Attachment_1_Statement_of_Work.pdf

2024 Incline Mechanical Cut and Pile Site Prep Sierra National Forest

Page | 1

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. DESCRIPTION

Treatment conditions include forest area burned by the Creek Fire in 2020, brush, standing dead conifer trees, down broken tops and boles, hung up or broken boles which have all contributed to accumulated and scattered down woody debris.

Secure services to cut down dead and dying standing conifer trees by utilizing both mechanical feller buncher or excavator and hand chainsaw felling of larger diameter trees. Pile with a feller buncher or track excavator with boom existing and activity generated slash and brush into cone shaped burn piles.

These work objectives shall be performed in a manner that protects residual live green trees including oaks and conifers (both mature and saplings), soil conditions, down logs and snags to be used for wildlife habitat, and other vegetation not specified to be treated. Mechanical operations shall be completed in a safe and practical manner on generally 0 to 30 percent slopes while protecting natural resources, meadows, stream zones, forest improvements, Heritage Areas, down logs and snags. Slopes to 40 percent with short pitches up to 45 percent slope may occasionally be encountered.

2. LOCATION

The project is located between the elevations of 4,800 and 5,800 feet on the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest, Madera County, California. The legal for the project is: T8S R23E Sec 10-15; T8S R24E Sec 7, 8, 17, 18. The work area is approximately 350 acres.

Directions are given from the Bass Lake Ranger District office, North Fork, CA:

To reach the Incline Project site continue on Road 225 1 mile east to Road 233, the Cascadel turn, turn left. Proceed 2 miles to Forest Service Road 8S09, turn left. Continue on Road 8S09 5.2 miles to the intersection with Road 7S07, turn right. Proceed 1.3 miles to the project’s west boundary, near the Gertrude Creek crossing. The project site begins approximately 10 miles from North Fork. The Government will not provide special maintenance or snow plowing to open roads or keep roads open.

It is recommended that the Contractor check the suitability of roads prior to transporting equipment.

i. Exclusions

There are small exclusion areas in and adjacent to the units. These areas area flagged on the ground with the color scheme explained during pre-work meeting.

ii. Maps

Maps showing the general vicinity and/or specific work areas are included as attachments to the solicitation. Contract maps are estimated shapes and are not to be considered as definitively

Page | 2 identifying locations. Unit boundaries will be defined on site.

Unit identifiers will be a group of flags placed where the edge of the unit meets the road, with the unit number written on the flags. The perimeter of the work units may not be flagged.

Downloadable geographic information system (GIS) data will be available for handheld electronic devices. The contractor shall have and use Avenza Maps™, or like equivalent installed on a portable device in the field to delineate general boundary locations of contract units.

3. SPECIFICATIONS AND WORK REQUIREMENTS

i. Felling and Piling Specifications:

Contractor shall cut and pile all dead and dying conifers not needed to be reserved for wildlife purposes.

Hand felled trees may need to be bucked with a chainsaw into specific lengths for ease of adding the material to the cone shaped pile. It is acceptable to allow felled trees to land on top of burned brush skeletons.

Equipment operations and hand felling of trees shall protect the residual leave trees, snags, logs, wildlife mosaic ribbons, rock out crops and soil. Operations shall work carefully adjacent to live trees, CA’s and main roads.

Black Oak, Live Oak and Golden Oak trees shall not be cut during the site preparation activities.

Dead conifer trees that are standing within the canopy of an oak or green tree shall be cut, if the entire bole can be successfully extracted. Otherwise, the tree shall not be cut and preserved for wildlife habitat.

Manzanita, whitethorn, deer brush and other large brush shall be uprooted, crushed and placed in a pile.

The Contractor shall clear and pile seventy-five percent (75%) of all slash exceeding 24 inches in length and 3 inches in diameter and shall pile all dead and live brush not needed to be reserved for wildlife purposes. Slash and vegetation may be left in place where vegetation is so close to leave trees that the removal of the vegetation would cause damage to the leave trees. Materials which are less than 3 inches in diameter and less than 24 inches in length may be left to attain the ground cover requirements. If the slash cover exceeds 25%, the Contractor shall pile the smaller fuels to meet the slash piling requirements.

Piles shall consist of mixed brush, conifer trees with limbs, tops, branches, broken tree boles, bucked boles, bark, and components from existing and generated slash that shall be systematically added to

Page | 3 the pile to produce good ignition and burning results.

Piles are not to be made on top of uncut vegetation.

Leave trees and vegetation not specified to be treated shall be left undisturbed and undamaged.

The Contractor is not required to clear and pile bear clover, if present.

The Contractor shall cut slash into shorter sections to avoid damage to leave trees.

Stump Height: Tree stump height shall not exceed 12” above the ground or 6” above natural objects.

Pile with a track feller buncher or excavator with a boom, grapple or thump and shovel type attached head, capable of lifting felled trees, down logs, existing and activity generated slash and brush and limbs to stack into a cone shaped burn pile. Install a 10-foot-wide fire line with dozer or skid steer.

Buck trees as needed to safely lift and stack into a cone shaped burn pile.

If occasionally a dozer is needed to pile, a brush rake shall be suspended near ground level, approximately 6 inches (15 cm) above ground level, to prevent soil and duff from being piled. The object is to retain 50% ground cover. Materials which are less than 3 inches in diameter and less than 24 inches in length may be left to attain the ground cover requirements.

Dead conifers greater than 6 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) that may be standing, broken or hung up, shall be felled and added to the burn pile. These work objectives shall be performed in a manner that protects residual live green trees including oaks and conifers (both mature and saplings), soil conditions, meadows, stream management zones (SMZ), other special areas including, roads, down logs, CA’s, wildlife habitat, culverts and other vegetation not specified to be treated. Otherwise, the conifer tree shall not be cut but rather reserved for wildlife habitat.

Cone shaped piles shall be placed a minimum of 50 feet from the outside edge of overhead powerlines.

Slash and brush may be left in place where vegetation is so close to leave trees that the removal of the vegetation would cause damage to the leave trees. Patches of standing dead brush shall be left for wildlife habitat as described in the Pacific Fisher Design Criteria section to follow. Equipment operations shall follow all soil protection and erosion control measures. Deep track berms shall be smoothed.

ii. Pile Specifications:

Hand felled and feller buncher cut trees, existing slash and brush shall be stacked to produce a cone shaped burn pile which shall include the limbs, boles, branches, tops and bark. No decking of logs shall be permitted.

Cone shaped piles shall include a strip of natural vegetation 8 foot (below pile) to 10 foot (above pile) wide between the edge of the pile and the inside edge of the 10-foot-wide fire line. The piles shall be created at least 50 feet from draws, 100 feet from meadows, springs and seeps and riparian vegetation.

Cone shaped feller buncher/excavator burn piles shall consist of whole conifer trees with branches, broken tree boles and components from existing and generated slash that shall be independently and or systematically added to the pile to produce good ignition and burning results.

Page | 4

Development and placement of cut tree piles/bunches shall consider measures to protect residual leave trees, down logs and snags from thermal damage.

Avoid establishing a cone shaped burn pile within 500 feet of a Forest Service Sensitive species nest tree or den tree.

Piles shall be free of soil. Piles that are not a minimum of 90 percent soil free shall be reworked. If, in the judgment of the Contracting Officer Representative, the piles contain excessive soil, the piles shall be broken apart, re-piled. The soil shall be dispersed over the area.

Materials overhanging the pile’s edge that are greater than 6 feet (2 m) in length, shall be cut off and materials placed into piles. Woody materials shall not overhang into the 10-foot-wide fire line.

The piles should be spaced a minimum of 15 feet from one another.

Piles shall be spaced a minimum of 8 feet from down logs, stumps and snags.

All materials partially pushed over, hung up, left in an unsafe position, or dead woody stems higher than 24 inches shall be either reworked (with the equipment or felled by hand) to mitigate the hazard.

Soil disturbance caused by the Contractor’s operations which may cause erosion shall be cross raked on the contour.

iii. Fire Line Specifications:

The cone shaped burn pile shall have an 8 to 10-foot-wide strip of natural vegetation and slash between the edge of the pile and the inside edge of the 10-foot-wide fire line.

All piles shall have a constructed fire line surrounding them that is 10 feet wide and free of all vegetation, slash, and duff down to mineral soil.

Piled material shall not extend into or overhang the 10-foot-wide fire line.

To prevent radiant heat from starting a fire on the outside edge of the fire line, the edge of the burn pile shall have an 8- to 10-foot-wide strip of natural vegetation with slash between the edge of the pile and up to the inside edge of the 10-foot-wide fire line. The strip of undisturbed natural vegetation and slash shall be approximately 8 feet wide on the downhill side and 10 feet wide on the uphill side.

The 10-foot-wide fire line shall be constructed with a small size track operated equipment or small dozer with a 10-foot blade that will minimize soil compaction and disturbance on slopes and soil conditions. An example of a small track operated equipment is a skid steer type machine.

Fire line shall be installed around individual, group cone shaped bunches/piles or the perimeter of the section of the worked area when natural resource conditions such as slope or rock prevent group or individual lining. Created fire lines installed on slopes shall have open ended water bars to slow down the rate of rainwater runoff and to prevent soil movement.

All tops, branches and boles of residual live trees, wildlife downed logs and snags shall be protected from mechanical track and blade damage during the fire line construction and the collection and piling of the hand felled and natural felled logs.

Page | 5

Mechanical travel routes shall be established in a manner that does not damage residual leave trees, roads structures, culverts, Control Areas, wildlife protection areas or other natural resources. Where soil has been disturbed during implementation, deep track berms shall be smoothed, to prevent the movement of soil during rain events. Install water bars as needed to prevent water damage to the soil profile.

Where conditions allow, maintain a minimum of 50% ground cover consisting of fine fuels, leaves, organic mulch, small size diameter branches and or crushed brush in areas not designated as the 10-foot-wide fire line.

When natural resource conditions prevent individual pile fire line installation, group pile fire line installation is acceptable (group lining). Groups of piles can be lined with one 10-foot-wide fire line around the outer perimeter of the piles. Vegetation between the piles shall be left in its natural state.

Utilize equipment capable of producing a 10-foot-wide fire line while protecting soil conditions and other natural resources.

When natural resource conditions prevent individual or a group lining, this area shall receive a 10-foot-wide fire line along the perimeter of the worked area. Natural forest conditions such as rocks, slope or cut banks are a few examples that may prohibit individual or group lining.

Resource Protection Design Measures for all project areas:

Large Coarse Woody Debris Retention

Retain three to five large, downed logs per acre. Where available, three of the five required down logs per acre shall be in the largest size classes at least 20 inches in diameter and 20 feet in length in varying stages of decay, where feasible. Avoid disturbing existing large down wood, greater than 20 inches in diameter and 20 feet long. Provide for additional down woody material by leaving felled cull hazard trees (dead trees with less than 25 percent sound wood) on site, as needed to meet or exceed the three to five logs per acre requirement for down wood. Preference is large Incense Cedar.

Snag Retention

Retain at a minimum of four (4) snags per acre. All snags identified for retention shall be 15 inches DBH or larger, with the largest size-classes representing the highest priority for retention. Snags should be clumped and distributed irregularly across the treatment units. Snag retention patches shall be part of the riparian zones, edge of meadows adjacent to mature live forests, rock outcrops, brush fields and irregularly distributed throughout the treatment unit to meet wildlife requirements for California Spotted Owl and fisher.

Snags shall be selected for longevity on the landscape for wildlife habitat.

Snags can be in clumps on the edge or around oaks, in rocky conditions, where they will not cause a safety issue for workers. Snags shall not be retained within 1 ½ times their height from the road edge unless leaning away from the road.

Page | 6

Snag retention patches or clumps are composed of dead and live trees where possible. The snag clumps may be predetermined by paint or flagging and or by designation of description.

Snags greater than 30 inches DBH and at least 20 feet tall are the top priority for retention. Large snags in a variety of species shall be retained such as Incense Cedars, White Fir, Sugar Pine and Ponderosa Pine. Snags larger than 45” at DBH shall be retained unless they pose a safety hazard to a road or other infrastructure.

Snags less than 30 inches (and greater than 15 inches) DBH may be retained if they have defects such as broken tops, unique branching, large limbs, witches’ brooms, forked-tops, cavities, cat-faces and swollen boles.

Prioritize snags with signs of suitable cavities such as large broken limbs, pileated woodpecker holes or bole cavities. Within plantation stands retain 4 additional snags between 3 -10 feet tall.

Aquatic and Riparian Species and Habitat Design Criteria

Refueling and maintenance of heavy equipment and chainsaws shall occur outside of the SMZ’s and at least 100 feet from any riparian area.

Any wet meadows, streams, seeps, springs, fens and or wet areas discovered during project implementation, shall have a 100-foot SMZ buffer.

Report to the COR any discovery of amphibians or reptiles (frogs, toads, salamanders and turtles) during implementation so the District aquatic biologist can be contacted immediately.

Riparian vegetation shall not be cut during project implementation, unless coordinated with the District aquatic biologist.

Pacific Fisher Habitat Design Criteria:

Shrub and understory diversity shall be retained to provide cover for the Pacific fisher in the treatable landscapes between 3,600’ to 6,600’ elevation. The following guidelines shall provide hiding cover utilizing existing vegetation in a natural state.

Retain and protect native regeneration to promote heterogeneity of the stand to meet the Mosaic Design Criteria.

Clumps of an arrangement of small to medium size patches/ribbons of untreated understory vegetation in a natural state, consisting of conifers, oaks and a diverse species of brush vegetation, covering approximately 10 percent of the lower profile of the stand. Mosaic patches/ribbons in conifer plantations are approximately 1/10th acre in size and approximately ¼ acre in size within wild stand treatment areas. These mosaic patches/ribbons shall be preserved to maintain stand diversity primarily to provide cover for the Pacific fisher as well as other native wildlife species.

Page | 7

Provide hiding cover and fisher denning habitat by retaining the structure underneath the canopy of mature Black Oaks and Incense Cedar trees 30 inch DBH and larger by not treating trees and brush vegetation growing within the canopy. If possible, take advantage of existing visible cavities on 2 to 3 mature Black Oaks per acre. Where no visible cavity is present, select a mature Black Oak with a full dominant crown (to meet the 2 to 3 oak per acre requirement).

Do not disturb live trees or dead trees that are leaning (like a ladder) against a mature Black oak or an Incense cedar 30 inch DBH or larger.

Where areas lack existing vegetation for understory patches/ribbons create small, unlined piles of slash approximately 6-11 feet in diameter and 6 feet or less in height. These piles shall be loosely constructed to provide hiding cover for wildlife.

Avoid hard edges on unit boundary with forest by leaving clumps of snags and natural vegetation that extend into the unit.

Mosaic design criteria ribbons in conjunction with clumps of snags will enhance the efficacy of the feathered edge along unit boundary’s, rock outcrops and interior natural vegetation islands.

Protection of Forest Service Sensitive plants and Invasive Weeds

Sensitive plant populations will be flagged for avoidance for the contract.

Noxious weed areas will be flagged for avoidance for the contract.

Invasive/noxious weed prevention measures shall be followed. If avoidance of invasive weed infested areas is not practical, heavy equipment shall be washed after passing through these contaminated areas and before moving to other areas within the project or to other project areas. The COR will work directly with the Forest Botanist prior to any activities occurring within invasive weed locations.

Considered complete:

The work in the unit shall be considered completed after all felling and piling has been completed, all piles are lined, water bars installed, and culverts are free of debris, access is blocked, and erosion control measures have been installed.

Contract generated woody debris has been removed from all Streamside Management Zones (SMZ).

Piles have been placed at least thirty (30) feet outside of the canopy edge of residual live conifers and oaks.

Piles have been placed at least twenty-five (25) feet from wildlife logs, snags, untreated vegetation, unit boundary and the roads edge.

Piles have been cone shaped and free of soil. If the piles contain excessive soil, the piles shall be broken apart, re-piled and the soil dispersed over the area.

Woody materials do not overhang into the10-foot-wide fire line.

All cut tree material partially pushed over or remain hung up in an unsafe position have been reworked to mitigate the hazard.

Page | 8

Piles have been placed outside any SMZ and at least fifty (50) feet from stream channels, meadows, Control Areas, sensitive plants or noxious weeds, wildlife patches and the outer edge of the powerlines.

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS

The Contractor shall furnish all technical expertise, labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals necessary to complete the project, except for that which the contract clearly states is to be furnished by the Government.

The Contractor shall be responsible for all fuel, lubrication, repair, and replacement of equipment.

a. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED EQUIPMENT All equipment used within the Contract area shall be in sound mechanical condition and of an appropriate type to meet the requirements of the work.

All equipment shall meet or exceed OSHA specifications. Cal-OSHA regulations apply to contracts involving employees.

All chainsaws and other motorized equipment shall be equipped with Forest Service approved spark arrestors and meet California Division of Industrial Safety specifications.

i. Minimum Equipment Requirements:

Chainsaws and professional fallers shall be capable of cutting and bucking trees that are too large for the mechanical feller buncher.

Equipment shall be in good running condition with no excess fluid leaks or overheating. The track operated equipment shall have an OSHA approved rollover protection system.

The feller buncher or excavator track equipment shall be capable of working on 0 to 40 % slope with short pitches of 45% slope.

A feller buncher shall have a boom mounted adjustable, mechanically or hydraulically powered cutting head that controls the height and angle of a cutting head/blade that can cut trees near the stump. The boom shall be capable of hydraulically holding, carrying and placing the whole cut tree onto a cone shaped burn pile.

Track mounted excavator style equipment with a boom, adjustable arm and type of attachment that shall be capable of collecting and lifting down logs, existing and activity generated slash and brush and placing it into a cone shaped burn pile.

A small size track mounted equipment or dozer (skid steer type machine) that can minimize soil compaction and disturbance on slopes while preparing fire lines.

ii. Hazardous Substances The contractor shall maintain all equipment operating on the project area in good repair and free of abnormal leakage of lubricants, fuel, coolants and hydraulic fluid.

Page | 9

Contractor shall not service tractors, trucks, or other equipment on National Forest lands where servicing is likely to result in the pollution to soil or water. The contractor shall furnish oil-absorbing mats, approved by the Forest Service, for use under all stationary equipment or equipment being serviced to prevent leaking spilled petroleum- based products from contaminating soil and water resources. Contractor shall remove from National Forest lands all contaminated soil, vegetation, debris, vehicle oil filters (drained of free-flowing oil), batteries, oily rags and waste oil resulting from use, servicing, repair, or abandonment of equipment.

iii. Prevention of Oil Spills

If the contractor maintains storage facilities for oil or oil products on the project area, Contractor shall take appropriate preventive measures to ensure that any spill of such oil or oil product does not enter any stream or other waters of the United States or any of the individual states.

If the total oil or oil product storage exceeds 1,320 gallons in containers of 55 gallon or greater, Contractor shall prepare a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan. Such plan shall meet applicable EPA requirements (40 CFR 112), including certification by a registered engineer.

Contractor shall notify appropriate agencies, including Contracting Officer, of all reportable (40 CFR

110) spills of oil or oil products on or in the vicinity of the project area that are caused by the contractor’s employees or contractor directly or indirectly because of contractor’s operations.

Contractor will take whatever initial action may be safely accomplished to contain all spills.

Contractor shall notify the National Response Center and Contracting Officer of all releases of reportable quantities of hazardous substances on or in the vicinity of the project area that are caused by the contractor’s employees or the contractor, directly or indirectly, because of operations, in accordance with 40 CFR 302.

b. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED OPERATORS The Contractor shall provide Equipment Operators with the following experience:

Experience operating the equipment in a safe and practical manner while working in Conifer Plantations, Natural Forest Stands, and along forest roads.

Experience operating equipment within or adjacent to Controlled Areas (CA-1, CA-3), meadows, SMZ’s and protecting down logs, snags, stock trails, OHV and cattle trails, fences, and other improvements while following specific protection measure guidelines.

Experience operating the equipment to meet work methods, standards, description and spacing requirements without damaging leave trees, meadows, logs, snags, riparian areas or resource/protected sites.

Experience operating the equipment on slopes 0 to 40 percent and on short pitches up to 45 percent slope, while protecting soil conditions and residual trees or vegetation not specified to be treated.

The Equipment Operator(s) and Contractor’s Representative must be able to speak fluent English and understand the written English language.

Page | 10

c. EQUIPMENT INSPECTION AND CLEANING Prior to award, the Government reserves the right to inspect the equipment to be furnished. If the equipment is found to be in such condition to indicate the need for frequent repairs and delays in performance, it shall be rejected. The decision of the Contracting Officer will be final as to whether equipment is in suitable condition for acceptance.

The Contractor shall notify the Forest Service at least 5 working days prior to moving each piece of equipment on to National Forest Land, unless otherwise agreed. Notification will include identifying the location of where the equipment inspection will occur.

The Contractor shall ensure that prior to moving on to the project area, all off-road equipment is free of soil, seeds, vegetative material, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds of noxious weeds.

“Off Road Equipment” includes all logging, construction machinery and brushing equipment (brush hogs, masticators, chippers) except log trucks, chip vans, service vehicles, water trucks, pickup trucks, and similar vehicles not intended for off-road use.

The Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure that off-road equipment is free of noxious weed seeds. Equipment shall be considered clean when a visual inspection by the Contracting Officer Representative verifies that the equipment does not disclose soil, seed, plant material, and other such debris. Disassembly of equipment components or specialized inspection tools is not required. For subsequent moves between project areas, the Contractor shall be required to use water to wash down and thoroughly clean the equipment. Contractor may be required to wash equipment for moves between units.

Notification to the Contracting Officer and his representative at least 48 hours prior to a move shall be required to initiate the scheduling of a water source for the wash down.

The Contracting Officer’s Representative [COR], Government Inspector or authorized Forest Service employee may inspect the equipment after wash down to verity that off-road equipment is free of noxious weeds prior to each start-up of contract project item areas.

5. PUBLIC SAFETY

The Contractor shall provide and install large, easily read warning signs along the roads or access trails, warning the public or other visitors of the hazards of the machine during operations. These signs shall state that all persons shall remain at least 200 feet from the machine and or hand tree felling during operations and approach only by permission of the operator. The Contractor's operation shall facilitate Forest Services' safe and practical inspection of Contractor's ongoing operation and be able to conduct other official duties in the contract area.

Contractor shall be responsible to clear overhanging or fallen trees and snags across roads accessing the project area and keep roads free of activity debris.

Page | 11

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, when Contractor's operations are in progress adjacent to or on roads and trails open to public travel, the Contractor shall furnish, install and maintain all temporary traffic controls which provide the forest user with adequate warning of hazardous conditions associated with Contractor's Operations. Contractor and Contracting Officer and/or his Representative (COR) shall agree to a specific traffic control plan for each individual contract work area prior to commencing operations. Devices shall be appropriate to current conditions and shall be covered or removed when not needed. Except as otherwise agreed, flag persons and devices shall be as specified in the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highway" (MUTCD).

6. WORK SCHEDULES AND RESTRICTIONS

The Contractor shall provide a proposed work schedule as part of the quote package. This will be part of the basis for evaluating best value for contract award. The schedule may be further negotiated before award is finalized or at the prework meeting, at the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

a. Contract Time The contractor is expected to be prepared to start work within 14 days of contract award, estimated as September 30, 2024. Award of contract will be considered Notice to Proceed.

Estimated contract time is 149 days.

Unit 1 must be completed by November 22, 2024.

Unit 2 work may extend into 2025 and must be completed by September 30, 2025.

Contract time estimate includes delays for weather; project activity level restrictions; all applicable wildlife limited operating periods; locating and transporting supplies and materials; and final cleanup.

The contractor is expected to complete all work with the Period of Performance identified for each line item of the contract.

Service contract work shall be performed in accordance with the order of preference approved by the Contracting Officer Representative. The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate which will assure quality and completion within the service contract time specified above.

Mechanical cut and pile and hand felling operations shall be worked concurrently.

b. Restrictions on Work

Limited Operating Periods (LOP) for the protection of the Spotted Owl are from March 1st through August 31st. During this time activities are prohibited for all or part of the treatment area in specific units. LOP designations are for the 2024 calendar year. Approximately 25% of total acres for this contract are affected by this LOP.

Page | 12

Limited Operating Periods (LOP) are for the protection of the Pacific fisher from March 1st through June 30th. During this time activities are prohibited for all or part of the treatment area in specific units.

LOP designations are for the 2024 calendar year. 100% of total acres for this contract are affected by this LOP.

If an active Pacific fisher (Pekania pennanti) den site is located near operations, operations should cease, and the COR will notify the District Terrestrial Wildlife Biologist as soon as possible. A 700 acre buffer shall be delineated around the den site. A limited operating period where activities are prohibited for the protection of the Pacific fisher shall be established for March 1st through June 30th for the buffered area.

If a threatened, endangered, or Forest Service sensitive species (California Spotted Owl, Great Gray Owl and Northern Goshawk) is located near operations, COR shall be notified so consultation with the District Wildlife biologist will take place to receive recommended protection measures. A LOP for their protection shall be applied as directed by the Land Management Plan (LMP) as amended in 2004.

Work may not take place:

Between dusk and dawn.

Between December 1st and June 30th when shredded/cut/chipped live material is larger than 3" diameter and consists of Pine species.

Before 7:00 A.M. on weekdays or 8:00 A.M. on weekends when operating within ¼ mile of residences.

Work may be required to stop or alter activities:

In accordance with Attachment 3 Fire Plan.

In the event there is a threat from a wildland fire.

When the Contracting Officer and/or his representative determine that adverse weather has made access or project production too dangerous or that continued vehicular travel would cause unacceptable road damage.

When the Contracting Officer and/or his representative has determined that weather conditions are unfavorable for mechanical operations to continue due to increased risk of soil compaction and/or resource damage.

c. PROJECT ACTIVITY LEVEL [PAL]

Weather stations are utilized to calculate PAL.

Weather station for Incline Site Preparation: Dinkey Creek (California).

Page | 13

d. WINTER SHUTDOWN When winter weather sets in and the continuation of work is impractical, upon written request by the Contractor, the Contracting Officer may authorize a total suspension until such winter weather has passed and work can proceed. During the period of total suspension, the calendar days elapsed will not be charged against the contract time.

7. DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Berm: A raised barrier of soil or duff separating two areas that may contribute to the channeling of rainfall runoff. An example of a berm is where the soil is unevenly disturbed by the movement of the equipment tracks.

2. Berm, deep: a berm created by operator that is at least 12 inches deep and 4 feet long.

3. Buffer: An area of untreated vegetation that serves to protect, shield or cushion, such as along the stream side management zone of a draw, creek or river, underneath a mature Black Oak, Incense Cedar 30 inch DBH or larger or along the roadside edge.

4. Conifer: A cone-bearing tree with needles or leaf scales (e.g. pine, fir, cedar).

Conifer Plantations are areas that have been planted with conifer seedlings. Conifer plantations may also have natural conifer trees, oaks, brush and grass. Wild stands are natural areas with conifer trees, oak trees, brush and grass.

5. Cover: any duff, vegetation, leaves, branches or slash that covers bare soil to reduce erosion.

6. Created Slash: Debris created from work during this contract, including all treated tops, trunks and branches of trees and shrubs.

7. Crop Tree: A healthy looking, well formed, undamaged tree that will remain in the stand.

8. Cull Log: A non-utilized log over 18 inches in diameter on the small end, and 10 feet in length.

9. Cut Tree: Tree to be removed from the stand that is not needed to meet spacing and /or leave/crop trees per acre requirements.

10. Damaged Trees (Created): Any damage created by work under this contract which includes stripping or removing of branches, debarking the bole of a crop tree in excess of ¼ of the circumference.

11. Damaged Trees (Existing): Includes any defect or deformity of a tree resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, and equipment. Indicators include dead or broken tops or branches, bark that has been removed extending more than ¼ of the circumference of the tree.

12. D.B.H. (diameter at breast height): The diameter of a tree measured outside the bark at 4 1/2 feet above the ground on the uphill side.

13. Dead Fall: An area with a significant amount of downed jack-strawed trees.

14. Debris: Woody plant material.

15. Dripline/Crown: The tip of the tree’s branches where rain water will drip. The tip of the tree’s branches also identifies the edge of the trees crown.

16. Down Log: All or part of the trunk of a felled tree in various stages of decomposition.

Page | 14

17. Dwarf Mistletoe: A leathery evergreen plant growing as a parasite on trees. Produces long yellowish shoots and causes swells and cankers in the trees stems.

18. Dominant or Codominant: A tree displaying greater height and diameter than its closest competitors. A mature dominant or codominant tree is also considered a mature overstory tree.

19. Existing Slash: Debris existing prior to work under this contract, that may, or may not, have been previously windrowed or piled.

20. Excess Trees: A tree other than a crop tree, that shall be removed during the thinning process.

21. Feathered Edge: An arrangement of trees, saplings, brush and snags along a forest edge that reduces a hard, straight line between two areas e.g. a treated and untreated area.

22. Fuel Break DFPZ: A wide strip or block of land on which the native vegetation has been or plans to be modified so that fires burning into it can be more readily extinguished.

23. Fuel ladders: An arrangement and volume of vegetation (brush and/or trees) that grows beneath the drip line or whose bole/stem lies within 8 feet from the drip line of a residual overstory tree.

This vegetation increases the threat of ignition and spread of fire into the canopy of trees it grows under.

24. Hardwood: A tree with broad leaves rather than needles (e.g. oak, alder).

25. Major Damage: Includes any defect or deformity of a tree resulting from such agents as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, and equipment, and evidenced by such things as dead or broken tops or trunks, large crooks, and barking extending more than 1/4 of the circumference of the tree.

26. Mapping Boundary: An artificial perimeter established by a series of connecting straight lines, which approximate an average of the irregularities of the unit boundary. The mapping boundary is used in the computation for payment of the enclosed area.

27. Minor Damage: Crooks in the trunk, which are offset less than 3 inches from the long axis and within 13 feet of the ground and barking of 1/4 or less the circumference of the tree.

28. Mosaic Design Criteria: An arrangement or design of small to medium size patches/ribbons of untreated understory vegetation in a natural state, consisting of conifers, oaks and a diverse species of brush vegetation, covering no more than 10 percent of the lower profile of the stand.

Mosaic patches/ribbons in conifer plantations are approximately 1/10th acre in size and approximately ¼ acre in size within wild stand treatment areas. These mosaic patches/ribbons must be preserved to maintain stand diversity primarily to provide cover for the Pacific fisher, Spotted Owl as well as other native wildlife species.

29. Natural-Wild Stands: An area of land that consists of an array of natural vegetation such as trees, brush and grass. Natural-wild stands have not been treated.

30. Noxious Weeds: Those plant species designated as noxious weeds by the Secretary of Agriculture or by the responsible State official. The primary species of concern for the project area are: yellow starthistle, medusa head, Klamath weed, bull thistle and Italian thistle. Any plant species designated as noxious by the California Department of Agriculture would be of concern if found in the project area. This list can be viewed at www.cdfa.ca.gov/weedhome.

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/weedhome

Page | 15

31. Multi-storied stands: A varying-aged forested area that consists of various types of trees that have different ages and heights. These trees are considered either dominate, co- dominate, intermediate, or suppressed.

32. Residual: A single tree or shrub/brush or pockets of trees and shrub/brush designated to remain following treatment.

33. Riparian vegetation: All vegetation along a Class I perennial stream. Class II/III channels are intermittent and lack riparian vegetation. Class IV-V channels are ephemeral and also lack riparian vegetation.

34. Rut: A furrow or sunken track worn into the soil surface, as by the passage of wheels, equipment tracks or by the depression of the cutting head.

35. Screening: A visual barrier consisting of natural vegetation strategically placed parallel to the roadside to maintain habitat concealment for a variety of terrestrial wildlife species including mule deer.

36. Shrub/brush: A woody plant with no main stem, which may grow higher than 7 feet, commonly called brush. For example: ceanothus, manzanita, and chokecherry.

37. Site Preparation: The cutting and piling of snags, competing brush, damaged and/or poor vigor small residual conifers to make planting possible.

38. Slope Break: The point where the pitch of the slope drastically changes beyond 45 percent.

39. Snag Retention Patches: Groups of snags retained around riparian areas, brush fields, meadows and rock outcrops to provide perches and nesting cavities. These groups may be predetermined with either paint and/or flagging or by designated description on site.

40. Spacing: The horizontal distance from the trunk of one crop tree to the trunk of the next nearest crop tree.

41. Stump Diameter: The diameter of a tree measured outside the bark at six inches above the ground on the uphill side.

42. Terrace: Any of a series of flat platforms of earth with sloping sides, raising one above the other, mechanically constructed on the contour, as on a hillside with slopes. (The terraces were planted with seedlings on the flat portion of the platforms.)

43. Thinning: The removal of trees in excess of those leave/crop trees to be left for future management.

44. Threatened, Endangered, or Sensitive Plants (TES Plants): Threatened or Endangered Plants are species officially listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Sensitive plants are those plant species identified by the Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern. Please see the Biological Assessment/Biological Evaluation for TES plants for details (in the project file at the Bass Lake Ranger District Office in North Fork, CA).

45. Unit: A subdivision of a bid item with a closed perimeter.

46. Unit Boundary: The perimeter of the work unit as indicated by the Forest Service markings at various points along an irregular perimeter. In some instances, the perimeter of the work unit will

Page | 16 be defined by roads, drainages, uncut timber stands, natural barriers such as rocks, washouts, or others. Some situations require the exercise of common sense, as it is only possible to mark points along the irregular line.

47. Vegetation strip, undisturbed: a strip of vegetation and slash around a constructed burn pile that is approximately 8 feet wide below the pile and 10 feet wide above the pile. It is inside the fire line.

48. Wildlife Design Criteria: Recommendations for shrub and understory diversity retention to provide cover for the Pacific fisher in the treatable landscapes between 3,600’ to 6,600’ elevation, as described in work description.

49. Windrow: Rows of pushed brush, trees, and debris. The rows are normally on the contour.

50. Work Areas: An area of forestland where the Forest Service has an established fuel break, plantation or natural-wild stands consisting of planted and/or natural conifers. These conifers may be surrounded by various brush species. Competing brush species may impede the conifers growth.

8. NON-WORK AREAS / RESOURCE PROTECTION

Within the general project area, the contract will exclude non-work areas such as: rocky areas, wildlife areas, non-operable portions of terraces, noxious weeds and sensitive plant areas, streamside protection zones, meadows, and/or areas with a dense oak canopy, Cultural Resources Protection areas and other special areas such as excessively steep slopes. The Contracting Officer will designate known non-work areas.

Non-work areas include areas within the unit that cannot be mechanically treated due to excessive slope, trees exceeding cut diameter that restrict access, drainages, rock outcrops, etc. Such areas exceeding 1/2 acre in size will be excluded from payment.

The attached maps are intended to show only the general size and location of work areas and are not intended to be accurate as to shape and dimensions. The position of cultural and topographical features also may be approximate.

(a) Non-work areas may be flagged or shall be otherwise designated.

(b) Equipment shall not operate on areas steeper than 45%.

(c) Mechanical operations shall be restricted to periods when surface soils in the operating area are drier than the "plastic limit", to a depth of 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches). A test to determine the plastic limit can be measured by rolling soil with your hand on a flat surface that produces a wire of soil 1/8 inch in diameter. Equipment shall be operated only when soil moisture conditions prevent unacceptable compaction or soil displacement. Typically, soil moisture conditions are a concern between the months of November and April.

(d) Protection of Improvements. Contractor shall protect improvements from damage and shall be responsible for their timely restoration if damaged by Contractor's Operations. Improvements include but are not limited to; culverts, existing roads, water bars, established land corners, and all private property.

Page | 17

(e) Heavy equipment shall not work or leave the boundaries of the work areas without permission from the Contracting Officer. This is intended to avoid the possibility of damage to sensitive or protected sites outside the work boundaries. The "walking" of equipment cross-country between work units may be allowed. Contact the COR so consultation with the District Archaeologist may occur for permission.

(f) Equipment shall not be walked between units on paved or chip-sealed roads. The walking of equipment between units shall be at the direction of the Contracting Officer and/or COR, to avoid the possibility of entering a Control Area and/or resource damage.

(g) Exit and entry of units shall be confined to within unit boundaries unless otherwise stated by the Contracting Officer and/or COR. Entry and exit points to the unit shall be chosen in a manner as to reduce resource damage and soil erosion.

(h) Protection of Sensitive Plant Populations. The Contracting Officer Representative will designate any protected plants or habitats located within any of the units for protection. Elderberry bushes/tree and California Dogwood shall not be damaged. To maintain stand diversity, trees and/or brush providing homes to wildlife shall not be damaged or disturbed.

(i) Control of Dust near Sensitive Areas. The Contracting Officer and/or his representative may require the Contractor to cease operations when the wind speed is such that dust from operations will blow into sensitive areas. Sensitive areas are those occupied by the public including developed campgrounds and residences. Periods of shut down will not count against the Contractor's time.

(j) The Contractor shall remove all trash from the work site.

(k) Noxious weeds may be identified in the project areas. Equipment shall avoid these locations.

Where identified, equipment shall require a washdown before moving to the next project/unit to prevent weeds from spreading.

a. Erosion Control Equipment operations shall minimize soil erosion and damage. Erosion control mitigation shall be kept current and prior to any seasonal period of precipitation or runoff. Damage resulting from failure to perform required work shall be repaired by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense.

When determined by the Forest Service, the Contractor shall:

(1) avoid operating equipment when soil conditions are such that excessive damage will result;

(2) construct erosion control structures as needed;

(3) repair promptly any existing erosion control structures that have been damaged by Contractor's operations;

(4) complete seasonal erosion control work prior to suspending operations;

(5) New and or existing water bars on travel routes, fire lines and roads, shall be reinstalled or constructed so the mound extends the entire width of the travel route and the top of the mound is a minimum of 18” above the natural ground-line along its entire length. The drainage of the water bar

Page | 18 shall have a minimum slope of 2% and shall provide for the unrestricted discharge of water to the outside of the travel route

(6) perform other soil erosion control work as may be required under this contract.

Prior to suspension of operations or seasonal periods of precipitation or runoff; the Contractor shall smooth deep berms, remove ruts from roads, construct cross ditches or water bars on skid trails, roads, and fire lines surrounding cone shaped burn piles; and install water-spreading ditches at parking openings used for maintenance. Berms not meeting the deep berm definition may remain to aid water infiltration.

Cross ditches shall be spaced based on percent of slope, maintained in functioning condition and placed in locations where drainage would naturally occur. Slopes 0-15% shall have a maximum spacing of 125 feet. Slopes 15-35% shall have a maximum spacing of 45 feet.

Do not conduct any ground disturbing activity that will adversely affect hydrologic processes that maintain water flow and water quality. Where soil has been disturbed during implementation, maintain a minimum of 50% ground cover consisting of fine fuels, leaves organic mulch, pieces of broken logs, small diameter branches and or crushed brush in areas not designated as the 10-foot-wide fire line.

b. Stream Management Zones (SMZ) The Contractor shall not operate and shall not refuel within Stream Management Zones (SMZ). Stream management zone boundaries will be identified with blue and white polka- dot flagging, or otherwise designated prior to commencing unit treatment.

• Equipment shall not cross meadows, stream channels, and/or designated non-work areas except at locations designated by the Contracting Officer and/or their representative.

• The following SMZ buffer distances shall be maintained;

Drainages:

Class 1 streams require a 100’ buffer each side, Class 2 streams require a 75’ buffer each side, Class 3 streams require a 50’ buffer each side, Class 4 streams require a 25’ buffer each side.

Equipment shall treat a booms length inside the SMZ buffer as directed by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Drainage bank trees and drainage channel trees shall be left uncut.

c. Archeological Sites If an archeological site is discovered during operations, the COR shall be notified so consultation with the District Archeologist may occur. The site will be flagged and avoided as a non-treatment area.

Location of known historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to American history, architecture, archaeology and culture, such as settler or Indian artifacts, protected by American Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431433), National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16

Page…