Attachment 2 - 2021 BPA specs and schedule of items.pdf

Description/Specifications/Statement of Work

I. Introduction

Scope of Contract

The purpose of this contract is to secure services to enhance and maintain range ecosystems and also enhance wildlife habitat throughout the Monongahela National Forest. Items of work include removal of existing fence, mowing of pasture areas, felling of trees to create transitional areas near openings or canopy openings by cutting existing trees and brush adjacent to open spaces, reclamation of pasture by removing brush and reseeding reclaimed areas, as well as fertilizing and liming to maintain and enhance soil productivity.

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, tools, equipment, transportation, supplies (unless otherwise designated), permits, licenses and incidentals necessary to perform the required services on the Monongahela National Forest.

Execution of an agreement does not establish an obligation of total price and does not commit the Government to any quantity. The individual Orders issued to the Contractor will include actual quantities for each unit to be treated.

Location and Description

The Monongahela National Forest is located in central West Virginia. The work will be performed on U.S. Forest Service administered lands. The specific location of the projects will be shown on maps attached to individual orders issued under this contract.

This solicitation is asking for bids in each of the three geographic areas of the Forest. North area is the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District, Central area is the Greenbrier Ranger District and the South area is the Marlinton-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District (See map)

Access

Access to project areas will be highly variable and identified in each specific Order. Seasonal roads may be impassable for several days after heavy rains or snow-blocked during the winter and early spring months.

II. Technical Requirements

GENERAL

Operations

1. Operation shall not be conducted when soil moisture conditions promote rutting and compaction of soil.

2. The contractor shall notify the COR prior to beginning work in any area.

3. Work shall not be performed on Weekends or Federal Holidays unless otherwise approved.

4. With Each Work order Bid, the contractor shall include a completed copy of the attached

“Schedule of Work”, which shall show the expected starting date, expected work schedule, number of each type of labor force to be used for each item, anticipated number of days each type of labor force will be utilized, amount and type of equipment to be used, total anticipated work days, and expected completion date.

5. Once started, work on a work order shall be continuous until the project has been completed and accepted. The work schedule submitted with the Work order bid shall be adhered to barring inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances outside of the contractor’s control.

6. The contractor may not start work on a second work order under this contract without having first completed work on any open work orders, or without having received permission, from the CO or COR, stating that the contractor may proceed on the second order.

Protection of Bearing and Property Line Trees

1. Utmost caution shall be applied when operating near these trees. Trees are marked with red paint and are not to be damaged.

Soil and Water Protection

1. Operations shall avoid the digging, gouging and moving of soil unless otherwise specified.

2. If needed, stream and ditch crossings shall be designated by the Forest Service representative.

3. All equipment shall be pressure washed to remove NNIS seed and soils prior to moving onto or between Forest Service project locations.

Other Resource Protection

1. System Roads

a. Equipment shall be loaded onto roads or within the treatment area

b. Lead off ditch and wing ditch structures shall be protected.

2. Utilities

a. Protect utilities from operations within rights-of-way

b. The Contractor shall be responsible for contacting utility companies to determine location of underground lines (natural gas, water, telephone, etc.)

3. Improvements

a. All improvements shall be protected by Contractor, including but not limited to: utilities, roads, fences, gates, property boundaries, and corner monuments.

b. Any damage resulting to improvements as a result off the contractor’s negligence shall be repaired at the contractor’s expense.

1. PASTURE RECLAMATION (STUMP REMOVAL)

The unit borders under this prescription shall be marked with paint. All trees within these boundaries, unless designated to remain, by being marked with ribbon, shall be cleared and their stumps grubbed.

Border lines shall be closely followed to create irregularly shaped borders (not straight-line borders).

1. Soils shall be separated from the stumps and used to cap the wallows created by the stumps’ removal.

2. All wallows resulting from stump removal shall be filled with any rock in the immediate area and capped with the soils removed from the stump or other loose material in the immediate area. Once the stump hole is filled, the area shall be tracked over to provide a relatively smooth surface that has soil compaction approximately equal to the surrounding ground.

3. Wood vegetation removed under this prescription, shall be placed in piles not more than 25 ft wide, 20 ft high, and 50 ft long. There shall be a minimum of 50 ft between piles. Piles shall be established along the outside edges of the cleared area, on top of rocks, in drains, on steep sections of the cleared area, or in other locations as designated by the Forest Service Representative.

4. Any black cherry removed under this prescription must be located to a point not accessible to livestock, to avoid potential poisoning from wilting leaves. Other methods of avoidance may be implemented if approved by the COR.

5. Upon completion of the clearing and grubbing operations, the contractor shall:

a. Shape the area to a relatively smooth and uniform surface by filling all holes and deformations in the cleared area, and back-dragging to remove tracks created by the clearing operation.

b. Remove any rocks within the unit that are greater than 6 inches in diameter, less than 3 ft in diameter, and protruding from the soil. Rocks shall be placed as to create piles near the unit edges or used to fill depressions within the pasture area.

c. Remove woody debris (loose limbs, roots, stumps, etc) greater than 3” DBH from the treatment area.

d. Furnish and apply 19-19-19 fertilizer, evenly over the entire work area, at a rate of 400 lbs./acre

e. Furnish and apply lime evenly over the entire work area at 3 tons per acre of agricultural lime

i. Stored lime shall be covered at all times

f. Disk the entire work area (2-4 inches deep) until soil is de-compacted

g. Furnish and apply seed evenly over the entire work area as follows:

• Winter Wheat – 10 lbs./acre

• Climax Timothy – 10 lbs./acre

• Kentucky Bluegrass – 10 lbs./acre

• Medium Red Clover – 5 lbs./acre

• Ladino White Clover – 5 lbs./acre

• Annual Rye Grass – 10 lbs./acre

• Clover shall be inoculated as per suppliers’ recommendations

NOTE: Seeding should not be performed between May 30 and Aug 1 or between October 15 and March 15 without Permission from the COR

h. Furnish and apply paper mulch delivered through a hydro-seeding unit at a minimum rate of 2000 lbs./acre. Areas inaccessible to hydro-seeder may be mulched utilizing weed free straw mulch applied at the same rate.

6. The disking, seeding, and liming operation should be completed not more than 5 days after the clearing and grubbing operations for an area are finished.

7. Seeding and mulching should occur not more than 24 hours after the area has been disked.

8. All seed shall be certified weed free.

9. All Lime shall be certified lime and consist of fine ground agricultural limestone (not lime sand).

Material shall be spread in a dry state and applied evenly over the entire disturbed area.

Certified weigh tickets shall be provided to the COR for all lime delivered.

10. Any damage caused to fences, troughs, roads, or other improvements in the pasture, by these operations, shall be repaired immediately and at the contractor’s expense.

2. PASTURE RECLAMATION (FLUSH CUT STUMPS)

1. The unit borders under this prescription shall be marked with paint. All trees within these boundaries shall be cleared and their stumps flush cut with the ground (no point higher than 3 inches above finished ground elevation) unless designated to remain (marked with ribbon).

Border lines shall be closely followed to create irregularly shaped borders (not straight-line borders).

2. All woody vegetation shall be removed from the prescription edges to a distance a minimum of 20 ft from the prescription edge unless otherwise approved by the COR. Piles of vegetation shall be created along the edges of the prescribed clearing area or as directed by the COR.

3. No Tracked equipment may be used to complete any aspect of this prescription, without prior written approval of the COR.

4. Any black cherry removed under this prescription must be located to a point not accessible to livestock, to avoid potential poisoning from wilting leaves. Other methods of avoidance may be implemented if approved by the COR.

5. Wood vegetation removed under this prescription, shall be placed in piles not more than 25 ft wide, 20 ft high, and 50 ft long or scattered in wooded areas not under a separate prescription in this contract.

• If piled, there shall be a minimum of 50 ft between piles. Piles shall be established along the outside edges of the cleared area, on top of rocks, in drains, on steep sections of the cleared area, or in other locations as designated by the Forest Service Representative.

• If scattered, placement of cut trees shall be such as to minimize impact to remaining trees and un-prescribed areas

6. Upon completion of the clearing and grubbing operation, the contractor shall:

a. Furnish and apply agricultural lime, evenly over the entire work area, at a rate of 3 tons per acre

• Stored lime shall be covered, at all times.

b. Furnish and apply 19-19-19 fertilizer, evenly over the entire work area, at a rate of 400 lbs./acre

c. Furnish and apply seed evenly over the entire work-area as follows:

• Winter Wheat – 10 lbs./acre

• Mammoth Red Clover – 4 lbs./acre

• Ladino White Clover – 4 lbs./acre

• Annual Rye Grass – 10 lbs./acre

• Clover shall be inoculated as per suppliers’ recommendation

NOTE: Seeding should not be performed between May 30 and Aug 1 or between October 15 and March 15 without Permission from the COR

d. Furnish and apply weed free straw mulch or paper mulch applied by a hydro-seeding unit, evenly, at a minimum rate of 2000 lbs./acre

6. Seeding operations should be completed not more than 5 days after the clearing operations for an area are finished.

7. Any damage caused to fences, troughs, roads, or other improvements in the pasture, by felling trees shall be repaired immediately, and at the contractor’s expense.

8. All seed shall be certified weed free.

3. CUT BACK BORDERS HEAVY CUTTING (75% SUNLIGHT AVERAGE)

All unit borders, under this prescription, shall be marked with paint, with one horizontal line between two vertical lines. All trees painted as unit borders, or which are within the unit and marked with paint, must be cut unless otherwise directed by the COR. Trees marked with ribbon shall not be cut. The remaining trees to be cut shall be selected by the contractor in order to best accomplish the following:

1. These units shall have enough trees cut so that an average of 75% of the ground surface is in full sunlight. This should be accomplished by cutting so that there is nearly 100% sunlight getting to the ground near “starting edge”, and progressively less cutting through the unit until only 50% of the ground surface is getting sunlight at the “far” edge of the unit which borders either uncut areas or units under the “Light Cutting 25% sunlight” prescription.

2. When cutting, preference will be given to felling tree of heaven, striped maple, red maple, diseased beech, fire cherry, black birch and damaged trees; in that order. Diseased beech is identified as beech brush (less than 6 inches DBH beech growing in dense clusters) and larger beech (greater than 9 inch diameter) that have cracked bark.

3. The contractor shall not cut any apple, shag bark hickory, aspen, white walnut (butternut), chestnut, red spruce, disease resistant beech (greater than 9” DBH with smooth bark) or sarvis

(serviceberry) trees (In Pocahontas County, Yellow Poplar should NOT be cut). Great care should be taken when cutting near these types of trees to prevent damaging them.

4. Any black cherry removed under this prescription, while in a leave out stage, must be located to a point not accessible to livestock, to avoid potential poisoning from wilting leaves. Other methods of avoidance may be implemented if approved by the COR.

5. The residual stand within the cut unit should consist of white walnut (butternut), chestnut, disease resistant beech, apple, sarvis (serviceberry), poplar, aspen, hawthorn, hickory, hop horn bean, oak (all species), red spruce, black cherry, yellow birch, bass wood, locust, magnolia, cucumber, sugar maple and healthy ash. The greatest preference for retention shall be given to the trees nearest the first on this list and a variety of tree species shall be left when possible.

6. The contractor shall not cut any trees within 100 ft of a stream bank, with a stream containing running water of any amount unless the tree is painted, designating it for removal, by the Forest Service representative.

7. All trees which are felled into existing pastures, boundary fence lines, wildlife clearings, roads, or trails shall be removed immediately, by the contractor and deposited elsewhere in the cutback unit from which it was cut unless otherwise directed by the COR.

8. Any damage caused to fences, troughs, roads, or other improvements, by felling trees shall be repaired immediately, and at the contractor’s expense.

9. All trees shall be felled in such a manner as to avoid damaging trees which are to remain.

10. No trees shall be left cut off at the stump and “hung” in a tree. If additional trees must be cut in order to get the “hung” tree to the ground, they shall be cut.

11. Units will be deemed eligible for payment when cutting in the unit is acceptable to the Forest

Service representative, all painted trees are cut, all “hung” trees are on the ground, and all trees are removed from roads, pastures, wildlife openings, and trails within the unit.

12. The distance from the top of ground to the top of stump shall not exceed 24 inches at its highest point.

13. Amounts of trees to be cut are based on percentages of sunlight reaching the forest floor. This measurement is somewhat subjective. Therefore, if a dispute on the amount of trees to be cut arises, the Forest Service Representative’s (COR) judgment shall be the determining factor for when these percentages have been achieved.

14. The contractor shall girdle trees to create snags, throughout these prescription units. Snags shall be created from trees which are greater than 18” DBH, are not within 50 ft of a road or fence and are not within the grazing area of a pasture. The contractor shall create between 20 and 40 snags per acre under this prescription. All trees marked with a “G” painted on the trunk shall be girdled to create snags and shall count toward the contractor’s goal of 20-40 trees per acre. The girdling process shall be achieved by making a minimum of two separate cuts around the complete circumference of the tree. These cuts will be to a depth adequate to sever the cambium layer of the tree in all locations and shall be approximately 4” apart.

4. CUT BACK BORDERS LIGHT CUTTING (25% SUNLIGHT AVERAGE)

All unit borders, under this prescription, shall be marked with paint, with two horizontal lines between two vertical lines. All trees painted as unit borders, or which are within the unit and marked with pink paint, must be cut unless otherwise directed by the COR. Trees marked with ribbon shall not be cut. The remaining trees to be cut shall be selected by the contractor in order to best accomplish the following:

1. These units shall have enough trees cut so that an average of 25% of the ground surface is in full sunlight. This should be accomplished by cutting so that there is nearly 50% sunlight getting to the ground near the edge of the unit bordering pasture areas or “Heavy Cutting (75% sunlight) units”, and progressively less cutting through the unit, with only a minimal amount of trees cut at the edge of the unit bordering uncut areas.

2. When cutting, preference shall be given to felling: tree of heaven, striped maple, red maple, diseased beech, fire cherry, black birch and damaged trees; in that order. Diseased beech is identified as beech brush (less than 6 inches DBH beech growing in dense clusters) and larger beech (greater than 9 inch diameter) that have cracked bark.

3. The contractor shall not cut any apple, shag bark hickory, aspen, white walnut (butternut), chestnut, disease resistant beech, or sarvis (serviceberry) trees, (In Pocahontas County, Yellow Poplar should NOT be cut). Great care should be taken when cutting near these types of trees to prevent damaging them.

4. The contractor shall not cut any trees within 100 ft of a stream bank, with a stream containing running water of any amount, unless the tree is painted, designating it for removal, by the Forest Service representative.

5. Any black cherry removed under this prescription must be located to a point not accessible to livestock, to avoid potential poisoning from wilting leaves. Other methods of avoidance may be implemented if approved by the COR.

6. All trees which are felled into existing pastures, boundary fence lines, pasture reclamation areas, wildlife clearings, roads, or trails shall be removed immediately, by the contractor, and deposited elsewhere in the cutback unit from which it was cut.

7. Any damage caused to fences, troughs, roads, or other improvement, by felling trees shall be repaired immediately, and at the contractor’s expense.

8. All trees shall be felled in such a manner as to avoid damaging trees which are to remain.

9. No trees shall be left cut off at the stump and “hung” in a tree. If additional trees must be cut in order to get the “hung” tree to the ground, they shall be cut.

10. Units will be deemed eligible for payment when cutting in the unit is acceptable to the Forest

Service representative, all painted trees are cut, all “hung” trees are on the ground, and all trees are removed from roads, pastures, wildlife openings, and trails within the unit.

11. The distance from the top of ground to the top of stump shall not exceed 24 inches at its highest point.

12. Amounts of trees to be cut are based on percentages of sunlight reaching the forest floor. This measurement is somewhat subjective. Therefore, if a dispute on the amount of trees to be cut arises, the Forest Service Representative’s (COR) judgment shall be the determining factor for when these percentages have been achieved.

13. The contractor shall girdle trees to create snags, throughout these prescription units. Snags shall be created from trees which are greater than 18” DBH, are not within 50 ft of a road or fence, and are not within the grazing area of a pasture. The contractor shall create between 20 and 40 snags per acre under this prescription. All trees marked with a “G” painted on the trunk shall be girdled to create snags and shall count toward the contractor’s goal of 20-40 trees per acre. The girdling process shall be achieved by making a minimum of two separate cuts around the complete circumference of the tree. These cuts will be to a depth adequate to sever the cambium layer of the tree in all locations and shall be approximately 4” apart.

5. REMOVAL OF EXISTING FENCE

1. All wire will be removed from location and properly recycled or disposed of legally.

2. Wood posts will be removed from ground, but can be left on site to decay in areas outside of the pasture area and designated by the COR.

3. Metal posts will be collected and staged at the allotment entrance, a Forest Service

Representative will determine whether they can be reused, by the Forest Service, or should be recycled/ disposed of by the Contractor.

6. LIMING

1. Lime shall be applied evenly over the pasture areas designated, as shown on Order maps

2. Changes to application areas or rates shall not be made without prior authorization.

3. Lime shall be certified and labeled as agricultural lime. Limestone sand shall not be applied

4. Lime shall be kept in a dry state to avoid clumping. Lime with excessive moisture will not be accepted.

5. Stored lime shall be covered at all times

6. Lime shall not be stored on allotments more than 14 days prior to spreading.

7. Lime shall be applied at a rate of 3 tons per acre unless specified differently in the Order. When application rates are adjusted, price of application should reflect the change in cost per acre.

8. All liming shall be performed when soil moisture conditions are not conducive to field rutting

9. Tickets shall be attached to invoices for payment, in order to verify amounts of lime placed.

7. POND CLEANING

1. Remove trees and brush from pond banks, dams, and terraces from edge of water to surrounding fence or a minimum of 20 feet whichever is greater. Removed brush shall be stacked in a pile as directed by the COR.

2. Remove vegetation growth from within the pond banks in the water storage area. This material may be disposed of with the sediment at an approved site within the allotment.

3. Remove sediment from the pond bottom and sides, to maximize storage capacity. Deposit within the allotment as directed by the COR.

4. Repair damage to pond dams caused by pond cleaning operations, vegetation removal, and/or erosion. Material placed to repair damaged areas shall be compacted as to prevent future water loss through the damaged areas.

5. 1 unit of pond cleaning is equal to an area not to exceed 300 CY calculated as length of excavation X width of excavation X average depth of material removed (measured in yards).

Price of cleaning pond shall include disposal of sediment at an approved site within the allotment, shaping of this sediment to drain, and seeding disturbed area and waste site.

6. Seed sediment removed from pond and any disturbed areas with following mix:

• 20 lbs./Acre annual Rye

• 10 lbs./Acre Timothy

• 5lbs./Acre Mammoth Red clover (inoculated)

• 5 lbs. Durana Clover (inoculated)

• 10 lbs./Acre Kentucky Bluegrass

7. Mulch sediment deposition area and other disturbed areas with paper mulch applied through a hydro-seeding unit, at a rate of 2000 lbs./acre. If area is in accessible to a hydro-seeder, weed free straw mulch may be substituted at the same application rate.

8. MECHANICAL CLEARING OF VEGETATION (BRUSH MOWING)

1. Remove all vegetation with a diameter of less than 3 inches DBH, to a height of less than 7 inches. This shall be completed by using a mechanical mowing machine (i.e. brush hog).

2. The contractors’ attention is drawn to the fact that the allotments contain hawthorn and rocky areas, which may be destructive to tires during mowing if measures are not taken to prevent puncturing.

3. All mowing in an area must be completed and accepted prior to payment for that area.

4. Mowing shall be performed in the areas shown on maps attached to each Order.

9. FERTILIZER

1. 19-19-19 fertilizer shall be applied evenly over the entire project area at a rate of 400 lbs./acre

2. Fertilizer shall be kept dry prior to placement to avoid clumping.

3. Fertilizer shall not be stored on Forest property without written permission for the CO.

4. The contractor is responsible for furnishing all materials and equipment necessary to assure even dispersion of the fertilizer over the entire work area.

5. Changes to application areas or rates shall not be made without prior authorization.

6. All applications shall be performed when soil moisture conditions are not conducive to field rutting.

7. Tickets shall be attached to invoices for payment, in order to verify amounts of fertilizer placed.

10. SPRUCE RELEASE/THINNING

The purpose of this prescription is to create young forest habitat while improving Red Spruce and Eastern Hemlock growth and viability in forested stands which currently have these species as a component of the midstory and understory. Growth and viability of the Red Spruce and Eastern Hemlock in these stands is currently arrested due to competition and shading from overtopping hardwood species. By removing overtopping hardwoods, through girdling and cutting, available sunlight to the midstory will be increased, thereby providing favorable conditions for accelerated growth of the target species.

Shapefiles for all units will be provided to be uploaded onto a GPS. All unit borders, under this prescription, will be marked with pink paint, with one vertical line. All trees painted as unit borders shall be retained. Forest Service personnel may mark leave trees with ribbon for some units.

Additionally, at contractor request to show example of work to be completed, Forest Service personnel can accompany contractor. Other than described above, trees will be cut and left on site and shall be selected by the contractor in a manner which best accomplishes the following:

1) Cut or girdle ALL deciduous (hardwood) trees (except leave trees as described in #3, or otherwise designated for retention by ribboning) in an area, averaging approximately 50 feet wide, around the entire perimeter of the prescribed unit.

a) Width of perimeter cut area shall vary and will be irregularly shaped with curved (not straight line) edges. Width shall range in width from 30 ft to 70 ft.

b) The outside edge of this perimeter cut shall follow the prescribed unit boundary.

c) Remove any felled trees which land on red spruce or eastern hemlock sprouts larger than 3 ft in height. This work should be done in a manner that prevents damage to the red spruce and eastern hemlock sprouts.

2) The contractor will treat a minimum of 50% of the remaining prescribed area contained within the boundary unit cut as follows:

a) Cut all areas around Red Spruce and Eastern Hemlock occurrences in the midstory (select species of tree greater than 6 ft in height).

i) Cut or girdle (see # 9 for girdling directives) all deciduous (hardwood) trees (except leave trees described #3) within a 30-foot radius around individual Red Spruce and/or Eastern Hemlock trees which are greater than 6 ft in height.

(1) Remove any felled trees which land on red spruce or eastern hemlock sprouts larger than 3 ft in height. This work should be done in a manner that prevents damage to the red spruce and eastern hemlock sprouts.

ii) In areas where Red Spruce and/or Eastern Hemlock are growing in clumps, all trees, not designated as leave trees (see #3) greater than 9” DBH shall be girdled and all trees, not designated as leave trees, less than 9” DBH shall be cut. Additionally, the contractor shall cut or girdle (see # 9) all vegetation (except leave trees described in #3) in an additional 30 ft ban around the entire perimeter of the “clump”.

(1) All trees shall be cut in a manner which prevents damage to existing red spruce and eastern hemlock trees. Remove any felled trees which land on red spruce or eastern hemlock sprouts larger than 3 ft in height.

(2) “Clumps” shall be defined as: an occurrence of multiple Red Spruce and/or Eastern Hemlock growing in close enough proximity to one another to make felling of over topping deciduous (hardwood) trees, without harming target species trees, dangerous or extremely difficult.

b) WHEN all areas with midstory Red Spruce and/or Eastern Hemlock have been treated and the

50% treatment area objective has not yet been obtained, the contractor shall meet the 50% area treatment requirement by performing thinning around select, desirable crop trees until the minimum 50% treatment area requirement is met. To fulfill the requirements of this portion of the prescription, the contractor shall proceed as follows:

i) The contractor shall select a healthy, single stem, “hardwood crop tree” from within the unit boundary and outside of areas treated under other provisions of this prescription.

(1) “Hardwood crop trees” shall be selected from these species (listed in order of preference) disease resistant beech, aspen, oak, black cherry, serviceberry, basswood, or sugar maple NOTE: disease resistant beech is defined as – a beech with greater than 9” DBH and having smooth bark

(2) “Hardwood crop trees” shall have a DBH greater than the average DBH of other trees of the selected species within the prescription unit boundary (visual observation).

(3) “Hardwood crop trees” selected should be scattered throughout the prescribed area.

ii) Cut or girdle (see # 9 for girdling directives) all deciduous (hardwood) trees (except leave trees described in #3) in a 30-foot radius around the selected hardwood crop tree

3) The contractor shall not cut or girdle any “LEAVE TREES”. Leave Trees are all red spruce, eastern hemlock, disease resistant beech (i.e. beech tree greater than 9” DBH with smooth bark), serviceberry, hawthorn, apple, white walnut, shagbark hickory or black cherry with a DBH greater than 9”. Great care should be taken when felling near these types of trees to prevent damaging them.

4) The contractor shall not cut any trees within 50 feet of a stream channel, nor within 100 ft of a stream containing running water of any amount.

5) All trees which are felled into existing roads, trails, or linear wildlife openings as designated on the map, shall be removed immediately, by the contractor, and deposited elsewhere in the unit from which it was cut.

6) No trees shall be left cut off at the stump and “hung” in a tree. If additional trees must be cut, to get the “hung” tree to the ground, they shall be cut.

7) All trees shall be felled in such a manner as to avoid damaging trees which are to remain.

8) The distance from the top of ground to the top of stump shall not exceed 24 inches at its highest point.

9) Girdling shall be performed in “clump” areas as described in Section 2.a.ii.2 or when the felling of the tree would cause damage to leave trees.

a) Girdling shall be achieved by making a minimum of two separate cuts around the complete circumference of the tree. These cuts will be to a depth adequate to sever the cambium layer of the tree in all locations and shall be approximately 4” apart. Height to girdle – trees will be cut at a safe and comfortable height for the chain saw operator.

b) Girdling shall only be performed on deciduous trees with a DBH greater than 9” DBH.

11. THINNING (HAWTHORN – DESIRED CANOPY COVER 20-40%)

When creating the unit, the contractor shall keep in mind that the goal of this item is to create an area that has a viable hawthorn stand and is maintainable by mechanical means. When selecting hawthorns that are to remain in the area, preference should be given to healthy, productive hawthorn trees which are growing in areas that are not easily accessible for maintenance such as rocky areas, steep areas, and areas near seeps or drains. Position of other residual hawthorns should be such as to minimize impacts to future maintenance activities while maintaining a number of hawthorns, sufficient to meet the canopy cover objectives of this prescription, throughout the treatment area.

All unit borders, under this prescription, shall be marked with three horizontal lines of paint facing toward the inside of the unit. All trees within the unit which are not hawthorn are to be cut or girdled to create snags, depending on size (see notes below). Additionally, any trees within the unit which are marked with paint (single slash) shall be cut. Any trees which are marked with a ribbon tied around the trunk shall not be cut or damaged. The remaining trees to be cut within the unit shall be selected by the contractor in a manner which best accomplishes the following:

1. Establish a stand of Hawthorn whose canopy covers approximately 30% of the work area in shade and in which hawthorn tops are spaced so as not to touch.

2. Removes or kills all non-hawthorn tree species from the stand (unless specifically marked for retention by ribboning).

3. Removes damaged, dying, and dead hawthorns from the stand.

4. Creates a stand with a mixture of hawthorn clumps, single hawthorn trees, snags (when possible) and open pasture composition.

5. Creates a stand in which the grasses can be managed by using mechanical equipment (i.e.

spaces open enough to allow use of tractor for mowing, fertilizing, liming, NNIS treatment, etc.).

The project area will be deemed acceptable for payment when the work performed within that area meets the following results and conditions:

1. Criteria for an acceptable final product, as defined above, have been met.

2. All stumps have been cut to a height not greater than 5 inches when measured from the top of ground, at any location around the stump, to the top of the stump at its highest point.

3. All trees and woody vegetation with less than 3” DBH, and which are not hawthorn trees present in clump tree components, have been removed from the prescribed area.

4. Tree species, other than Hawthorn and trees designated for preservation (by ribbon around trunk), which are located at least 50 ft from existing fence lines and roadways, and which have a DBH of at least 14” have been girdled to create snags.

a. The girdling process shall be achieved by making a minimum of two separate cuts around the complete circumference of the tree. These cuts will be to a depth adequate to sever the cambium layer of the tree in all locations and shall be approximately 4” apart

5. Tree species within the prescribed area, other than Hawthorn trees selected for retention, trees designated for preservation (by ribbon around trunk), or trees which have been girdled, must be cut down.

6. Wood vegetation removed under this prescription, shall be placed in piles not more than 25 ft wide, 20 ft high, and 50 ft long or scattered in wooded areas, not under a separate prescription in this contract.

a. If piled, there shall be a minimum of 50 ft between piles. Piles shall be established along the outside edges of the cleared area. Piles may be created on top of rocks, in drains, on steep sections of the cleared area, or in other locations as designated by the Contracting Officer Representative. These areas must be approved prior to creating piles.

b. If scattered, placement of cut trees shall be such as to minimize impact to remaining trees and un-prescribed areas.

7. No Tracked equipment was used without prior written approval of the COR.

8. Any black cherry removed under this prescription has been located to a point not accessible to livestock, to avoid potential poisoning from wilting leaves. Other methods of avoidance may be implemented if approved by the COR

9. Any damage caused to fences, troughs, roads, or other improvements in the pasture, by felling trees shall be repaired immediately, and at the contractor’s expense.

10. Preserved trees shall not be damaged by the felling of trees within the unit.

11. There can be no “hung” trees within the unit. All cut trees must rest fully on the ground and may not be suspended by any means.

12. THINNING (HAWTHORN – DESIRED CANOPY COVER 40-70%)

When creating the unit, the contractor shall keep in mind that the goal of this item is to perpetuate an area with a viable hawthorn stand in which the crowns do not touch and are not overtopped by other tree species. This stand shall contain small open areas connected by treeless, wandering corridors that are up to twice as wide as the existing hawthorn is tall. When selecting hawthorns that are to be removed from the area, preference should be given to senescent, dead, dying, and unproductive hawthorn trees which have a tree crowns that touch seemingly healthy hawthorn which are selected to remain. In stands that contain hawthorn which are healthy, but have crowns that are touching, remove as few Hawthorn trees as possible to create a stand in which no crowns touch.

All unit borders, under this prescription, shall be marked with three vertical lines of paint, facing toward the inside of the unit. All trees within the unit which are not hawthorn or otherwise designated as leave trees, are to be cut or girdled to create snags. Additionally, any hawthorn trees within the unit which are marked with paint (single slash) shall be cut. Any trees which are marked with a ribbon tied around the trunk shall not be cut or damaged. The remaining trees to be cut or girdled within the unit shall be selected by the contractor in a manner which best accomplishes the following:

1. Establish a stand of Hawthorn whose canopy covers approximately 50% of the work area in shade and in which hawthorn tops are spaced so as not to touch.

2. The remaining 50% of the stand consists of small openings (0.2 to 0.5 acres in size) connected by wandering paths (meandering open corridors) that are 20-30 ft wide.

3. Tree species, other than Hawthorn and trees designated for preservation (by ribbon around trunk), which are located at least 50 ft from existing fence lines and roadways, and which have a DBH of at least 14” shall be girdled to create snags.

a. The girdling process shall be achieved by making a minimum of two separate cuts around the complete circumference of the tree. These cuts will be to a depth adequate to sever the cambium layer of the tree in all locations and shall be approximately 4” apart

4. Tree species, other than Hawthorn, trees designated for preservation (by ribbon around trunk), or trees which have been girdled; and which occur within the prescribed area; must be cut down.

5. Openings and wandering paths shall be distributed throughout the treatment area to create approximately 50% treeless areas within the prescription boundary.

a. Openings” shall be defined as areas in which all trees and woody vegetation have been removed.

i. Openings should be irregularly shaped (not round or square) with rounded edges.

ii. Openings should be 0.2 to 0.5 acres in size

iii. All stumps within “openings” must be cut to a height not greater than 5 inches when measured from the top of ground, at any location around the stump, to the top of the stump at its highest point

iv. Opening shall be connected by “wandering paths”

b. “Wandering paths” shall be defined as meandering corridors, 100% free of trees and woody vegetation, that connect openings.

v. Wandering paths should have curved (not straight line) edges

vi. Wandering paths shall be 20-30 ft wide

vii. All stumps within “wandering paths” must be cut to a height not greater than 5 inches when measured from the top of ground, at any location around the stump, to the top of the stump at its highest point

viii. “wandering paths” shall connect all openings

c. All trees within areas selected as “openings” or “wandering paths”, which have been cut, must be piled outside of these areas.

ix. piles shall not be more than 25 ft wide, 20 ft high, and 50 ft long.

x. There shall be a minimum of 50 ft between piles.

xi. Piles shall be established along the outside edges of the cleared area unless alternate areas are approved by the COR.

xii. If scattered, placement of cut trees shall be such as to minimize impact to remaining trees and un-prescribed areas.

6. Residual hawthorn stands, which compose the remaining 50% of the work area, shall be thinned as follows:

a. Must have sufficient thinning so that residual hawthorn crowns do not touch

b. Dead, dying, non-productive, and damaged hawthorn have all been cut.

c. All non-hawthorn tree species, not designated to remain, have been cut or girdled

d. All stumps within “residual hawthorn stands” not designated or chosen as “open areas” or “wandering swaths” have been cut to a height not greater than 24 inches when measured from the top of ground, at any location around the stump, to the top of the stump at its highest point.

e. trees cut within residual hawthorn stands may be left where they fall so long as they are not within areas designated/chosen as “openings” or “wandering paths”.

7. No Tracked equipment may be used without prior written approval of the COR.

8. Any black cherry removed under this prescription must be located to a point not accessible to livestock, to avoid potential poisoning from wilting leaves. Other methods of avoidance may be implemented if approved by the COR

9. Any damage caused to fences, troughs, roads, or other improvements in the pasture, by felling trees shall be repaired immediately, and at the contractor’s expense.

10. Preserved trees should not be damaged by the felling of trees within the unit.

11. There can be no “hung” trees within the unit. All cut trees must rest fully on the ground and may not be suspended by any means.