Attachment_3_-_Seed_Task_Order_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

Performance Work Statement

Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) for Bonneville Unit Mitigation Lands

Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission Salt Lake City, UT

IVM Weed Control for Jordan River, Salt Lake County, Utah.

1.0 SCOPE

1.1 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this task order is to order contractor services to control noxious and invasive weeds on Jordan River lands administered by the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission (Commission). These lands are shown in attached Maps 1-4.

1.2 BACKGROUND

Titles III and IV of Pub. L. 102-575 as amended (Central Utah Project Completion Act; or CUPCA) establish and authorize the Commission to complete the fish, wildlife and recreation mitigation and conservation program for the Bonneville Unit of the CUP. The Commission has made substantial progress with land and water right acquisitions constituting a substantial portion of the mitigation program. The acquired lands require management, development, and operation and maintenance to provide effective long-term mitigation and conservation. Noxious weed and invasive species plant control is key to achieving the desired fish and wildlife habitat outcomes and improved biological diversity and productivity of native ecosystems. Management of the vegetative community towards desirable species composition is a key component of the acquired lands, particularly in wetland and riparian areas. Weed control and related vegetation management will help to maintain the habitat values being conserved. This approach is referred to as an Integrated Vegetative Management Plan (IVM Plan).

2.0 REFERENCES

The following documents are required in the performance of this task order:

Number Title and Edition Date Source 1 Attachment 1 – Jordan River Treatment Plan and Maps 2025 Commission 2 Safety and Operations Protocol 2025 To be developed under task order.

3.0 TASKS

This task order is intended to provide contractor services to control noxious and invasive weeds on portions of Jordan River lands administered by the Commission. These lands are shown in the overview map. Weed control is based on the Commission’s Jordan River Treatment plan (Treatment Plan), provided as Attachment 1.

3.3 Treatment of Areas

3.3.1 This task consists of treatment for control of noxious weed and invasive species at the portions of the Jordan River properties specified in the Treatment Plan (Map 1).

As per the Treatment Plan, chemical treatment in 2026 is planned for Spring with mowing occurring under in the late summer or early fall.

3.3.2 and 3.4 Inspection and Annual reporting. This task includes producing an annual report (draft and final) that will include:

• an inspection report for monitoring effectiveness and compliance purposes;

• a synopsis of the treatments applied;

• an accounting summary of any/all chemicals applied by type and brand, quantity, treatment area and method, including a summary of the area where herbicides were applied on or near water bodies; and

• a discussion of the success of treatments in all areas and recommendations for future treatments.

Along with the annual report, the Contractor shall provide:

• geotagged photos in JPG format of the completed work showing a representative sample of treated areas and GPS track files; and

• any applicable additional spatial data in ESRI-compatible format relating to information presented in the report (areas treated, species treated, sites monitored, etc.).

4.0 CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Compliance with Safety Plan

The Contractor is required to comply with the Safety Plan referenced in Section 2.0.

4.2 Certifications and Personnel Requirements

The Contractor and its operating employees must be knowledgeable of Central Utah weed species and native plants so as to be able to distinguish between them in the field. The Contractor (or designated subcontractor) must possess, at a minimum, a commercial applicator’s license for the State of Utah to dispense herbicides in industrial-right-of-ways, rangeland settings and in wetlands and aquatic areas for weed control work involving herbicide application. Copies of required Licenses shall be provided to the Commission before treatment. The Commission requires that the Contractor be fully certified to apply whatever methods are employed for weed and other vegetation control and management in the project area.

4.3 Contractor-Provided Equipment, Materials and Supplies

Contractor will provide all equipment (including, but not limited to an All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV) and ATV-mounted sprayer if used) and labor to spot spray upland and wetland areas accessible by ATV. The contractor is to acquire and provide herbicide(s). Some treatment areas MAY NOT be accessible by ATV and may be accessible by foot only. Contractor will provide equipment (including, but not limited to backpack sprayer) and labor to spot spray upland and wetland areas.

5.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Task No.

Task Description Performance Indicator

Performance Standard Minimum Acceptable Quality Level

3.3.1 Treatment of

Project Area

Percent cover of noxious or invasive weeds

COR reviews contractor provided Treatment GPS Track Files or other mapping documentation and determines coverage of treatment areas is acceptable.

Contractor provides Treatment GPS Track Files in ESRI compatible format – with metadata, in NAD 83 UTM zone 12 N and pesticide usage for COR inspection. The contractor shall control 75% of the weeds at the monitored photo points, based on visual inspection with COR.

3.3.2 Treatment and

Inspection Report

Tabulated weed treatment, assessment of compliance and effectiveness monitoring

Performance of all tasks as per Approved Treatment Plan or Contract

Report submitted by Contractor; and periodic inspection by

COR.

6.0 DELIVERABLES

PWS Section Deliverable Due/Deliver To Format

3.3.1 Treatment of

areas

Herbicide list and Safety Data Sheets for any proposed new materials not included in the Treatment Plan, (see Section 2).

Delivered to COR 5 days prior to application of any chemical. Must be approved by the Commission prior to use.

Microsoft Word 2021 (or higher) document, OCR PDF or equivalent electronic submittal.

3.3.2 Annual Report, draft and final, may include the Inspection Report. This is one single document for all three locations.

Synopsis of treatment, including a summary of chemical use and recommendations for future treatment. To include summary of treatment inspections, Pesticide Application Record Forms, Photos and GPS track files.

1 draft delivered to COR within 30 days of field inspections visits;

Final within 10 days of receipt of COR comments.

Microsoft Word 2021 (or higher) document.

Figures in PDF; GIS in ESRI-Arc compatible with metadata in NAD 83 UTM Zone 12 N.

Photos in JPG, geotagged.

4.2 Certifications, Licensure and Personnel Requirements

Copy of required Utah Certification or Licensure for designated class for any employees not previously submitted.

Delivered to COR before treatment.

OCR-PDF

7.0 REGULATIONS

The Contractor must comply with State and local authority, laws and associated regulations and chemical labels and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information and requirements as associated with any chemical applications.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA): No chemicals that are banned or severely restricted under FIFRA will be used under the scope of this task order. All chemicals will be utilized in compliance with their labeled uses and precautions.

Attachment 1 Jordan River Treatment Plan and Maps

Invasive and noxious weed control on the Commission properties along the Jordan River is shifting to more of a mechanical approach. The Commission will utilize local students with shovels to pull out the thistles in the spring. This will be followed by aggressing seeding with native and desirable grasses and planting of “habitat patches” with containerized riparian and wetland plant species in specific areas where weeds have been controlled in the past. The contractor will have no role in this effort.

The following guidelines provide the basis for a reduction in chemical use and will be discussed on site with crews prior to any treatments occurring. There are four maps included that provide the specific locations for proposed treatments. No treatments outside of these areas will be conducted in 2026 due to the desire to seed and plant in the other areas across the properties.

Treatment timing

Spring - April to May – depending on plant phenology [flowering stage or pre-seed development] – apply herbicides to treat hoary cress (LEDR), poison hemlock, and Scotch/musk thistle (ONAC) on the Jordan River Migratory Bird Refuge and areas south of 12300 South in Draper on the Colby Property, as indicated on Maps 1-4.

Late Summer – August – mowing Russian thistle (SATR) on Jordan River Migratory Bird Refuge (JRMBR).

Focal species and herbicides

The focus for spring 2025 [April to May] will be hoary cress, poison hemlock, and Scotch/musk thistle rosettes using Opensight™ and surfactant with blue dye. Locations for these applications are shown on Maps 1 and 2. No chemical treatments will occur on either site in fall.

One day of mowing will also be completed south of 10600 South on the JRMBR for Russian thistle in August to September.

Specific indications

To keep volunteers and students apart from the locations of herbicide applications, treatment locations will be limited to those areas identified on the attached maps. Herbicide spraying by crews will not be allowed in the remaining areas of the properties. If crews have recommendations for additional treatments as they traverse the sites, they should contact the Contracting Officers Representative, and these recommendations will be considered for treatment using Utah Conservation Corps Crews separate from this task order.

All treatments using non-aquatic approved herbicides will be at least 10 yards from open water and care will be taken to not allow drift into water.