Merritt Reservoir Wildlife Management Area - Attachment 3 Documentation

Attachment 3 is a geographical information system (GIS) map prepared by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC) depicting Merritt WMA Unit 4, a 312.7-acre parcel located in Cherry County near Merritt Reservoir and State Highway 97. The map illustrates the unit's composition, identifying 240.2 acres of grassland, 72.5 acres of woodlands, and 15.3 acres designated for fuels reduction. The visualization includes landmarks such as Boardman Creek, Snake River Road, and the Snake River, with the mapped area utilizing Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, and OpenStreetMap data sources. This cartographic resource serves as a reference document for the associated tree clearing solicitation, providing contractors with a spatial understanding of the project site's landscape composition and treatment zones.

The map represents one unit within the larger 4,262.5-acre tree clearing contract at Merritt Reservoir Wildlife Management Area. The overall project requires removal of Eastern Red Cedar and Rocky Mountain Juniper trees measuring 18 inches and taller across grasslands and woodlands, with primary methods involving mulching and optional cutting and piling for larger diameter trees. The mandatory solicitation conference scheduled for January 21, 2026, requires bidder attendance, with proposal responses due February 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. Contract performance runs from March 9, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with environmental protections for Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Northern Long-eared Bat, and Whooping Crane habitat. Contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance including $2,000,000 general aggregate Commercial General Liability and $1,000,000 combined single limit Commercial Automobile Liability, with work performed under dry or frozen ground conditions.