ATTACHMENT 4 - SOW Vegetation Management.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

WETLAND VEGETATION TREATMENT

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)

PENNSYLVANIA STATE OFFICE

I. OBJECTIVE

The objective is to obtain Wetland Vegetation Treatment in the State of Pennsylvania (PA) for properties located in Monroe, Chester, Lancaster, Berks, and York Counties. Description of services for each site is listed below.

II. BACKGROUND

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) NRCS has authority to administer voluntary conservation easement programs. Depending on the program, NRCS is authorized to acquire easement rights from participating landowners to achieve program purposes such as restoring and protecting wetlands, grasslands, and forest land resources and restoring and enhancing floodplains. NRCS is the lead agency within the United States Department of Agriculture charged with administering these programs.

III. SCOPE

The Contractor shall follow the Statement of Work and applicable regulations to provide Wetland Enhancement Services for the associated properties. The services entail the following**:

1. Brush Management (314) – removal of woody plants and controlling noxious and invasive woody plants

2. Herbaceous Weed Control (315) – Treatment of herbaceous weeds.

3. Wetland Enhancement (659) – improving conditions in wetland area (Thompson site only)

**NOTE – DUE TO THE SENSETIVE NATURE OF T&E BOG TURTLES AND THEIR HABITAT, THESE

SITES CONTAIN ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THEIR LOCATIONS WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO THE

PUBLIC.

IV. STANDARDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Contractor shall follow the Statement of Work, applicable regulations, and conservation practice standards to provide Wetland Vegetation Treatment for the associated property. The contractor will notify the landowner prior to each site visit for restoration. The landowner will remove cattle from the site to keep them safe from herbicide application.

The individual Conservation Practice Standards and Specifications can be found at https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/toc.aspx?CatID=12487 . The Contractor is responsible for implementing all Wetland Easement Enhancement Services in compliance with Conservation Practice Standards.

The Contractor is responsible for implementing all Wetland Vegetation Treatment in compliance with Conservation Practice Standards.

V. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

A. Brush Management and Wetland Enhancement Locations

1. Callahan Site - Address: 202 Strickersville Road, Landenberg, PA 19350, Lat/Long: 39.730937, -75.814418

Summary of services requested:

April – July of 2022—mechanically remove approximately 6 acres of Callery pear trees in Field 1.

Recommend using a masticator to reduce above-ground growth to mulch.

https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/toc.aspx?CatID=12487

April – July of 2022—treat approximately 0.2 acres of woody growth in the herbaceous wetland at NE tip of Field 2 via tree injection.

Acreage and treatment data by year:

2022 314 Brush Mgmt; 6 acres of Mechanical, Medium 2 to 4 Inch dbh

314 Brush Mgmt; 0.2 acres, Chemical, Individual Plant Treatment

2. 5 Earth Site – Address: 238 Rt. 15, Saylorsburg, PA 18353, Lat/Long: 40.883044, -75.317632

April – July of 2022: mow/cut ~10 acres(?) of Japanese barberry in southern spur of Field 1. Herbicide treatments are not necessary at this time.

April – July of 2023: treat all acres (~35 ac?) affected by Japanese barberry and hay-scented fern with appropriate herbicide(s). Presence and density of both species is not completely known for Field 2, as access was significantly limited during my visit. For treatment of Field 2, contractor should pre-arrange for parking along Faulstick Road. Work will likely have to be done by hand, and it will not be an easy—or quick—task.

Acreage and treatment data by year:

2022 - 314 Brush Mgmt; 10 acres, Mechanical, Heavy, > 4 Inches DBH 2022 - 314 Brush Mgmt; 35 ac, Hand Tools and Chemical Treatment

3. Lieb Site - Address: 74 Zion Road, Birdsboro, PA 19508, Lat/Long: 40.223713, -75.879049

April – July of 2022—treat approximately 1.2 acres of woody growth in the streamside wetlands in the NW spur of Field 2, via tree injection.

April – July of 2022—treat 0.1 acres of woody growth around WRP boundary signs as needed

Acreage and treatment data by year:

2022 -314 Brush Mgmt; 1.2 acres, Chemical, Intense Individual Plant Treatment

314 Brush Mgmt; 0.1 acres, Chemical, Individual Plant Treatment

4. Thompson Site - Address: 14250 Wolf Road, Felton, PA 17322, Lat/Long: 39.82688,-76.503682

April – July of 2022

-314 Brush Mgmt; 8 acres in Fields 1 and 3; targeted goal to remove ALL woody shrubs -659 Wetland Enhancement ;1 acre in Field 1; to find and remove all foreign objects from wetlands -315 Treatment of herbaceous weeds ;7.4 acres in Field 2; targeted goal to remove ALL herbaceous invasives in upland acres

April – July 2023—7.4 acres of 314 in Field 2; to control any new germination from the existing seedbed

Acreage and treatment data by year:

2022 314 Brush Mgmt; 8 acres, Chemical, Intense Individual Plant Treatment 314 Brush Mgmt; 7.4 acres, Chemical, Individual Plant Treatment

659 Wetland Enhancement, 1 acre, Riverine Channel and Floodplain Restoration (Removal of all foreign objects (barrels, etc.) from Field 1 by removing refugia for possible nest predators. A great benefit to the turtles.

2023 314 Brush Mgmt; 7.4 acres, Chemical, Individual Plant Treatment

5. Martin Site - Address: 988 Hopeland Road, Lititz, PA 17543, Lat/Long: 40.23357, -76.276375

Fall 2021

--1 acre of 314 in Field 1 to treat invasive shrubs in the riparian corridor, focusing on forest edges.

--0.5 acre of 314 in Field 2 to treat invasive shrubs or other plants as needed; locate, repair, or replace boundary signs as needed.

Fall 2022 --0.5 acre of 314 in Field 1 as follow-up to treat any surviving invasive shrubs or stump sprouts from plants treated in 2021.

Acreage and treatment data by year 2021 (Fall) 314 Brush Mgmt; 1 acre, Chemical, Intense Individual Plant Treatment 314 Brush Mgmt; 0.5 acre, Chemical, Intense Individual Plant Treatment 2022 (Fall) 314 Brush Mgmt; 0.5 acre, Chemical, Intense Individual Plant Treatment

B. Treatment options for Woody Vegetation removal (Brush Management 314)

Basal Bark Application (triclopyr) This method involves the application of the ester formulation of triclopyr (e.g., Pathfinder® II) to woody plants with stems less than 6 inches in basal diameter. Use of triclopyr to control woody vegetation using the basal bark application method for target woody vegetation includes, but is not limited to, red maple, alder, poison sumac, and multiflora rose.

Herbicide is applied with a backpack sprayer using low pressure and a solid cone or flat nozzle. The herbicide is sprayed on the lowermost 10-12 inches of woody stems, including the root collar zone. Herbicide will not be applied when snow cover prevents spraying to the ground line. Woody stems will not be saturated to the point that runoff into the soil occurs. Herbicide will not be applied to open water or water present in wetlands. Care will be taken to reduce the risk of herbicide contacting adjacent non-target vegetation, as this may kill beneficial vegetation and introduce herbicide into the surrounding soil.

When controlling woody vegetation with herbicides, approximately 10-20% of the native tree and shrub cover in mucky areas of the overall wetland will be retained (i.e., not treated), located in or near seeps, springs, rivulets, and mucky areas. Scattered pockets of shrubs will be retained in mucky areas within the emergent portion of the wetland.

Cut and Paint (glyphosate) This method involves the application of glyphosate (without surfactant) to cut stumps of shrubs. Stems of shrubs are simply cut near ground level and a small amount of glyphosate applied to the stump. Care is taken not to spill herbicide in the wetland and only a small amount should be painted on each stump.

EZ-ject The EZ-ject method involves the injection of pellets of glyphosate or imazapyr directly into the trunks of woody vegetation via the EZ-ject lance. Injection of pellets containing imazapyr will be limited to stem diameters exceeding 4 inches to minimize the risk of herbicide leaching from roots into the surrounding soil. Herbicide is delivered directly to woody stems, avoiding any herbicide spillage in the wetland. Little or no migration of herbicide from the root system to wetland soils is anticipated.

Mechanical treatment of woody vegetation This is a possible method for removing large areas of invasive woody plants in the upland acres, via mechanical/mechanized methods like masticators or chippers, especially when plants to be treated vary greatly in both diameter and height. Method used cannot simply cut and drop the vegetation, it must also reduce and disperse the remaining slash and debris. This treatment option is limited to upland fields without wetlands or moist soils.

This treatment option will be followed one year later with backpack application of herbicides to any surviving woody vegetation or any stump sprouts.

C. Treatment options for shrub or non-native emergent vegetation (Brush Management 314):

Glyphosate or imazapyr will be applied in a dilution appropriate for the method of application. When carrying out a foliar application of glyphosate or imazapyr, the surfactant LI-700® may be used in accordance with the EPA-approved label instructions to improve efficacy of the herbicide and potentially reduce or eliminate the need for re-treatment. Either of the following two methods of application (High- or Low- pressure spray) are appropriate for restoration of habitat at this site.

High-Pressure Spray (glyphosate/imazapyr) This is a foliar application method, intended to deliver herbicide to the leaves and stems of target plants. The high-pressure spray application is intended to treat dense stands of cattail within which few, or no, non-target plants occur. These high-density stands of cattail are typically devoid of any other herbaceous vegetation, evidenced by large expanses of bare soil or target species thatch within the proposed treatment area. High-pressure spraying will be done only when cattail occurs at a high enough density to minimize the risk of effects to non-target plants.

Glyphosate is sprayed onto the plants using hand-directed spray equipment, with a spray pressure not to exceed 400 pounds per square inch. At 400 PSI, the sprayer will distribute herbicide as far as 50 feet from the nozzle. High pressure sprayers will be used only to treat large stands of cattail, where herbicide application with hand-held sprayers is not practical.

Low-Pressure Spray and Low-Pressure Spot Spray (glyphosate) These foliar application methods are intended to deliver herbicide to the leaves and/or stems of target plants. Spot spray refers to the spraying of individual plants, around which non-target plants occur. Care is taken to spray just the target plant, so that damage to adjacent, non-target plants is minimized. In contrast, low-pressure spray applications are intended to treat dense stands of the target plant species, within which few or no non-target plants occur. Spraying will be done only when the target plant species occurs at a high enough density to minimize the risk to non-target plants.

Glyphosate is sprayed onto the leaves or stem via spray bottle, backpack sprayer, or modified low volume hydraulic applicator with hand-held directed spray equipment with a spray pressure not to exceed 60 pounds per square inch. A wand will be used to ensure that herbicide reaches the tops of tall plants. High pressure sprayers will not be used, as this would increase the risk of herbicide drift. Herbicide drift from the sprayer can kill or damage desirable non-target plants and end up in wetland soils.

Regardless of the application method used, glyphosate and imazapyr will be applied in a dilution appropriate for the method of application. When carrying out a foliar application of glyphosate or imazapyr, the surfactant LI-700® may be used in accordance with the EPA-approved label instructions to improve efficacy of the herbicide and potentially reduce or eliminate the need for re-treatment.

D. Treatment options for Herbaceous Weed control (Herbaceous Weed Control 315):

Reed canarygrass (2-year treatment) Herbicide using the high- or low- pressure spray methods should be used to treat reed canary grass with the goal of complete removal within 5 years. Multiple treatments will likely be necessary to achieve this objective.

High-Pressure Spray (glyphosate/imazapyr) This is a foliar application method, intended to deliver herbicide to the leaves and stems of target plants. The high-pressure spray application is intended to treat dense stands of cattail within which few, or no, non-target plants occur. These high-density stands of cattail are typically devoid of any other herbaceous vegetation, evidenced by large expanses of bare soil or target species thatch within the proposed treatment area. High-pressure spraying will be done only when cattail occurs at a high enough density to minimize the risk of effects to non-target plants.

Glyphosate is sprayed onto the plants using hand-directed spray equipment, with a spray pressure not to exceed 400 pounds per square inch. At 400 PSI, the sprayer will distribute herbicide as far as 50 feet from the nozzle. High pressure sprayers will be used only to treat large stands of cattail, where herbicide application with hand-held sprayers is not practical.

Low-Pressure Spray and Low-Pressure Spot Spray (glyphosate) These foliar application methods are intended to deliver herbicide to the leaves and/or stems of target plants. Spot spray refers to the spraying of individual plants, around which non-target plants occur. Care is taken to spray just the target plant, so that damage to adjacent, non-target plants is minimized. In contrast, low-pressure spray applications are intended to treat dense stands of the target plant species, within which few or no non-target plants occur. Spraying will be done only when the target plant species occurs at a high enough density to minimize the risk to non-target plants.

Glyphosate is sprayed onto the leaves or stem via spray bottle, backpack sprayer, or modified low volume hydraulic applicator with hand-held directed spray equipment with a spray pressure not to exceed 60 pounds per square inch. A wand will be used to ensure that herbicide reaches the tops of tall plants. High pressure sprayers will not be used, as this would increase the risk of herbicide drift. Herbicide drift from the sprayer can kill or damage desirable non-target plants and end up in wetland soils.

Regardless of the application method used, glyphosate and imazapyr will be applied in a dilution appropriate for the method of application. When carrying out a foliar application of glyphosate or imazapyr, the surfactant LI- 700® may be used in accordance with the EPA-approved label instructions to improve efficacy of the herbicide and potentially reduce or eliminate the need for re-treatment.

E. DELIVERABLES:

Within 14 days of practice completion, the Contractor will submit the following Records of Application documentation to NRCS:

1. Extent of practice application (i.e. number of acres) and corresponding map

2. List of materials and methods used for practice implementation (see more specific deliverables for each practice below) and estimated hours of labor

Specific documentation for deliverables is listed below:

Brush Management

• Plant species controlled and percent kill of target species

• Dates of treatment

• Chemicals applied (also carriers/surfactants, if used)

• Rate of application

• Method of application, including general equipment used

Wetland Enhancement

• THOMPSON SITE ONLY: Riverine Channel and Floodplain Restoration (Removal of all foreign objects (barrels, etc.) from Field 1 by removing refugia for possible nest predators. A great benefit to the turtles.

VI. CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall:

1. Be approved by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete herbicide applications on the wetland easements.

2. Requirements for applying conservation practice Wetland Enhancement:

a. The person(s) performing the work must either be on the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s List of Qualified Surveyors For Bog Turtle* or following the guidance of a person on the Commission’s list.

b. The person(s) performing or supervising the work must be a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator, including Category No. 9 Aquatic Pest Control. Any person(s) working under the supervision of the Certified Commercial Herbicide Applicator must be a Registered Pesticide Technician.* https://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/habitat/te-surveyors/BT_Surveyors.pdf

c. The requirements for applying to become a Qualified Surveyor For Bog Turtle are found at:

http://fishandboat.com/images/pages/forms/qualified_surveyor_requirements.pdf

d. The pesticide licensing terms are from PA Dept. of Ag http://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Protect/PlantIndustry/PesticideCART/Pages/default.aspx https://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/habitat/te-surveyors/BT_Surveyors.pdf

3. Requirements for applying conservation practice Conservation Cover:

a. The person(s) performing or supervising the work must be a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator.

b. Any person(s) working under the supervision of the Certified Commercial Herbicide Applicator must be a Registered Pesticide Technician.

4. The Contractor is responsible for having current knowledge of requirements of Pennsylvania state law associated with the services being provided.

5. The Contractor will attend the pre-implementation meeting with the NRCS representative(s). The discussions and decisions shall be documented by the NRCS and the Contractor. Throughout the fall of 2021 (September – December), the contractor will visit the sites as needed to prepare for the wetland vegetation treatments to begin in January of 2022.

6. The Contractor will effectively communicate to NRCS the status of the Wetland Easement Enhancement

Services, beginning with the start of the first practice and through to completion. The contractor will must notify NRCS field office at least 24 hours before proceeding with the first treatment.

7. Scheduling conflicts will be communicated ahead of time. Any changes or modifications to the planned treatment acres will be communicated to and approved by NRCS.

8. The Contractor will be a PA licensed herbicide applicator. All herbicide applications must be done according to the instructions on the herbicide label.

9. The Contractor will carry out activities during appropriate weather conditions so that herbicide treatment is effective.

VII. CIVIL RIGHTS AND PROGRAM DELIVERY

By signing this contract, the Contractor assures the USDA that the program or activities provided for under this agreement will be conducted in compliance with all applicable Federal civil rights laws, rules, regulations, and policies. Any and all information gained through this Statement of Work or in the process of carrying out the Wetland Enhancement project are to be held confidential between the Contractor, NRCS, other designated partners and the landowner unless released by the landowner. Information gained may not be shared with others and are considered private to the landowner. The Contractor will protect the privacy of information collected during the technical assistance process according to the provisions of Section 1619 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

IX. GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL - Only the CO may authorize changes

Technical Representative James Gillis, State Biologist Phone: 717-237-2219 Email: james.gillis@usda.gov

Contract Specialist Ms. Oriel Velez Phone: 787-370-0562 Email: oriel.velez@usda.gov

Contracting Officer Amy Stonebraker Phone: 304-284-7552 Email: amy.stonebraker@usda.gov mailto:james.gillis@usda.gov mailto:oriel.velez@usda.gov

C. Treatment options for shrub or non-native emergent vegetation (Brush Management 314):