B.08 Attachment 1 Willamette Valley 2024-2025 Statement of Work.pdf

W9127N-24-2-0001 Attachment 1 – Willamette Valley 2024-2025 Statement of Work

2024-2025 Statement of Work Management of Undesirable Plants on USACE Lands

Willamette Valley Project Lane, Benton, Linn, and Marion Counties, Oregon

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES:

Recipient will assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with the management of undesirable plants on federal lands managed by the Natural Resource Management section associated with the thirteen dams of the Willamette Valley Project (WVP, Project) in Oregon’s Lane, Benton, Linn, and Marion Counties.

1. Coordination

Assist in coordination through participation and leadership in Cooperative Weed Management Areas and other cross-boundary groups to manage undesirable plants from a strategic regional perspective. Manage and coordinate the actions of this Cooperative Agreement with relevant County Weed Boards, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other political subdivisions of the state. Specifically, in the Willamette Valley region, the recipient will coordinate, to the maximum extent possible, in the Upper Willamette Cooperative Weed Management Area and the Willamette Aquatic Invasives Network.

2. Planning Assist in the development of a USACE-approved annual plan of work, identifying target species for inventory and management, prioritizing treatment based on regional plans, site location and level of infestation. Provide consultation to USACE on regional Best Management Practices including Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) targets, quarantine initiatives, biological control releases, and updates to the State Noxious Weed List including new classifications, changes in classification of previously listed species, and delisting of species that have become a lower priority. Work within the scope of the WVP Integrated Vegetation Management Plan.

3. Surveying

Assist with the inventory, survey, monitoring, and/or mapping of exotic, noxious, invasive, or undesirable native vegetation potentially affecting WVP lands and waters. Maps, location descriptions, data and/or GIS information will be provided to USACE Project Natural Resource Section that will aid in the management of areas under Project management.

USACE may provide a USACE-operated vessel for survey activities. Data and vessel access require coordination with the Grants Officer’s Representative (GOR).

In the Willamette Valley, targets for early detection include, but are not limited to:

a. Water primrose (Ludwigia) species. This species is established on the mainstem

Willamette below Eugene. The Long Tom and Amazon drainages have received substantial weed board and Corps funding to eliminate infestations. However, the species is absent from other areas of the watershed. Priority early detection areas include Fern Ridge Lake and the watershed above Eugene including the Coast Fork and Middle Fork Willamette, their tributaries, backwaters, and reservoirs.

b. Similarly, yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) is not found above Eugene, and the waters listed above are high priority for early detection inventory efforts.

c. Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) is among the region’s highest priorities for early detection because of its potential to devastate riparian and reservoir margin habitat. It is so far absent from the Willamette basin.

d. Garden yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), is a high priority for early detection inventory and has limited distribution in the Willamette system. Known from only a few locations in Yamhill and Marion counties on the Willamette River.

4. Implementation

Assist in the implementation of the appropriate integrated treatment method as prescribed or approved by USACE biologists, natural resource specialists, natural resource managers, and coordinated with the GOR. Implementation will be aligned with the Portland District Pesticide Discharge Management Plan (PDMP) (Attachment 7 – Pesticide Discharge Management Plan). Treatments may employ prevention, mechanical, cultural, biocontrol or herbicide methods. Where practicable, biocontrol methods and other effective non-herbicide methods are preferred. USACE may provide a USACE-operated vessel for treatment activities. Vessel access requires coordination with the GOR.

Specific targets in the Willamette Valley Region include:

a. Herbicide treatment of high priority species and sites in the Willamette basin:

i. Meadow knapweed (Centaurea jacea nothossp. pratensis) threatens endangered species populations and requires management around Fern Ridge, Cottage Grove and Dorena Lakes, including in Lane County Road rights-of-way.

ii. Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) is a new invader found at a few sites in Lane and Benton Counties, specifically at Hills Creek and Dexter Lakes and in Lane County’s Pengra Road vicinity.

iii. Water primrose and yellow floating heart, in any reservoir of the WVP, in the Long Tom watershed, and above Eugene.

iv. Any flowering rush discovered in the Willamette basin.

v. Any garden yellow loosestrife discovered in the Willamette basin.

vi. Other invasive species that degrade habitat for Federal and State listed Threatened and

Endangered species, Candidates, Species of Concern, and Heritage Program listed species of similar conservation concern managed by USACE.

b. Biological control activities are the exclusive purview of Oregon Department of

Agriculture. Recipient and USACE will cooperate to identify nursery and release sites for high priority agents including, but not limited to:

i. Giant knotweed psyllids

ii. Knapweed seed and root beetles

iii. Canada thistle rust

iv. Other species based on ODA and USACE discussions.

5. Reporting

If chemical methods are planned during the Period of Performance, an “Anticipated Pesticide Use” report will be submitted by the recipient to the GOR, prior to implementation. An “Actual Pesticide Use” report will then be submitted by the recipient to the GOR by 15 December, outlining the actions completed each year. Templates will be provided by USACE to ensure the required data outlined in the PDMP (Attachment 7) and Oregon State pesticide regulations are included.

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN:

An initial meeting between the recipient and USACE will occur within four (4) weeks of the execution of this Cooperative Agreement. A schedule will be coordinated at that time. Additional ad hoc work within the scope of this Cooperative Agreement may be requested throughout the Period of Performance as needs arise and if funding is available. Additional work will be implemented by a bilateral modification.