ATT_1_SOW_New_Lake_Fire_Break_Fuel_Mastication.pdf

New Lake Fire Break Project Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

08/22/2022

INTRODUCTION:

The Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is pursuing a service contract for the maintenance of the existing New Lake Fire Break (see attached maps). The trees and vegetation within the fire break corridor are overgrown and the fuels need to be mitigated to re-establish its viability and effectiveness as a fuel break. Such breaks are critical for the prevention and suppression of large wildland fires. They serve to reduce fire size and smoke impacts and they can significantly reduce suppression costs. Fuel breaks protect the refuge from wildfires originating on adjacent properties. Conversely, they protect adjacent private homes and properties from wildfires originating on the refuge. The New Lake Fire Break is especially critical for protecting the adjacent private residences on Waterway Drive along the Intracoastal Waterway.

BACKGROUND & CURRENT CONDITIONS:

Historically, the largest wildfires in NC history have occurred on the Pocosin Lakes NWR. Both the Allen Rd Fire (1985; 95,000-acres, the largest in NC recorded history) and the Evans Rd Fire (2008; 42,000-acres) began on adjacent properties and spread onto the refuge. Dense volatile fuels and the poor trafficability in the peat soils pose many unique challenges to wildland firefighters. As such, the costs of suppressing these large fires are exorbitantly high potentially ranging into the tens of millions of dollars or more.

The New Lake Fire Break was established in 2009-2010 and has not been maintained since its construction. It is L-shaped with a uniform width of 200-feet and has a total length of approximately 21,000-ft (almost 4-miles). Its area is estimated at 102-acres.

Current vegetation consists mostly of red maple, sweetgum, sweetbay, gallberry, waxmyrtle, red bay, and switch cane. Green brier and other vines are quite abundant across the entire break. Most of the fire break is dominated by shrub species but there are large pockets of small trees and saplings (mostly red maple, sweetgum, and sweetbay) which range up to 30-40-feet in height with diameters ranging up to 3-4-inches at breast height (measured 4.5-ft from ground level).

The soil within the fire break is comprised of deep organics (peat) and can pose serious trafficability issues especially in wet periods. As such, tracked equipment with low ground pressure (LGP) are needed. The break was initially installed with Geoboy/Geotrack type machines with fecon cutter heads and equipped with flexible track systems.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The New Lake Fire Break is an existing fuel break with a visible footprint. All vegetation and fuel within the 200-foot width of the footprint, measured from the mowed path’s inside edge to the tree line, from the parking area to the Intracoastal Waterway (see map), shall be masticated (mulched or grinded).

Debris piles shall be kept to 6-inches or less in height. Mastication will begin from the mowed path’s edge progressing inland in linear strips along the entire length of the fire break.

It is the contractor’s responsibility to maintain the appropriate width of the treated area for the duration of the project. Should the boundaries of the treatment area become unclear, the contractor will immediately contact the COR for guidance on how to proceed.

The contractor shall provide all equipment, operators and support personnel, transportation, parts, fluids, fuel, etc. It is the contractor’s daily responsibility to transport the equipment to and from the site and to provide for the transportation of personnel, fuel, parts, fluids, etc.

All equipment used by the contractor will be clean of dirt, mud, and plant material, within tracks and undercarriage, prior to entering the Refuge. If equipment leaves the work site for any reason it will be cleaned prior to re-entering the Refuge. This requirement is to limit the potential for spread of exotic and invasive plants onto the Refuge.

Protection of Trees: The Contractor shall take every precaution necessary to prevent damage to trees and vegetation outside of the treatment area.

Erosion Control: Contractor shall take reasonable care to minimize soil impacts in the unit.

Vehicles will not be operated on Refuge roads, power line rights-of-way, or permanent fire lines when soil moisture conditions are such that excessive rutting or soil movement will occur.

Smoking: Smoking by Contractor personnel is permitted only in cleared areas designated by the Site Rep/Government such as permanent fire lines or utility rights of way. Smoking materials shall not be left on Refuge lands. The Contractor may be held liable for any wildland fire that is started by their personnel from negligence.

Work Hours: All cleaning activity will be performed during posted business hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. (Note: any deviation needs prior approval from on-site representative.)

Supervision: To ensure performance and accomplishment of the work as outlined herein, the Contractor shall provide adequate and competent onsite supervision (with the ability to effectively communicate in English) at all times for all work to be accomplished by the Contractor’s employees. When contract work is in progress, supervisory personnel shall be available at all times to receive notices, reports, or requests from the Site Representative or his authorized representative. NOTE: At no time shall Government representatives direct or supervise the activities of the Contractor’s employees.

PROJECT LOCATION:

See below map. The project is located on the Pocosin Lakes Nat’l Wildlife Refuge just south of New Lake (a.k.a. Alligator Lake) in Hyde County, NC. Coordinates for the parking area are 35°37.214’ / -76°21.41’. From Hwy 45/264, turn north onto Higginsport Rd (NC State Road 1302) then proceed to New Lake Rd. After turning onto New Lake Rd, the parking area will be 6.25-miles on the right.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Both extended wet weather or high fire danger could delay or prolong operations. Significantly wet conditions could impede equipment use. Conversely, operations would be temporarily suspended if there was significant potential for wildfires from machine use. With the size of the project, it should easily be completed in 2-3 months under relatively satisfactory conditions.

This project must be completed by 12/21/2023.

TECHNICAL POINTS OF CONTACT:

Primary - Caleb Jones Fire Management Officer (FMO) 252-394-0234 (cell) caleb_jones@fws.gov

Secondary - Anthony Davis Engineering Equipment Operator (EEO) 252-706-0090 anthony_davis@fws.gov

New Lake Fire Break

- Approx 102-acres

¯ New Lake

Parking Area 35*37.214' / -76*21.41'

Legend New_Lake_FIre_Break

Roads

0 0.5

1 2 Miles

Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and

Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri Korea, the GIS User Community

Mowed Path

Canal

New Lake Fire Break Pocosin Lakes Nat’l Wildlife Refuge

35°37.214’ / -76°21.41’ Area - approx. 102-acres Length - approx. 4-miles