B08_-_PWS_Erie_Montezuma_Cooperative_Herbicide_Spraying_FY25_doc.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge 3395

US Route 20 East

Seneca Falls, New York 13148-9778

Erie National Wildlife Refuge

11296 Wood Duck Lane Guys Mills, PA, 16327

814-580-9983

March 14, 2025

Performance Work Statement

Montezuma and Erie National Wildlife Refuge Common Reed (Phragmites australis) aerial Herbicide Application

I. Site Description:

A. This contract covers locations at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (Seneca Falls, NY) and Erie National Wildlife Refuge (Guys Mills, PA).

1. Target Species for Control: Common reed (Phragmites australis)

2. Management Goal: Provide high quality freshwater emergent marsh habitat dominated by native plants for waterbirds.

B. Site Descriptions are as follows:

1. Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge:

i. Location: Hidden Marsh on the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is in the Galen, Wayne County, NY. It is the emergent marsh north of Armitage Rd. and west of Hogback Rd.

ii. Site Description (1 site): The Hidden Marsh is an impounded wetland with no continuous outflow. The water level in most of the unit ranges from 1 – 2’ deep; it is shallower where the Phragmites is growing. The dominant plant in the unit is cattail (Typha spp.). The dominant plant in the treatment area is Phragmites.

2. Erie National Wildlife Refuge:

i. Location: Mill Marsh and Cooper’s Marsh are located just outside of the town of Guys Mills, PA. Mill Marsh is an emergency marsh located north of State Route 1018 (Guys Mills Road) and west of Hanks Road. Cooper’s Marsh is located to the southeast of south of State Route 1018 and east of Cooper Road. Both of these locations are within a 5-minute drive from the Refuge’s headquarters located at 11296 Wood Duck Lane, Guys Mills, PA 16327.

ii. Site Access: The northern half of Mill Marsh can be accessed from a Refuge parking area and wooded path located approximately 500’ east off of Hanks Road. The southern half of the unit can be accessed from Guys Mills Road near the culvert located on its southeast corner. Cooper’s Marsh can be accessed via an access road/dike located at the north end of the unit off Guys Mills Road, and is also accessible from fields located to the west and east of the unit.

iii. Site Description (2 sites):

a. Mill Marsh is a complex of emergent marsh and wooded swamp and flows north, into Woodcock Creek. The marsh features a beaver dam at its north end. The water level in most of the unit ranges from 1 – 4’ deep; it is shallower where common reed is growing. The marsh is quite hummocky, with pockets of water between hummocks. The dominant plants in the upper portion of the unit are cattail (Typha spp.), while the southern portion of the unit is dominated by both cattail and common reed.

b. Cooper’s Marsh is an impounded wetland and has a managed outflow that also flows north, across State Route 1018, eventually linking to the outflow of Mill Marsh to flow into Woodcock Creek. Cooper’s Marsh is a complex of emergent marsh and floating peatbog habitat at its north end and shrub swamp/bog habitat at its south end. The dominant plants in the unit are cattail (Typha spp.), three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum) and Sphagnum spp.

Phragmites was discovered growing in the unit in fall of 2024, and is currently limited to several isolated patches near the center of the unit.

II. Treatment Description:

A. Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge:

1. Treatment Objective: Spray all of the Phragmites australis patches in the interior of the 550-acre Hidden Marsh for a total of approximately 130 acres. See attached map for approximate locations of Phragmites patches within the marsh.

2. Application Technique: foliar.

3. Pesticide/Surfactant: Aquatic-approved herbicide with 53.8% glyphosate active ingredient such as RoundUp Custom with LI-700 or similar aquatic-approved nonionic surfactant.

4. Use of a marking dye is allowed and encouraged. Dye must be safe for aquatic application.

5. Refuge will provide herbicide, surfactant, and dye.

6. Contractor will mix all chemicals.

7. Application will be at a rate consistent with the herbicide label for controlling common reed (e.g., 2 – 3.75 quarts per acre).

8. Staging area is available on site.

9. Treatment must occur at a maximum height of 3 meters above target species to ensure precision.

10. Treatment must not impact the integrity of the wetland (e.g. use equipment that would impact surface tension and native plants are not trampled)

11. Treatment Date: August 1, 2025 – September 20, 2025. Exact date must be coordinated with refuge staff.

12. The contractor is responsible for re-treating if rain occurs within six

(6) hours of the original treatment

B. Erie National Wildlife Refuge:

1. Treatment Objective: Spray Phragmites australis patches in the lower two-thirds of Mill Marsh, an area covering up to 20 acres. Spraying of Phragmites australis patches in up to 5 acres within Cooper’s Marsh.

2. Application Technique: foliar

3. Pesticide/Surfactant: Aquatic-approved herbicide with 53.8% glyphosate active ingredient, limited to AquaNeat or Rodeo. Use of a marking dye is allowed and encouraged. Dye must be safe for aquatic application.

i. Refuge will provide herbicide, surfactant, and dye.

ii. Contractor will mix all chemicals.

4. Application will be at a rate consistent with the limitations outlined in the Refuge’s programmatic pesticide use proposal (e.g., 1.5 lbs. a.e per acre).

5. Water source and staging area are available on site.

6. Treatment must occur at a maximum height of 3 meters above target species to ensure precision.

7. Treatment must not impact the integrity of the wetland (e.g. use equipment that would impact surface tension and native plants are not trampled)

8. Treatment Date: August 1, 2025 – September 20, 2025. Exact date must be coordinated with refuge staff to manage public use in area.

9. The contractor is responsible for re-treating if rain occurs within six (6) hours of the original treatment.

III. Contractor Requirements:

A. Contractor must possess a valid commercial pesticide applicator license issued by:

1. Contractor must possess all applicable federal and/or state licenses for pesticide/herbicide application for the delivery method selected for PA and NY.

B. Contractor must provide:

1. Contact information, including names, addresses, and phone numbers for at least three references from herbicide applications completed in the last three years.

2. A performance guarantee including an estimated percent control one-year post-treatment. The contractor is expected to achieve a minimum of 85% kill of common reed within the specified treatment area. Percent control will be assessed by Refuge staff in July 2026.

3. Per acre cost estimate based on a site visit for the above-described work including all personnel, equipment, materials, transportation, clean-up, and documentation costs.

4. Resumes or CVs for personnel who will be doing the work must be provided with bid.

5. Contractor supplies all personnel and equipment in order to provide a "service" or "end-result."

6. Contractor is required to demonstrate to the government that the equipment can capture can fulfill the herbicide spraying in the project description.

7. Equipment must be in compliance with the Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manufactured or Assembled by American Security Drone Act-Covered Foreign Entities (Nov 2024).

IV. Deliverables to the Refuge Biologists by September 30, 2026:

A. a final map identifying all areas sprayed (e.g., in jpg or pdf format), B. a shapefile of the exact area treated to include each individual spot treatment and not just the flight paths, and C. a report listing the total amount of chemical used, and date(s) of application.

Report must show:

1. total gallons of pesticide used,

2. total gallons of surfactant used,

3. total gallons of dye used,

4. total gallons of mix used (i.e., water, pesticide, surfactant, and dye combined),

5. gallons of pesticide used per acre sprayed

6. gallons of surfactant used per acre sprayed

7. gallons of dye used per acre sprayed

8. gallons of mix used per acre sprayed

D. 95% spray coverage and phragmites kill off must be attained in the wetlands without ground disturbance or mechanical disturbance that would effect the integrity of the marsh

V. To request a site visit contact

- Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge: Linda Chorba Ziemba, Wildlife Biologist, at

(315) 406-0052 or Linda_Ziemba@fws.gov

- Erie National Wildlife Refuge: Yianni Laskaris, Wildlife Biologist, at (814) 408-5553 or john_laskaris@fws.gov

VI. Bids will be evaluated based on past performance, performance guarantee, price, and qualifications of operators.

mailto:Linda_Ziemba@fws.gov mailto:john_laskaris@fws.gov

Map of Erie Units will be provide upon request.