EC Tree Clearing Scope of Work.docx

What the DNR is looking for: We are seeking to have all trees, shrubs and vines cut, sheared, mulched or sawed off at ground level and piled in tall, tight piles to be burned. We want all of the live stumps treated with herbicide to prevent them from sprouting. Several of the areas have old fence and random metal objects that we want removed and piled so they can be properly disposed of.

When the project is complete, we should be able to drive wheeled or tracked equipment on the cleared areas without puncturing tires or de-tracking equipment due to high stumps. This will allow us to mulch or mow the weeds while we attempt to establish prairie on these areas.

Task 1: Cut and pile approximately 249 acres of trees, shrubs and vines damaged during the Jones Creek Wildfire. Clearing areas are designated on the attached map as Deciduous in the callout boxes which also included data on the estimated burn severity and estimated acres.

Description: Contractor must clear all woody material greater than 1” in diameter on the large end. To prevent adverse soil impacts and erosion, DNR intends to limit equipment travel on slopes greater than 20% grade. Areas where DNR has determined slopes to exceed 20% grade are shown with red shaded polygon on the attached maps.

1) Requirements for all clearing areas:

a. Earth moving is prohibited which includes practices referred to as grubbing.

b. The above ground portion of all trees, shrubs and vines greater than or equal to 1” in diameter must be cleared.

c. Trees, shrubs and vines (“material”) must be cut or mulched/masticated flush with the ground so no portion of the stump is greater than 1” above the soil surface.

d. Material may be piled within the designated Deciduous clearing areas shown on the attached maps.

e. Material piles must be consistently 15’ tall across the top at minimum and be tightly packed.

f. Contractor shall be responsible for burning piles and must obtain permission from DNR prior to igniting any piles.

g. Equipment ruts made greater than 6” deep must be repaired by Contractor.

h. DNR reserves the right to “save” trees by painting a white band around them at breast height. “Save” trees will remain undamaged and material piles must be located at least 60’ from their boles at the material piles closest point.

i. With the exception of bur oak trees, Contractor must chemically treat all live deciduous tree, shrub and vine stumps within 20 minutes of cutting with an herbicide mixture containing: 50% undiluted glyphosate containing a minimum of 41% active ingredient and labeled for forestry use, 3% aminopyralid containing a minimum of 40.6% active ingredient and labeled for forestry of wildlife management areas use and 47% neutral PH, clean water. DNR must approve all herbicides prior to use.

j. Any metallic material including but not limited to: fence posts, barb wire, woven wire, cattle tanks, car parts and tree stands found within the clearing areas must be accumulated and piled near the lower elevation edges of the clearing areas.

k. DNR will utilize georeferenced PDF maps to share information such as: areas with steep slopes, designated trails, clearing area boundaries and additional information. Contractor must have the ability to read a digital georeferenced map provided by DNR.

2) Slopes less than or equal to 20% grade:

a. Equipment ingress and egress will be concentrated on areas shown on the attached maps as “existing roads”.

3) Slopes greater than or equal to 20% grade:

a. Contractor shall recognize that these areas contain soils with steep slopes that are prone to soil erosion when disturbed. DNR must have this project completed in a manner that controls and reduces the potential for soil erosion to the maximum extent possible.

b. Designated ingress and egress routes on these areas are indicated on the attached maps as “existing roads”.

c. DNR will work with contractor to designate additional ingress and egress routes as they are needed.

d. Equipment operating on these areas shall have a rated ground pressure of less than 6 pounds per square inch (psi). DNR may approve equipment operation with ground pressure in excess of 6 psi with direct, on-site consultation.

What the DNR is looking for: These areas have an excellent chance at becoming diverse prairie remnants once the material is removed and invasive species are treated at a later date. Equipment of any type is not permitted on these areas due to adverse impacts to the soil and remnant prairie plants. Our MO is to hand cut the cedar trees and remove them from areas like these with tractor mounted, skidding winches. This process results in much faster healing of the prairies as ground disturbance is minimized.

Task 2: Cut, remove and pile approximately 102 acres of trees, shrubs and vines (here in referred to as “material”) damaged during the Jones Creek Wildfire. Clearing areas are designated on the attached map as Cedar in the callout boxes which also included data on the estimated burn severity and estimated acres. The majority of material in these areas is eastern red cedar trees.

1) Requirements for clearing:

a. Contractor shall recognize that these are likely to be ecologically diverse areas that DNR wants to preserve and restore to the maximum extent possible.

b. Only workers and hand held equipment are permitted on these areas.

c. Mechanized equipment of any type is prohibited on these areas.

d. Contractor shall cut all material that is greater than or equal to 1” in diameter at 4.5’ from the ground with a chainsaw or other hand help cutting device.

e. Material stumps must be cut flush with the ground so that no portion of the stump is greater than 1” above the soil surface. If the material stump is on a steep hill, then the material stump must be cut flush with the soil surface on the high side of the hill only.

f. Contractor must chemically treat all live deciduous material stumps within 20 minutes of cutting with an herbicide mixture containing: 50% undiluted glyphosate with a minimum of 41% active ingredient and labeled for forestry use, 3% aminopyralid with a minimum of 40.6% active ingredient and labeled for forestry or wildlife management areas use and 47% neutral PH, clean water. DNR must approve all herbicides prior to use.

g. Contractor shall remove all cut material from these areas with a winching or strapping system, collect the material and pile the material in the areas label as Deciduous in the callouts of the attached maps.

h. Material piles must be consistently 15’ tall across the top at minimum and be tightly packed.

i. Contractor shall be responsible for burning piles and must obtain permission from DNR prior to igniting any piles.

j. Any metallic material including but not limited to: fence posts, barb wire, woven wire, cattle tanks, car parts and tree stands found within the clearing areas must be accumulated and piled near the lower elevation edges of the Deciduous clearing areas.

k. DNR will utilize georeferenced PDF maps to share information such as: areas with steep slopes, designated trails, clearing area boundaries and additional information. Contractor must have the ability to read a digital georeferenced map provided by DNR.