Attachment_1_-_SOW.pdf

Statement of Work

Project Name

Estimating snowshoe hare density from fecal pellet counts in North Powderhorn Project Area BLM Gunnison Field Office

Background & Project Need

The Bureau of Land Management’s Gunnison Field Office (GFO) is developing a vegetation management treatments to improve forest health and to promote fine-scale heterogeneity across the North Powderhorn project area. The proposed treatments would include a range of forested vegetation types and fuels treatments, including prescribed fire and mechanical treatments in high-elevation moist subalpine fir and spruce forest. The

Canada lynx is a federally listed threatened species associated with relatively high-elevation, moist conifer forests that experience cold, snowy winters and provide a prey base of snowshoe hare (Interagency Lynx Biology

Team 2013) and have the potential to occur in the North Powderhorn Project area. This effort aims to assess the suitability of lynx habitat and availability of prey base in the project area.

Lynx’ ability to successfully reproduce is linked to snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) (Poole 1994, Mowat et al.

1996) and lynx habitat selection largely reflect that of hares seasonally and through the hare population cycle

(O’Donoghue et al. 1998, Mowat and Slough 2003, Squires and Ruggiero 2007, McCann and Moen 2011).

Research suggests a minimum prey density of snowshoe hares greater than 0.5 hares/hectare or greater than

0.2 hares/acre to sustain a lynx population within a lynx home range (Mowat et al. 2000).

Location of Project

The North Powderhorn fuels project is located in the San Juan mountains north-east of Lake City and 20 miles south of Gunnison in Gunnison County (Appendix B). Lynx habitat and pellet count surveys will be conducted within the project area in proposed prescribed burn treatments and control sites within, and on BLM lands adjacent to, the Powderhorn Wilderness area.

The treatment sites are located in Section 23 and 24, T. 046N, R.003W; Section 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, T. 045N, R.003W (Appendix B). Control plots will be in forest stands within 3 miles of the treatment stands. The project area is 34 miles from Gunnison, CO and is accessed by traveling south on Highway 149 from Gunnison and turning and driving south on Indian Creek Road (BLM 3033). Treatment and control sites are accessed either (a) on foot from the Grey Ranch or (b) on foot from the Powderhorn Lakes trailhead.

Surveys in control sites will be in forest stands of a similar size, composition, elevation, aspect to the treatment sites. All surveys will be conducted in mapped primary lynx habitat.

Contract Period

Electronic datasets will be submitted following the first year of fieldwork by December 31, 2022. Electronic datasets will be submitted following the second year of fieldwork by December 31, 2023. A summary report of all field activities will be submitted to the BLM by February 1, 2024. Summary report will include a summary of the timing of all work, difficulties and successes during fieldwork, justification for any points not completed, and summary statistics of the vegetation and fecal pellet surveys. Final report will be required by Feb 29, 2024.

- Field Work – June – Oct 2022

- Data Sets and Summary Report – Dec 2022

- Field Work – June – Oct 2023

- Data Sets and Summary – Dec 2023

- Final Report – Feb 29, 2024

Description of Work

Purpose

Snowshoe hare fecal pellet plots can provide an efficient means to estimate densities of snowshoe hares.

Previous research has established density estimates of snowshoe hares based on mark recapture data and accompanying pellet counts (Murray et al. 2005, Mills et al. 2005, Krebs et al. 2011). Project objectives are: (1) evaluate habitat suitability for Canada lynx based on (a) stand characteristics and (b) main prey density and (2) quantify hare response to fuels treatments over the long-term to facilitate project level management decisions.

Project Scope

The proposed fieldwork will be conducted during the late summer early fall in two subsequent years. In the first year of the project, vegetation surveys will be conducted at 40 survey points and 5 permanent pellet plots will be established at each survey point. Work in the first year will also require resampling fecal pellet density in five plots in approximately 40 additional points that were established in 2021 by the BLM. Resampling fecal pellet density at the additional points does not require vegetation surveys; those will have been sampled in 2021 and the work will only require resampling pellets in the plots cleared the prior year. So first year work will include (a) full vegetation surveys and clearing pellet plots at 40 survey points and (b) resampling pellet plots at

40 survey points that were established by the BLM in 2021. All points will be established and provided by BLM

GFO prior to survey work.

Fieldwork in the second year will entail resampling pellet density in approximately 400 plots: 5 plots in each of the 80 points - the 40 points that will have been established by the contractor in 2022 and the 40 points that were established by the BLM in 2021. Leporid pellets counted during the vegetation surveys in the first year as the plots are cleared represent leporid species from an unknown time-period. Leporid pellets counted in cleared plots represent leporid population during that year. A similar study in similar terrain in Fremont County, Colorado was able to sample and establish an estimated 2 to 3 points per day with a crew of 3 people.

Resampling fecal pellet density in cleared plots is more rapid and can be completed by one person. In the same study in Fremont County, a crew of two was able to resample pellet plots in an estimated five points per day.

Several insect and disease outbreaks of varying intensities and severities have occurred in the forest vegetation types of the project area. Blowdown events in the stands, combined with long-term drought stress, warmer temperatures, fire exclusion, and extensive amounts of older, densely growing trees contributed to the beetle epidemic. Spruce beetle has caused extensive damage to Engelmann spruce (Picea englemannii) and mortality is nearly 100% in the mature trees on the highest elevations and lower north slopes. Because of widespread tree mortality, the work will require navigating by foot through areas with considerable dead and down timber but also meadows, aspen stands, and other forest stands with less less mortality.

Vegetation Surveys of within Primary Lynx Habitat:

Vegetation surveys will be conducted in 400 m2 plots (11.2 m radius) at each of the 40 pre-established survey points. All survey points will be within mapped primary lynx habitat. Oversample/alternate sample points will be provided and points may be excluded (with documentation) if they (a) pose a safety risk to access because of terrain, (b) plot is inaccessible (travel time to and from a single plot would mean that a crew could not accomplish at least 2 plots per day), (c) plot is not forested with suitable tree species (Populus tremuloides, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Picea spp., Abies lasiocarpa), or (d) access is blocked by private landholdings. The contractor is expected to complete at least 70 points and must provide justification if they do not complete 80 points.

A portion of the points will be in the proposed fuels treatment areas and others will be in adjacent stands outside of, but within 1-mile of, the treatment areas. Vegetation variables will be collected that are considered biologically meaningful for snowshoe hare and also characterize forest structure and composition. The vegetation survey will capture understory density, canopy cover, coarse woody debris, horizontal cover, and counts and diameters of all trees in the plot. Methods are detailed in Appendix A.

Snowshoe Hare Fecal Pellet Count Surveys:

Five pellet count plots will be established within the same pre-established survey plots where vegetation surveys are conducted following methods for pellet plot placement in Appendix A. In the first year, 1-m2 circular plots will be established, leporid pellets will be counted, and the plot cleared of pellets. In the second year, pellets will be counted in the same plots, which will represent hare density present over the one-year period. Methods are detailed in Appendix A.

Datasets and Reporting Requirements

Following first-year vegetation and pellet count surveys, all datasets will be submitted in electronic format.

Electronic datasets from pellet count surveys in the second year will be submitted once fieldwork is completed.

A brief summary report will be submitted within 90-days following submission of the datasets. Summary report will include a summary of the timing of all work, difficulties and successes during fieldwork, justification for any points not completed, and summary statistics of the vegetation and hare densities in that year from fecal pellet counts.

BLM Shall Furnish or Provide

The BLM will provide additional maps, contract inspection, and will be available for up to 3 site visits if requested. The BLM will provide GPS units and/or spatial coordinates for data collection sites.

Contractor Shall Furnish

The contractor will provide all equipment, qualified field biologists to complete the survey work, and a qualified biologist/ecologist (or similar) to summarize data and produce a summary report.

Inspection/Acceptance

Inspection/Acceptance of all service performed in accordance with this contract for purpose of initiating contractor payment shall be by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

The BLM COR or Project Inspector (PI) designated by the Contracting Officer (CO) shall make periodic inspections of the project as a basis for payment and recommendations for adjustments in work quality while work is in progress. The Contractor is encouraged to observe inspections while they are being made.

As the basis for payment, inspections for compliance with contract specifications will be made once data sets and a report are submitted by the Contractor. Payments will be made in 3 installments once the following are submitted and approved by COR: (1) electronic dataset from at least 35 of all pre-established vegetation surveys and first-year pellet counts with justification for points that were not surveyed and electronic dataset from pellet re-counts, (2) electronic dataset from second-year pellet re-counts of at least 90% of prior year pellet plots, and (3) a summary report. The first payment will be

50% of the total contract amount. The second payment will be 40% of the contract amount. The third payment will be 10% of the contract amount.

Project Site Visit – If Requested

Prior to survey work. Date of visit(s) to be scheduled with Kathy Brodhead, Wildlife Biologist at the

Gunnison Field Office. Contact: kbrodhead@blm.gov or 970-492-4952. If there is a site visit, all participants will comply with the latest CDC guidance related to COVID-19.

Stipulations

Administration

The Contractor’s work schedule shall be communicated to the COR prior to work commencing. The

Contractor shall insure best management practices are utilized. The Contractor shall insure Leave-No-

Trace practices are followed while working and/or camping in the project area.

Weeds

To prevent the introduction of seeds of noxious and invasive weeds, the contractor will clean all vehicles before entering the project area. Vehicles traveling to the site shall be free of soil, seeds, vegetation, and other such debris that could contain or hold seeds. Equipment shall be considered clean when a visual inspection does not disclose such material. Cleaning shall not take place on BLM land.

Public Access

The Contractor will only access the project area when the area is open to the public. The Contractor must be aware of the presence of people in the work area. Access to BLM lands will be from legal access points including trailheads and system roads. No cross-country motorized or mechanized use will be permitted off of system roads and trails. Access to non-roaded areas will be foot/horse only.

Archeological or Cultural Discoveries

This contract area has been reviewed for archeological sites. The Contractor shall avoid disturbing all cultural sites. If in connection with operations under this contract the Contractor, his subcontractors, or the employees of any of them, discovers, encounters, or becomes aware of any objects or sites of cultural value on the contract area such as historical or prehistorical ruins, human remains, graves or grave markers, fossils, or artifacts; the Contractor shall immediately suspend all operations in the vicinity of the cultural value and shall notify the COR of the findings. Operations may resume at the discovery site upon receipt of written instructions and authorization by the COR.

Wet Period Restrictions

Designated Surface Conditions - All roads entering and within the treatment area are native surface.

Travel on native surface roads is restricted when the soil is saturated. If the soils are saturated such that ruts 3 inches or deeper and 10 feet long or longer, are created by vehicles, the Contractor shall cease work in that area and immediately notify the BLM Contracting Officer or CPW representative. If conditions persist, the contract may be suspended until the soils dry out or freeze. If the Contract is suspended due to wet conditions, the BLM will not be responsible for any additional mobilization costs.

Fire Restrictions

Dry conditions may require the imposition of fire restrictions within the project area. Depending on the situation, there may be restrictions imposed on access or fire restrictions if camping.

Littering

No littering is permitted and the contractor shall be responsible for Leave-No-Trace practices in the project area.

Work Camps

The Contractor or his employees, upon written authorization from the COR, may establish a temporary work camp on public lands administered by the BLM. The camp may consist of mobile trailer, pickup camper, or tent trailer as long as it is in area with legal dispersed camping or in a campground.

Contractor may camp in the Powderhorn Wilderness but must observe leave-no-trace policies and all travel in the wilderness will be limited to foot or horseback.

Injuries and Damage

Contractors are expected to know and strictly adhere to all OSHA laws and regulations regarding the work being conducted under this contract. The Contractor, in their operations under this contract, shall not perform in a negligent manner causing any person or property to be injured or damaged.

Other Resource Protection

All of the activities associated with this project shall be conducted in such a manner that there shall not be any adverse impact to the following resources listed.

Protection of Improvements and Survey Monuments- The Contractor shall avoid any damage to improvements such as, but not limited to, fences, gates, utility poles, survey markers or monuments, claim stakes, survey witness trees and cultural sites. The Contractor will be required to repair or pay fair market value to replace any damaged improvements.

Appendix A: Vegetation survey protocol for Snowshoe Hare Pellet Counts

1) Navigate to survey point and establish the center point. Refer to Figure A1 for an overview of plot setup.

a) Mark the point with a 30 cm rebar stake.

b) Record center location UTM and photograph center point using a tablet or camera that has the ability to put watermarks on the photograph designating survey point ID, pellet plot ID, UTM coordinates, date.

c) If any of the stakes are not present on resample visit, use a 22.4 m transect rope to estimate where the stakes should be and re-establish. Note the discrepancy on the data form.

2) Establish a 22.4 meter transect running North-South centered on the survey point

a) Using a compass for the bearing, establish a North-South transect. Mark the ends of the 22.4 meter transect with a 30 cm rebar stake as in 1a above.

b) Record the marked end location UTM and photograph the plot as in 1b above.

c) Establish a second 22.4 meter transect running East-West centered on the survey point. Temporarily place pin flags at the ends of the East-West transect to help guide the circular plot estimation and horizontal cover measurements.

d) Be cautious while setting up the plot so you don’t trample the pellet plot areas

3) Canopy Cover and Tree Understory Estimate

a) Sample 25 points in a 20 m x 20 m grid (5 points along 5 transects) using the following method:

i) Using a 12.14 m guideline attached to the center point, start in the southwest corner of the grid and take a canopy cover sample using a moosehorn/vertical projection tube.

ii) Walk north and sample 4 more points at 5 meter intervals

iii) Start a new transect 5 m to the east and sample 5 points at 5 meter intervals while moving south.

iv) Walk and sample 3 more parallel transects to the east at 5 meter spacing.

(1) Canopy Cover: presence (1) or absence (0) using the moosehorn. If any part of the tree (living or dead) intersects the leveled moosehorn sight (the ‘inner circle’ of the sight) then canopy is present.

(2) Enter the following for each canopy cover presence (1):

(a) Species

(b) DBH (estimated to the nearest inch for all trees greater than 3” DBH and taller than 6’)

(c) Canopy level: (1) overstory and (2) subcanopy

(d) Condition: live, red, or dead (see table A1).

4) North-South Transect

a) Quantify woody debris, understory density, hare pellets and ground cover.

i) Hare pellet plots

(1) Starting at the south end of the transect, place a pellet plot every 5.6 meters for a total of 5 plots. Drive a 30 cm piece of rebar into the center of each pellet plot giving two pellet plots on either side of the center point (Figure A1).

(2) Using the 0.56 m radius cord (1m2) stretched from the center rebar at each pellet plot center count the pellets in each of the plots. Count on your hands and knees. Do not dig into the duff to locate pellets but move vegetation to search effectively. Count pellets on the perimeter if they are more than halfway in the circle.

(a) Initial pellet counts conducted in the fall (“uncleared” year) count separately “old” and

“new” pellets within the circle. Secondary pellet count conducted the following fall

(“cleared” year) do not require separate counts for “old” and “new” pellets.

(b) Color: new pellets are generally tan, old pellets are gray or black

(c) Shape: new pellets are usually perfectly round, old pellets are oblong or have a slight point.

(d) Texture: new pellets are smooth and tightly packed, old pellets are frayed

ii) Ground Cover: inside the same 1 m2 circular pellet plot

(1) Sample ground cover from a perspective of looking directly down on the plot and estimate the percent cover of grasses, forbs and shrubs (the total can equal 100%)

(2) Identify the most prevalent shrub to species (identify Salix to genus)

iii) Understory Tree Density

(1) Count all understory tree bole that are within 0.5 m of each side of the N-S transect (any DBH or height as long as it is NOT part of the overstory and is over 1 meter height). Mark the hare pellet cord at 0.5 meters with tape to assist in this step or use a carpenter ruler. The majority of the tree bole must be in the belt boundary to be counted.

(a) Tree Species

(b) Estimated Height

(c) Condition: live, red, or dead (Table A1).

(2) Downed Woody Debris

(a) Count all downed logs greater than 3” DBH and greater than 1-meter in length that is intersecting the N-S transect.

5) Establish and sample the large (0.04 ha/400 m2) circular plot

a) Estimate plot perimeter with transect cord and temporarily place pin flags to assist in visualizing the plot.

b) Determine if a tree is in or out of the plot using a laser rangefinder from the point center for each tree

(>3” DBH)

i) estimate DBH

ii) Tree Species

iii) Tree Condition (live, red, or dead)

c) Snags

i) Estimate DBH

ii) Species = SNAG or if species is identifiable the 4-letter plant code followed by “-D” (e.g., PIEN-D).

iii) Class condition: stage 1 to 5 (Figure A2)

iv) Tree Condition = dead

6) Horizontal Cover Estimate

a) Use a 0.5 m x 2 m cover board which is divided into four 0.5 m2 blocks. Each of the 4 blocks is divided into 4 sections.

i) In each of the cardinal directions, hold the coverboard 10 meters away from the center point (make sure the coverboard is touching the ground). One person will hold the coverboard and the other will remain at the center to visually estimate the percentage of cover (Figure A1)

ii) For each block, from top to bottom (high, medium-high, medium low and low), estimate the percentage covered by vegetation, downed wood, rocks, etc.

(1) Estimate the cover per section and combine for an overall percentage (0% - 100%) for each block

Figure A1: Survey Point Plot for vegetation surveys to quantify forest composition and structure.

Graphic shows location of 5 pellet plots and cover boards. North-south transect is 22.4 meters. Plot is

400 m2.

Figure A2: Snag class condition: Stage 1 – Stage 5 (Cline et al. 1980)

Table A1: Tree Condition Classes

Condition Description

Live Healthy tree with little biotic/abiotic change

Red Sick tree with extensive biotic/abiotic damage that will cause death in 5- 10 years

Dead Dead tree or snag with no living tissue visible

Appendix B: Project Area Map