Aquatic Invasive Species Management Requirements 2024.pdf

Project Title:

Aquatic Invasive Species Management

Lead Agency:

Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District (NVSWCD)

12055 Government Center Pkwy, Suite #905

Fairfax, VA 22035

Project Summary:

In partnership with Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) and the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and

Environmental Services (DPWES), the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) has received a grant from Fairfax County’s Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) to control Water Chestnut, aka Trapa bispinosa in Fairfax County. The grant program is known as the Multi-agency Water Chestnut Early Detection Rapid Response

Control (EDRR), Phase III. These grant funds can be used in HOAs, places of worship and parks but not in private waterways. Effective management requires the application of herbicide certified for use in aquatic environments by a licensed contractor.

Project Goals:

Managing these aquatic invasive species supports healthy ecosystem functions. This in turn maintains biodiversity. It also supports navigation, recreational activities, and stormwater functionality. The ultimate goal for this project is to suppress the spread of an invasive species Trapa bispinosa. Trapa is considered an Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) species, an invasive plant of special consideration because of its recent emergence as a threat in Fairfax County and the

Mid-Atlantic region. It is aggressive, quickly forming dense, unsightly mats on the water’s surface. These mats decrease oxygen and sunlight in the water column. This in turn harms biodiversity, hinders navigation and recreation, impacts the functionality of stormwater facilities, and can reduce property values. The spiny, barbed seeds cause discomfort and bleeding when they pierce clothing and skin. No species are known to use Trapa as a food source in our area. By suppressing this invasive plant, we can help prevent its spread not only within Fairfax County but throughout our region, including the Occoquan Reservoir and the Potomac River.

Term:

May 2024-October 2024, 6 full calendar months

Scope of Work

1) Herbicide treatment of Trapa bispinosa, an aquatic invasive species, to be done once a month in 20 waterbodies.

The 20 waterbodies are listed in a PDF document attached separately from this document.

Prior to Herbicide Application

2) Contractor shall provide treatment schedule (dates/times) to NVSWCD at a minimum of 5-7 days’ notice.

3) Contractor must measure and record dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and pH at each site prior to treatment.

4) Contractor must measure and record weather conditions that include but are not limited to humidity, cloud coverage, air temperature, rainfall, and wind speed.

5) Contractor must be diligent in tracking weather patterns such as rainfall to the best of their ability. Contractor must follow rainfast guidelines as stated on herbicide label. If rainfall occurs during a rainfast period, reduced effectiveness may occur.

6) Contractor will thoroughly inspect the water bodies for any sign of Trapa bispinosa and document the current growth amount in a percentage estimate of water body coverage.

7) Photos will be taken to document the current growth rate of Trapa bispinosa.

8) Contractor will sample (pull) 9 Trapa bispinosa rosettes, each at least 1 meter apart. Contractor can use a tool such as a hand rake.

9) Contractor will record how many of the 9 rosettes are in bloom and have seeds.

10) Contractor will take a photo of a rosette showing example of large fruit attached.

Herbicide Application

11) Flumioxazin will be used as the sole herbicide for treatment of Trapa bispinosa. Any other herbicides are to be used for testing purposes only with NVSWCD written permission, including but not limited to Diquat, ProcellaCOR, Imazamox, and Fluoridone.

12) Flumioxazin with necessary adjuvants or non-ionic surfactants such as Methylated Seed Oil, will be sprayed as a foliar application method using a commercial grade sprayer, either by boat, Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) or from shore using a backpack sprayer.

13) Flumioxazin herbicide concentration shall not exceed 200ppb.

14) Contractor should not treat more than one-third of Trapa bispinosa biomass to prevent a fish kill.

15) Applications will be selective for Trapa bispinosa with precision spraying by a trained and licensed aquatic herbicide applicator. Contractor will ensure that they are diligent with pesticide record keeping.

16) NVSCWD shall be emailed a PDF service report and pesticide records from the contractor within 10 days of treatment to ensure customer is aware of the state of the property/ponds, which include but are not limited to:

a) Applicators name

b) Site address

c) Site name

d) Percent coverage of Trapa bispinosa

e) Herbicide, active ingredient, and adjuvant/surfactant name

f) Herbicide, active ingredient, and adjuvant/surfactant dosage (if any)

g) Comments and notes on the 9 rosettes sampled

h) Before and after treatment photos

i) Photos of sampled rosettes

j) Required measurements: Dissolved oxygen, water temperature, pH, weather conditions, and precipitation history

k) Equipment used during application

Terms and Conditions

1) Contractor staff shall have the experience, knowledge, and ability to identify Trapa bispinosa populations within waterbodies.

2) Contractor shall have the staff, supervision, and expertise to provide the services and any other agreed on deliverables to include any equipment, watercraft, herbicides, tools or supplies, and removal and destruction equipment.

3) Contractor must possess at the time of commencing work and throughout the project duration, proof of insurance coverage, which includes but is not limited to General Liability, Property Damage, Automobile Liability, and

Workers Compensation at their own expense.

4) Contractor must possess at the time of commencing work and throughout the project duration, proof of a Virginia

Pesticide Business License.

5) Contractor staff working on this project must be a Virginia Certified Pesticide Applicator at the time of commencing work and throughout the project duration.

6) Contractor shall provide a contact name, job title, and phone number to coordinate field activities with NVSWCD and to serve as the direct line to communicate with the contractor.

7) Contractor shall have the ability to provide all pesticides, application equipment, rakes, canoes or other boats, personnel, transportation, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), miscellaneous service equipment, supplies and all other incidentals to perform these services in accordance with the technical specifications contained herein.

8) Contractor shall have the ability to apply all pesticides in accordance with the Virginia Pesticide Control Act, the pesticide product label, and within all treatment areas outlined in this contract. Contractor shall record all treatment information in accordance with the Virginia Pesticide Control Act.

9) Contractor shall have the ability to use pesticides approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and registered in Virginia. Storage of pesticides shall comply with the label. All employees performing treatments shall follow all label directions.

10) Contractor shall be able to ensure the safety of the environment and all parties involved while conducting treatments. Work shall be performed in a manner conforming to the rules, regulations, and procedures prescribed by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the EPA, Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA), the VDACS Office of Pesticide Services (OPS), and any other applicable regulating body as it pertains to safely carrying out provisions of this contract.

11) Contractor shall be able to provide any necessary watercraft required to ensure that personnel can a) physically access plant material for physical removals, and b) provide proximity access of personnel to floating populations of Trapa bispinosa in waterbodies so that the herbicides may be applied in a targeted manner to reduce off-target applications and drift. Watercraft used for this project must be able to house any pesticide application equipment safely and securely. The watercraft used for this project shall be in proper working order throughout the contract.

The Contractor shall follow all watercraft restrictions in place for the individual bodies of water.

12) Contractor shall determine the suitability of the necessary watercraft needed, depending on the size of the waterbody and the physical access available at the waterbody in question. All staff shall be properly licensed to operate, drive, or maneuver such watercraft. Contractor shall prevent the further movement or distribution of any

Trapa bispinosa plant material by inspection of any such watercraft prior to leaving the waterbody and removing any Trapa bispinosa plant matter found on the watercraft.

13) Contractor shall have the ability to provide personnel to perform work outlined between sunrise and sunset, Monday through Friday, except for holidays or inclement weather. If there are any treatments being done in low lighting, contractor must provide their own sources of lighting for those applications

14) Contractor shall provide and utilize appropriate pesticide sprayer systems that can apply herbicide products in accordance with the following specifications

15) All personnel involved in the operation of Trapa bispinosa management activities are required to conduct themselves in a safe manner. The Contractor shall follow all safety regulations prescribed by the EPA, OSHA, the

Virginia Pesticide Control Act, Department of Wildlife Management watercraft laws, and associated regulations at all times.

16) Contractor shall ensure that all personnel have the necessary supplies and equipment to operate safely in the area including but not limited to visibility vests, waders, life preservers, appropriate eye protection, hard hat, or any other equipment needed to perform this work safely.

17) Contractor shall ensure all label requirements regarding pesticide mixing, loading, application, storage, transportation, and disposal are followed.

18) Contractor shall supply all safety equipment required for mixing and loading the pesticide material. This includes, but is not limited to, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required by the label. The Contractor shall also provide containment and spill clean-up materials and supplies.

19) Contractor shall provide and utilize appropriate pesticide sprayer systems that can apply herbicide products in accordance with the following specifications:

a) The pesticide application system shall have droplets large enough to prevent off-target applications.

b) The system shall be in good working order.

c) Contractor shall follow all label restrictions.

20) Contractor(s), during the performance of any herbicide treatments, must:

a) Keep a copy of all pesticide labels, and the associated SDS, on site with any pesticides or chemicals used for this contract

b) Purchase all the herbicide used for this project. These products shall be labeled for their intended use and must be approved for aquatic use.

c) Be responsible for safe mixing and storage of pesticides products in accordance with the label requirements and conforming to the Virginia Pesticide Control Act and associated regulations

d) Ensure that all spray equipment is cleaned and flushed when switched from one chemical to another. Ensure all equipment used for this contract is thoroughly cleaned and free of residues and foreign particulate matter prior to applications on designated waterbodies where two-horned trapa has been confirmed.

e) Ensure all rinsate and wash water shall be disposed of in accordance with the Virginia Pesticide Control Act and associated regulations, the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and label requirements. No rinsate shall be unloaded into any waterbody while performing work under this contract

f) Ensure that staff are provided and wearing all label-required PPE while handling and applying pesticide materials

g) Take precautions to limit use of the herbicide to direct applications to the two-horned trapa floating rosettes only, to reduce any off-target applications; and

h) Arrange for appropriate storage and transportation of any herbicide products used in this contract

21) All work is to be completed in a professional manner according to accepted lake management practices. The contractor warrants all chemicals and products used in lake treatments programs are approved for aquatic use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Chemicals are used within the dosage recommended by the manufacturer and allowed by law. Critical and unforeseeable factors beyond our control prevent us from eliminating all risk in the use of chemicals. Our personnel are licensed as required by the state.

22) If there is a delay in herbicide treatment due to weather patterns, NVSWCD must be notified immediately.

Contractor must record the delay in affected service reports, and proceed with herbicide treatment as soon as label guidelines allow. Contractor must notify NVSWCD of schedule change immediately.

23) Changes can be made to the contract in the following way: The parties may agree in writing to modify the terms, conditions, or scope of the contract. Any additional goods or services to be provided shall be of a sort that is ancillary to the contract goods or services, or within the same broad product or service categories as were included in the contract award. Any increase or decrease in the price of the contract resulting from such modification shall be agreed to by the parties as a part of their written agreement to modify the scope of the contract.

24) Contractor warrants that their work is free from defects, that they are subject to quality control inspections and require issues to be fixed within timely manner.

25) Contractor shall agree (throughout the project, not just at time of completion) to protect ecological resources and cause the least damage possible to grasses/seedlings/shrubs/trees, dispose of waste properly, and to use transportation recommendations when specified. It is NVSWCD's obligation to provide contractor with map of preferred course/route of access, specify trails, or access parking for any/all sites treated.

26) If failure to complete scope of work, or there is a delay of work that is due to force majeure, including, but not limited to extreme weather events such as flooding and fires, natural disasters, war, riot, strike or other labor disturbances, chemical shortages or backorder, epidemics or pandemics, impediments of transportation, breakage or accident to machinery or equipment used, the contractor is required to report details of any of these unforeseen circumstance(s) in a timely manner to NVSWCD.

27) Contractor shall agree to an initial and one time only on-site meeting at each pond (on the day they plan to treat for the first time in May 2024, and at a specific time with 5-7 days’ notice to NVSWCD), where in attendance there should be three entities: a district representative (either Scott Baron or Sophia Wood), a representative from the park or HOA, and the licensed applicator/technician. This excludes spot treatments unless otherwise specified.