B08_-_SOW_-_herbicide_package.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Santee National Wildlife Refuge 2125 Fort Watson Rd Summerton, SC 29148

Scope of Work and Performance Work Statement

Invasive Species Control Project (2026)

Primary POC: Brett Craig, Refuge Manager

Jason_craig@fws.gov 843-754-6096

Project summary:

The project is located on Santee National Wildlife Refuge in Clarendon, SC. Completion of this project will result in everlasting improvements in invasive species control, and habitat management.

Summary of herbicide treatment

- 257 acre treatment area of herbicide application by aerial or watercraft on Dingle Pond, Santee NWR

Scope of Work

Overview:

Completion of this herbicide application should reduce overall invasive species by 95%, replace 95% of all non-native invasive vegetation with desirable vegetation, and greatly improve control. Once completed, the resulting vegetation structure should be such to create optimum wildlife habitat conditions and improve refuge visitor wildlife viewing opportunities.

Stand specific treatment:

The treatment will involve the application of aquatically approved imazamox as an active ingredient, provided by the contractor, at a rate of 2 quartz per acre applied to ensure complete coverage of undesirable species on the treatment area. Herbicide application contractors will be fully licensed, bonded, and insured in South Carolina.

mailto:Jason_craig@fws.gov

• Aquatic herbicides with imazamox as active ingredients are approved for use.

• All areas of desirable live oak and other native hardwood dominated hammocks scattered around the project site are to be excluded from all operations.

• All cattail, cutgrass, water hyacinth, alligator weed, parrots feather and Chinese tallow tree located with the treatment area will be herbicide treated.

• Contractor is responsible for transport of all equipment, herbicides, adjuvants, and water to and from the project site.

• Contractor will ensure that all applicators have labeled Personal Protective

Equipment.

• Refuge manager will provide a shapefile defining the boundaries of the project.

• All contracted personnel will pay close attention to avoid harm to curious Refuge visitors that may wander into the area of operations.

• Operations will be suspended if weather conditions are such to cause damage to access roads and trails and/or reduce herbicide efficacy.

• Refuge Manager have the authority to halt operations anytime for unfavorable weather, damage to non-target vegetation, or non-cooperative operators.

• Contractor shall be responsible for repairing any damage done to gates, fences, access roads, signs, structures, and any other infrastructure.

• Refuge Biologists and Refuge Managers shall monitor all operations with frequent, on-site inspections.

• No littering will be tolerated and all garbage, including empty herbicide and adjuvant containers, food waste, and other materials must be removed daily.

• All bids should be based on treatment price per acre, knowing that exact acreages of various treatments will differ somewhat within the project area.

• All operations should follow South Carolina’s Best Management Practices for

Forestry as minimum standards for environmental protection (best-management-practices-manual.pdf (scfc.gov)).

• All bids should be based on treatment price per acre, as there will be a not to exceed amount of funding for the total project.

Period of Performance:

All herbicide applications may be completed during the period of August 1, 2026 through September 30, 2026 or June 1, 2027 through September 30, 2027. This period may be extended due to unforeseen circumstances related to weather and other variables, as approved by the Refuge Managers and contracting officer.

https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/best-management-practices-manual.pdf https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/best-management-practices-manual.pdf https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/best-management-practices-manual.pdf