Attachment_1-_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

Performance Work Statement

Hazard Fuel Reduction for the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge, CA

Project Contacts:

Keith Mayer, Prescribed Fire & Fuels Specialist (keith_mayer@fws.gov) (c) 209-587-0328

Chris Harper, Project Leader (chris_harper@fws.gov) (c) 209-587-5541

Description: San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge is in California's Stanislaus County.

The refuge is situated where three major rivers (Tuolumne, Stanislaus and San Joaquin) join in the San Joaquin Valley, creating a mosaic of habitats that provide ideal conditions for great wildlife and plant diversity. The refuge was initially established primarily to provide wintering habitat for the Aleutian cackling goose – a federally-listed endangered species at that time.

Today, the refuge is managed with a focus on migratory birds, endangered species, and riparian and wetland habitat restoration.

San Joaquin NWR is bordered by substantial public interface, highly trafficked interstate and state highways, residential housing, and agricultural infrastructure. High density fuel loading near Wildland Urban Interface would assist future fire suppression activities while reducing smoke impacts to surrounding communities’ roadways and smoke sensitive areas. Opening roadways and trails for access and egress of fire and first responders would increase safety for both emergency personnel and the public. Further, proactive fuels and fire management as a strategy to preserve floodplain and riparian woodlands is important to advance the recovery of the endangered riparian brush rabbit.

The Refuge consists of several distinct tracts of land, or “Units.” This Project will be located on the Lara and Grayson Units East of Highway 33 and south of Highway 132. The recently acquired unit is located near the town of Grayson, CA(Figure 2) and near the intersection of Minnie Street and Stakes Street.

Several fires have burned and been suppressed in the vicinity over the past 5 years (Figure 4), and the area has been described as having a fire danger with risk to nearby structures and wildlife habitats. Essential features of riparian brush rabbit habitat (as described by Kelly et al. 2011, p.3) include shrub thickets (rose, blackberry, willow) with herbaceous plants (forbs; mugwort, stinging nettle, gumplant) and grasses (creeping wild rye). Trees are not necessarily required as closed canopies suppress shrubs and forbs. The vegetation to be treated has grown up such that it no longer delivers essential habitat features for riparian brush rabbits and presents a very real threat of fire to nearby structures and habitats. After treatment, the vegetation will be restored to something more suitable for riparian brush rabbits and that does not present elevated fire risk to adjacent structures and habitats.

Location. Eastern terminus of Winnie Street in Grayson California 95363 mailto:keith_mayer@fws.gov mailto:chris_harper@fws.gov

Latitude: N 37.566591, Longitude W-121.177658

Figure 1: Location and Vicinity Map. Grayson, CA

Figure 2: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service San Joaquin River Refuge Boundaries and Project Area Location

2. Objectives: The primary objective of this project is to conduct hazard fuel reduction and improve fire access roads by managing vegetation within designated areas of the Refuge. This process will specifically target vegetation that presents wildfire potential and impedes access by emergency first responders and egress of adjacent property owners during wildfire.

• Remove large woody vegetation that presents a fire risk to nearby structures and habitats

• Improve access and egress of existing roads and trails and improve fire clearance by mowing grasses and trimming trees and shrubs.

• Remove large trees and stump so that the clearing can be maintained by mowing.

• Create a shaded fuel break wear applicable by limbing trees up to 8 feet.

3. Project Specifications:

• Schedule: All work must be completed between the months of Contract award through October 31st, 2026. Or as directed by the Refuge Manager due to endangered species concerns.

• Site Preparation: Coordinate with Refuge staff to identify specific areas for mechanical treatments based on fire risk assessments and ecological considerations.

o Improve defensible space around fire access roads (may be two-track or gravel):

by managing vegetation by mechanical means. Completely remove all vegetation from within the purple polygon (Figure 1) by mowing, scraping, masticating, grubbing, dozing, ripping, or other means. Remove hazardous fuel along roadways, access and egress and under powerlines adjacent to purple polygon.

• Operations: Perform treatments the following treatments (Figure 1).

o Completely mow grasses, small shrubs, and standing trees that impact powerlines, roadways, or are adjacent to structures using tractor and rotary mower, flail mower, or drum masticator (or similar means) with in the identified project areas.

o Do not mow, masticate or cut Valley Oak trees if possible.

o Remove all vegetation within 20 feet of existing access road and existing fences so that it can be mowed by a tractor (15-ft batwing mower) by removing all trees and stumps o Remove, haul off, and dispose of properly all cut limbs

• Debris Management: Remove and properly dispose of cut trees and shrubs in compliance with environmental regulations and refuge policies, as directed by Project Leader, Refuge Manager or Supporting Staff.

• Reporting: Provide regular progress updates to Points of Contact.

4. Deliverables:

• Detailed work plan outlining methodologies, timelines, and safety protocols.

• Successfully treat the identified areas of vegetation by mechanical means (Figure 3).

5. Period of performance: Contract award- October 31, 2026.

6. Safety and Environmental Considerations: Strict adherence to safety protocols and environmental regulations is mandatory throughout all phases of the project. Staff will be appropriately trained on the equipment used.

7. Evaluation and Acceptance: Upon completion of the project, a joint evaluation will be conducted by Refuge staff and the contractor to assess the achievement of project objectives and deliverables. Final acceptance will be contingent upon meeting all contractual requirements and performance standards.

Figure 3 Map depicting Fire History (prescribed and wild fire) on the Lara Tract on the San Joaquin River Refuge. Including the 2022 Grayson fire which burned the projected hazard fuel removal sites.

Figure 4: Locations of Primary and Secondary project areas on the Grayson Unit of the San Joaquin River Refuge. Project areas are located within USFWS boundaries.

Figure 5: Primary Work Site for Hazard Fuel Reduction adjacent to the town of Grayson, CA.

Figure 6: Boundary Line of USFWS property and Private Property. Site of Fuel Break. Grayson, CA

Figure 7: Hazardous Fuels on USFWS lands adjacent to private property. Grayson, CA.

Figure 8: Fuel transitions between Minnie Ave and Jennie Ave. Grayson, CA

Figure 9: Hazardous Fuels In Secondary Project area. Grayson, CA.

Figure 10: USFWS Hazard Fuel reduction project site. Grayson, CA.