FENCING SPECIFICATIONS

Period of Performance : 07/14/2026 – 10/31/2026. Please note the completion date for this project is flexible, as needed, when winter weather creates unworkable conditions. The

Government expects the contractor to complete as much work as possible this field season, but recognizes weather may impact site access and working conditions. With this in mind, if work is not completed by 10/31/2026, work may continue from 06/01/2027 through 10/31/2027 if properly coordinated with the Government. Site specific conditions to mitigate resource concerns will also be coordinated before equipment and/or off-road vehicles are used off the main road prisms.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

The following additional specifications, including the information contained in General

Technical Report PNW-GTR-250 September 1990 Specifications for Structural Range

Improvements, 1999 Handbook Fences, and Landowners Guide to Wildlife Friendly Fences will be in addition to the specifications covered in Parent IDIQ. Where conflicts arise, the specifications below will take precedence. Technical References will support site specific specifications outlined in the award.

EXISTING FENCE REMOVAL

• Untreated wood posts and lumber (stays, scabs, etc.) will be removed and disposed of properly.

Trees used as part of the existing fence can be left on-site to decompose so long as all staples, nails, wire, and scabs are removed for proper disposal.

FENCE CORRIDOR CLEARING

• The fence line corridor shall be cleared to an approximate width of 12 feet, measuring 6 feet on each side of fence centerline, and 8 feet above ground. All material greater than 24 inches in height is to be removed, except any live tree 6 inches or greater at DBH (diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground) will stay.

• All dead standing trees that are within 6 feet of the fence centerline (fence line corridor) shall be removed before the fence is built.

• All dead down trees that are within the fence line corridor shall be removed. This includes all wood material greater than 4 inches in diameter.

• Fall all green trees less than 6 inches DBH within 6 feet of the fence centerline (fence line corridor) that are leaning toward the fence.

• Slash created by clearing the fence line will be scattered outside of the fence line corridor and not left in any ditch or roadway.

• Stumps shall be cut flat and be within 6 inches of the ground and within 6 feet of the fence centerline (fence line corridor). Stumps can be cut at the same angle as the hill slope.

• Small conifer seedlings and saplings must be cut below the lowest live limb, which may require the cut to be less than 6 inches from ground.

FENCE CONSTRUCTION

• T-Post, 6’, studded, Heavy weight (1.33 lbs. per foot)

• Fence Clips, 11.5 gauge or stronger

• Stays, wood (48 inches)

• Wire, 2 pt. 12.5 gauge, barbed

• Wire, 12.5 gauge smooth

• Staples, barbed, 2 inches

• Spikes, 7 inches for wood rails and 7-10 inches for brace structures pending size of post

• Rails, 4 inches diameter, treated wood, 12-feet long

• All Brace Post Structures, treated wood, 6 to 8 inches by 7-8 feet long, pointed or blunt

• Inline Fence Posts, treated wood, 5 inches in diameter by 7-8 feet long, pointed or blunt

• All brace members for brace structures will be treated wood with a minimum of 4 inches in diameter and 8 feet long.

• 4-strand barbed/barbless wire fence with the following wire spacing from ground level:

• Top wire 40" to 42" smooth barbless twisted cable wire – maintain a minimum of 12” between 1st and 2nd wire.

• 2nd wire 28" barbed wire.

• 3rd wire 22" barbed wire.

• 4th wire 16" to 18" smooth barbless twisted cable wire.

• All existing wire shall be replaced as specified.

• Oil stem field pipe will not be used in the construction of this fence line.

• Wire shall be placed on the side of the posts where cattle are located. The contractor shall consult with the COR and/or Inspector for wire placement.

• Line wires shall be cut, and dead ended on all corners, angle, gate or brace post structures, and the wire wrapped around the post twice, then secured by wrapping back on the stretched wire six times with a minimum of 1 foot of wire. The tie shall be made on the centerline of the post to prevent the turning and slackening of a face tie. The wire shall be stapled to the outside of the post. The top wire shall be stapled down to the dead-end brace bars. Wires shall not be twisted or kinked for any reason.

• Standard steel post wire clips shall be used during construction. Wire clips shall not be twisted completely around the wire. Ensure that the clips hold the wire securely to the post but can easily be removed to re-stretch wire with future maintenance.

• Horizontal Line Brace structures shall be constructed every ¼ mile (1320 feet), at terrain breaks, and as needed.

• Brace Structures shall be used at breaks in topography, at all fence ends, and on both sides of all gates. Corner braces shall be used at all corners.

• Depth and diameter of fence post may need to be increased in loose and sandy soil conditions to be made firm.

• Corner jacks, rock cribs, figure fours, braces, and any other fence structures shall be constructed as necessary to maintain fence alignment and wire spacing.

• Stays will be placed at approximately 8-foot intervals, or midway between posts, or jacks, Whichever is the shorter distance.

• Posts will be placed 16 feet apart with every 5th post being a wood line post. If a post cannot be set into the ground due to rock, a figure 4 or a rock crib would be used in place of a post.

• No space between posts shall be greater than 16ft for any section of fence. Brace post structures will count as the next post in line for distance.

• Post spacing may be adjusted for individual posts to avoid rocks, stumps, but shall not exceed

10 feet average between posts without stays and 16 feet average between posts with stays.

• All jacks and stays shall be placed on the same side of the fence, except when needed on the opposite side to cause wire to pull against the jack or post rather than away from it.

• Except where a fence line connects with a road, the fence will be constructed at least five feet back from the edge of the back slope and fill slope of roads.

POSTS AND BRACE STRUCTURES

• Live trees may not be used in lieu of steel posts or wood posts.

• Corner trees where the fence line is at 90 degrees angle will be replaced with a wood corner brace. Inline corner trees or posts at greater than 90 degrees will be replaced with a rock jack, rock crib, a figure 4 or a double brace structure.

• Posts (metal and treated wood) shall be set as nearly vertical as possible with the straight side of the posts in line on the wire side, if posts are set more than 16 feet apart, they shall have to be reset. Error on the side of less than 16-foot spacing.

• All wood posts used will be treated. No portion of a treated post will be cut/altered and contact the ground soil.

• No wood posts will be cut to adjust height during fence construction. Fence posts will remain as is for inspection purposes.

• Backfill shall consist of loose dry soil or rock wherever possible and must be well tamped around each post to secure the post and make it firm.

• All posts not set to proper depth and secured to be firm in ground will have to be reset.

• Steel posts must be driven until the tops of the anchor plates are well embedded beneath the ground. If needed, the contractor may drill a hole in the rock and then drive the steel post into the rock. All steel posts shall be spaced at or less than 16 feet apart. Post spacing may be adjusted for individual posts to avoid rocks or stumps. Posts shall be set as vertical as possible with the fasteners side in line on the wire side. The fence shall remain as straight as possible.

• Corner, gate, angle, and all other brace structure postholes shall be at least 32 inches deep.

• Wood fence posts shall be placed with the larger end down.

• Wire tie-downs are required. Rock hangers, rock dead man, or steel post dead man designs will be used for tie-downs at all spots where there is enough upward wire tension to pull steel posts or wooden brace posts out of ground (giving consideration for the most saturated soil conditions).

Rock hangers shall be constructed of barbless wire and placed around the rock in two directions to form a cradle. Tie downs shall not be substituted for other structures.

• Steel post dead man shall be driven deep enough to ensure wire tension cannot pull the dead man post up (considering the most saturated soil conditions).

• All material used for corner braces, gate braces, horizontal line braces, and figure 4's will be treated wood. Posts will be 6 to 8 inches and 7-8 feet long. Horizontal brace material will be a minimum of 4 inches in diameter and treated. Use wood treated to resist decay to build the fence structures.

• Rock jack wood flooring shall be treated sound dry wood that will support the weight of the rocks. Green wood is not acceptable. Braces shall consist of treated wood to resist decay and suitable for ground contact.

TURNS AND CONTOURS

• Brace structures are required at all end corners, gates, and definite angles of change

(horizontal).

• Turns greater than 5 degrees shall be executed by means of a single treated wood line post up to

19 degrees. Must meet line post specifications.

• Turns between 20 degrees and 60 degrees angle of change will use a 4-post brace structure design (which is a double H-brace structure that does not share a common post like the 3-post standard H-brace structure).

• Turns over 60 degrees of change will use the 3-post standard H-brace structure.

• Contours in fence line will meet the 1999 Handbook Fences Specifications outlined on page 11.

These must also meet the line post specifications.

• Post spacing will be adjusted appropriately for each contour in the fence.

LINE POSTS

• Line posts will be treated, 5 inches in diameter and 7-8 feet in length. Pointed and blunt. Post will not be cut to expose untreated portions of wood to the soil.

• Line post will be set at a depth of at least 30 inches deep and deeper if needed due to loose soil conditions.

• Post shall be placed firmly in the ground with no slack horizontally and/or movement vertically.

POST AND POLE

• Treated post and pole fence will be used to tie sections of wire fence into existing cattleguards, brace structures, gates, and where steep road embankments would reduce the efficiency of a wire fence. Posts will have a minimum diameter of six inches and rails will have a minimum diameter of four inches. Poles will overlap on the post. Poles will be notched into posts or flattened to provide a snug fit against the post to reduce the potential for the poles to rock loose. See page

188 of Interagency Specifications: Fences (1999).

• Wood posts will be treated, 6 inches in diameter and 7-8 feet in length.

• Treated wood poles will be 4 inches in diameter and 12 feet long.

• Wood posts will be set no more than 11ft apart to leave some structural integrity at end of wood poles where spikes are placed.

• Spikes will be at least 7 inches in length and longer pending the diameter of the posts.

• Rail height will be placed at 18 inches, 30 inches, and 42 inches at center of wood rail.

GATES

• The locations of gates will be flagged by the Forest Service. Gates shall be constructed to the original width and specifications using 4 strands of wire. New gates constructed will be set at

12ft for width.

• The top wire on the gate will be smooth barbless twisted cable wire at 40-42” inches above ground. The second wire will be barbed wire at 28” above ground. The third wire will be barbed wire at 22” above ground. The bottom wire will be smooth barbless twisted cable wire at 16” above ground. Maintain a minimum of 12” between with the top and 2nd wire.

• The ends of the gate shall be attached to treated post braces structures. Rock jacks or rock cribs may also be used. Trees will not be used.

• To tighten wire gates, use 12 ½ gauge wire with 4 foot long, peeled pole or treated pole 2.5 inches to 3 inches diameter on each end. Fasten with around anchoring poles and staple. Attach barbless wire loops to anchoring structures (staple to brace structures) on each end of gate at the top and bottom of the gate end poles. Slip the end poles into the loops in such a manner as to bring the gate tight and level allowing the top wire loop to be dropped over the gate’s end pole.

Leave wires on gate loose enough so that the gate can be closed easily.

WIRE STRETCHING

• Location of stretch points will be determined by topography and the location of brace structures.

• All wires shall be tightened with wire stretchers prior to placement of stays. Wire shall have the slack removed, but not all the stretch removed from the wire. Wire should not be over tight. Error on the side of slightly loose wire rather than too tight.

SPLICING

• When splicing, wire ends shall be wrapped back around wire at least six times and a foot long regarding the wrap.

ROCK JACKS/LINE JACKS

• Brace structures will be placed at the top and bottom of all abrupt breaks in slopes. Brace structures will also be used to anchor both sides of gates, stream crossings, and fence end points.

Rock jacks may be substituted for brace structures. Trees will not be substituted for brace structures or rock jacks.

TREES

• Live trees may not be used in place of posts.

STAPLING

• Staples shall be used in all wood posts and wood stays to hold wire. Staples shall be driven at a slant to prevent the wood from splitting. Staples shall be driven snugly to the wire, but loose enough to allow the wire to slip through the staple when weather related expansion/contraction occurs, or the fence is being tightened. Galvanizing on the wire shall not be nicked or broken due to excessive driving of the staples.

WATER GAPS/STREAM CROSSINGS

• At stream crossings, attach additional structure below the bottom wire using 12 ½ gauge barbless wire. Additional structure can consist of posts, stays, rock hangers, or poles to ensure livestock cannot go under the fence in the stream channel. Adapt the fence structure to fit each unique stream channel and seasonal flow variations.

• All identified perennial streams less than 12ft wide will use wood post and rails sections to contour to the topography.

• Perennial streams more than 12ft wide will have brace structures constructed on each side with wire used to span stream section.

DRAWS AND RIDGELINE CROSSINGS

• When crossing dry draws, all fence strands shall be anchored to heavy rocks or other durable material with 12 ½ gauge barbless (smooth) wire. Rock hangers, in combination with long posts, shall be used in draws. The bottom wire shall be a maximum average of 18 inches from the ground. If the distance is more than 18 inches, more hangers shall be included.

• Downward force at ridgeline crossings may require additional wood posts to maintain 16-18 inches between the ground and the bottom wire.

PROJECT SEQUENCING

• Work will be performed so that all removed sections of fence are closed at the end of each workday to prevent cattle entry into the exclosure area between June 1 and October 31.

• Clear the fence corridor as described.

• Remove damaged wire, posts, bracing, rails, clips, staples and nails.

• Set the brace corner posts, gateposts and all other brace structures.

• Set line posts on a straight line between installed corners and line braces.

• Install wire, stretch wire tightly, and uniformly by section between brace installations.

ACCESS

• Off-Road Vehicles may be used to transport fencing materials and equipment along the project area.

• New access trails shall not be created unless prior approval from agency is confirmed.

• All trails and Level 1 roads used during project construction shall be put back into pre-work site conditions at contractor’s expense.