of the trees.

b. Stock shall be at least 2 years old and be at least 12” tall.

c. Together, the contractor and inspector will open at least one bag of each species being planted at each site to determine quality and count. It will be the responsibility of the contractor to cull seedlings that are damaged or do not meet the above standards.

5. Approved Species List:

Common Name Botanical Name Percentage of Mix

Number

Swamp white oak Quercus bicolor 60 9000 Sycamore Platanus occidentalis 20 3000 Black Walnut Juglans nigra 10 1500 Bitternut Hickory Carya cordiformis 10 1500

TOTAL 100% 15,000

* No substitutions will be allowed without written approval from the inspector.

Documentation of unavailability is required prior to allowing substitution.

6. Seedling Care: It is the responsibility of the contractor to assure proper care of the seedlings during the planting operation. Planting will begin immediately after receiving the seedlings. Although cold storage (34ºF to 40ºF) is preferred, storage of seedlings in structures or shaded areas is permissible provided the planting will be completed within 3 days and the seedlings will be kept moist and cool (but not allowed to freeze). Cold storage will be necessary if the planting will require more than 3 days after the receipt of the seedlings (but no longer than 3 weeks). It will be the responsibility of the contractor to secure cold storage, if needed. Only the number of seedlings that can be planted in a day will be taken to the site. These will be kept shaded and moist.

a. The Contractor shall follow nursery tree care recommendations which includes (but not limited

to) the following;

i. Seedlings shall not be removed from the shipping containers until random intermixing and distribution to planting personnel occurs.

ii. Woody stock shall be stored out of direct sunlight and kept cool and moist at all times.

iii. Planting material shall be delivered in healthy condition. Dry, moldy, or dead stock shall be replaced with healthy stock of the same species and as approved by the inspector.

iv. Damaged trees shall not be planted.

v. Roots shall not be “shortened” by pulling or tearing. Roots may be pruned to a minimum length of 8”. Prune by pulling the laterals down along the tap root and cut to length. Pruning will only be done with shears or a sharp knife. Care must be taken to prevent tearing of roots.

7. Installation - Trees:

a. Planting Rate is approximately 290 stems per acre from the approved species list.

i. Recommended spacing of 15 foot distance between rows and material planted approximately 10 feet apart within each row.

Green County EWPP_FPE Tree Planting Specification Page 9 of 10

b. Tree species will be planted in a random pattern, with each field and site receiving similar percentages of tree species. The bitternut hickory and black walnuts should be planted to the most upland portion of each site.

c. If portions of the field have standing water or are inaccessible, plant a higher rate on remaining acres to achieve the total number of trees required per site. There are potential alternate pasture areas on the Site 4 easement that may be substituted upon prior approval from NRCS if marked areas are inaccessible.

d. Sites 1 and 2 must be planted between May 6 and May 19 to avoid a state threatened species.

e. Sites 3 and 4 planting may start when trees are available and site conditions allow and shall be completed prior to May 19, 2010. Planting will be suspended during flood events. Do not plant trees in standing water.

f. No trees may be planted within 75’ of open water on sites 2 and 3.

g. Woody vegetative material shall be planted within 3 days of delivery (unless refrigerated storage is provided).

h. Trees may be hand or machine planted as site conditions will allow. No cost adjustment will be allowed for either method.

i. Planting Equipment

i. All planting equipment (hand or machine) and holding containers shall arrive to the site clean and free of soil and debris.

ii. Water and “holding” containers for seedling stock shall be provided by the Contractor.

iii. All planting equipment and personnel shall be provided by the Contractor.

iv. Hand planting equipment shall have a blade length and width large enough to prepare planting hole to meet the requirements listed for installation.

v. Machine planting equipment operators shall have a minimum of 40 hours operating time on the same or similar equipment.

j. General Planting Standards

i. Seedlings will be machine or hand-planted using a either a dibble or planting shovel that can produce a 10” or deeper planting slit.

ii. Woody material shall be planted in a vertical alignment and at the depth of the individual species original ground line.

iii. Firmly pack soil around each species roots in such a manner that the seedling will resist a firm pull and all air pockets are eliminated around the roots.

iv. Tree roots shall not be balled, twisted or planted in a “J” or “U” shaped manner.

v. Tops of installed seedling shall be free from soil, sticks, duff, and other similar.

8. Installation – Spraying:

During or after the planting operation, spray a 3’ – 4’ wide band of herbicide to kill grasses and broadleaves and provide residual control. Herbicide must be specifically labeled for forestry application and applied according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Herbicide shall be selected and applied by licensed pesticide applicator. Applicator shall follow manufacturer’s recommendations including (but not limited to); environmental locations, rates, application methods and equipment, surfactants, waiting periods, and safety requirements. Contractor shall supply all herbicides, surfactants and other tank additives used in this project. Contractor or USDA-approved sub-contractor shall maintain appropriate licensing for spraying herbicides and shall

Green County EWPP_FPE Tree Planting Specification Page 10 of 10 present copies of licenses at USDA Site Inspector’s request. Notifications, if necessary, shall be the contractor’s responsibility.

9. Post Planting Maintenance:

a. Two (2) mowings shall occur on all fields in the year of planting. The first mowing will be between July 15 and July 31. The second mowing will be between September 1 and September 15th. Strip mowing shall consist of cutting vegetation between planted rows (not between trees within rows). Cutting height shall be no less than 8 inches. Contractor is responsible for preventing damage to planted trees.

b. Late fall strip spraying shall consist of spraying an herbicide providing residual control over the tree rows following tree dormancy. Herbicide shall be selected by a licensed pesticide applicator and be approved for use in forestry application. Follow manufacturer’s recommendation including (but not limited to); environmental locations, rates, application methods and equipment, surfactants, waiting periods, and safety requirements. Applicator shall manufactures recommendations including (but not limited to); environmental locations, rates, application methods and equipment, surfactants, waiting periods, and safety requirements.

Contractor shall supply all herbicides, surfactants and other tank additives used in this project.

Contractor or USDA-approved sub-contractor shall maintain appropriate licensing for spraying herbicides and shall present copies of licenses at USDA Site Inspector’s request. Notifications, if necessary, shall be the contractor’s responsibility

i. Post Planting Maintenance as stated above is anticipated as follows:

1. Mowing: 2 times after planting – July 15 – 31, and September 1 – 15.

2. Strip Spraying: Once after November 1st

10. Warranty

a. Contractor shall provide 5-month warranty on planted materials. If mortality rate after 5 months exceeds 25%, contractor is responsible for replacing all dead or dying plant material at no cost to NRCS. If mortality rate is below 25%, conditions of this warranty will be deemed met.

The warranty does not cover acts of God, flooding, drought or animal browsing.

b. The sites will be checked by Green County or NRCS staff after the September mowing using 1/50th of an acre plots on fields. Each field will have one plot measured for each acre up to ten acres and one additional plot for each additional 5 acres.

11. Quality control: Quality control is understood to mean taking those measures necessary to ensure that the number of satisfactorily planted seedlings meet criteria described in (6) above. The satisfactorily planted seedlings must fall within 10% of the planting rates described above. Satisfactorily planted seedlings are those that meet or exceed the seedling criteria listed above and are planted according to the criteria in the tree standards and installation sections above. The contractor is responsible for ensuring the planting crew adheres to the expected standards of performance and shall provide daily/routine work direction. Quality assurance will be reviewed during the “pre-planting” conference.

In addition, Green County LWCD or NRCS representatives will be available during the first day of planting and will visit the site during planting. They will also be available for consultation, but they will not serve as daily inspectors. It is the responsibility of the contractor to provide day-to-day oversight of the planting crews. Green County LWCD or NRCS will conduct an inspection at the completion of the planting to determine the acceptability of the planting.