Herbicide_SOW_Necedah_NWR.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Herbicide Treatment of Soapwort at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

(FY2023 - FY2026)

PR Number:______________

1. General:

1.1. Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (N11385 Headquarters Rd. Necedah, WI 54646) is proposing herbicide treatment of soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). Soapwort rapidly forms dense monocultures and is an emerging invasive species threat. Soapwort has been identified near infrastructure such as roadsides, dike tops, and dams at NNWR. Targeted efforts towards controlling soapwort on roadsides which bound management units could prevent its further expansion into interior portions of management units and maintain existing native plant communities. The vendor will provide the services of spraying herbicide and tracking associated geospatial data while the refuge will provide reconnaissance of target areas and herbicide. This work is expected to occur initially on high priority roads, dikes, and dams within the refuge, after which lower priority roads, dikes, and dams occurring within the refuge may be treated depending upon funding capacity. The priority areas for the 2023 field season are shown on the attached map. These specific roads, dike tops, dams, and dam roads are areas where soapwort is most abundant. This reduction of soapwort could yield the highest proportion of recovered habitat and allow fire breaks to be controlled by mowing. Other roads which run through the refuge may additionally be treated after the priority areas have the desired outcome. The lifespan of this funding is allocated for FY 2023-2026. This initial strategy for eradication is expected to occur during FY 2023. In FY 2024 through FY 2026, soapwort treatment will continue and 1) previously treated areas may be re-treated if needed, and 2) new priority areas may be identified and treated if the project coordinator determines soapwort has expanded to new dikes, dams, dam roads, roadsides, or management units.

1.2. Many vegetation communities within the refuge’s Habitat Management Plan (HMP) cite a low frequency of exotic species presence as one metric to quantify meeting habitat objectives.

Eradicating soapwort, ranked by the HMP as a high priority exotic species, would reduce competition for native plant species. Native plant species serve many refuges purposes such as 1) habitat and forage for pollinators, birds, and arthropods, 2) increased aesthetic value in publicly accessible portions of the refuge, and 3) maintain the natural character of the refuge. The refuge aims to reduce soapwort abundance by ≥ 50% to meet our objective.

1.3. The contractor shall have all necessary certifications and endorsements to legally perform commercial herbicide application. The contractor and refuge staff will ensure safety, accessibility to PPE, and necessary training pursuant to USFWS Policy 242 FW 7.

1.4. The contractor shall comply with 1) FWS policies regarding the use of pesticide on federal lands,

2) all state statutes regarding pesticide application, namely those occurring in Chapter 94.67-715 and, 3) all Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection regulations for commercial pesticide application, including category 6.0 regulations pertaining specifically to right-of-way and natural areas.

2. Place of Performance and Period of Performance:

2.1. The contractor will apply herbicide within the boundary of Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, N11385 Headquarters Rd. Necedah, WI 54646-8289. See attached map for Field Season 2023 locations.

2.2. Work is expected to occur during the 2023-2026 field seasons, from approximately May to August of each year. Limitations to the work will be dictated by safe operating conditions required for herbicide application, such as wind speeds < 10 mph or periods of no rainfall projected after application.

2.3. Normal duty hours Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. In the event of emergencies, Contractor shall provide contact information.

2.4. Non-duty hours include weeknights and Government holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King JR.'s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day).

3. Scope:

3.1. The project lead will coordinate with the contractor windows of opportunity, target areas, and any site-specific requirements. The contractor shall spray herbicide on all soapwort plants occurring in the identified areas and adhere to local, state, and federal regulations regarding the safe and effective mixing and application of herbicide. The contractor will apply herbicide using a mixture of spot spraying and broadcast application. Spot spraying will be completed with backpack sprayers and occur in areas of low to moderate soapwort abundance, or where single plants are interspersed with non-target species. Broadcast application will occur using a vehicle mounted boom sprayer or similar broadcast spray device in areas where soapwort has formed dense mats, or where there are few non-target species interspersed between many soapwort plants. The contractor shall ensure appropriate training of their staff in the identification and spraying of soapwort and ensure safe working conditions. The contractor shall not use any pesticides which have not been previously approved for use on refuge lands using the USFWS Pesticide Use Proposal System. The contractor shall document, to the acceptability of refuge staff, the locations where herbicide applications occurred.

4. Deliverables and/or Delivery Schedule:

4.1. The required deliverables will be the application of herbicide to soapwort-infested areas to the satisfaction of refuge staff, with treated plants identifiable by an herbicide dye. If necessary, the contractor shall use adjuvants to increase the surface adherence of herbicide to plants.

4.2. The contractor shall provide either paper or digital maps denoting areas where herbicide was sprayed, and refuge staff shall ensure that the acreage sprayed is noted within the Pesticide Use Reporting conducted at the end of the calendar year.

5. Data Management Plan:

5.1. The current framework used by the FWS for herbicide application will apply during this work.

The project lead will establish which chemical(s) is/are being used and submit a Pesticide Use Proposal prior to the application of herbicide. The project lead will then ensure that an accurate Pesticide Use Report is provided after the completion of the field season and prior to any outstanding FWS reporting deadline. The geospatial data provided by the contractor will be used to aid the end-of-year report required by the funding source.

6. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFS)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI):

6.1. The USFWS will supply all necessary herbicide and/or adjuvants. The contractor will provide the spraying equipment, PPE to employees, and transportation to and from the work site, and labor.

7. Evaluation and Acceptance:

7.1. The contractor will be evaluated as detailed herein. Government acceptance is contingent upon:

1) successfully applying predetermined herbicides to previously identified areas, 2) appropriate mixing of herbicide and any necessary adjuvants in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation, 3) application of herbicide to the satisfaction of refuge staff, and 4) adherence to all federal, state, and local regulations regarding the safe application of herbicide on federal lands.

7.2. The contractor will continue to work on this project until A) funds are depleted and no longer available or B) soapwort is eradicated to the satisfaction of the project coordinator. Annually, we expect approximately 30 acres to be treated. Final reporting will comply with all federal regulations designated in the Pesticide Use Reporting system which include estimated acres treated, and the herbicide used and quantity. The BIL funding report will also include similar acreage estimates, herbicide used and quantity, geospatial information, report how funds were allocated for the dispersed funds, and include any additional requirements for BIL project reporting.

8. Quality Control/Quality Assurance:

8.1. To ensure best management practices, all equipment brought on to the refuge for spraying or offroad travel purposes will be inspected by refuge staff to control transport of invasive species.

The contractor shall remove debris and plant material to ensure that all equipment/vehicles brought on to refuge have been decontaminated.

8.2. Refuge staff will visually inspect any new equipment/vehicles brought on to the refuge prior to spraying.

9. Technical Coordinator:

9.1. Primary technical coordinator contact information:

Quanit Ali Wildlife Biologist Necedah National Wildlife Refuge N11385 Headquarters Rd.

Necedah, WI 54646 O: (608)-565-4421 C: (608)-472-9205

9.2. Co-coordinator contact information:

Brad Strobel Wildlife Biologist Necedah National Wildlife Refuge N11385 Headquarters Rd.

Necedah, WI 54646 O: (608)-565-4402 C: (608)-377-3965

SH

SH 21

5t h

Av e

6t h

Av e

9th St

4th St

Be w ic k

R d

7t h

Av e

16th St W

Speedway Rd Turkey Track Rd

Coaver Rd

W illi am s

R d

Ea st

D ik e R d

20th St (Grand Dike Rd)

Camp Rd

Pool 29 Rd

18th Street

Pool 19 Rd

Goose Pool Rd

5th St

12th St

8t h

Av e

11th St

9t h

Av e

Suk Cerney Rd

Shortcut Rd

Hanson Rd

Becker Rd

Rogers Pool

Parham Rd

Iro nt op R d

O

SR

C arpenter R d

M id dl e

C an fie ld

T ra il

M id dl e

S- R

D itc h Tr ai l

O

SR 5

PR 17 Trail

Sprague Dike Rd

DU Unit 4

DU 6 Rd

PR 20

D U

U ni t 7 E

Dam #2 Rd

D U

U nit 7 W

7th Ave

Hanson Rd

7t h

Av e

Source: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS

Legend NNWR Boundary

2nd Tier Priority

DU 6 Rd

Dam #1 Rd

Dam #2 Rd

Headquarters Rd

Suk Cerney Access Rd

Suk Cerney Dike Rd

0 4.5 92.25 Miles

This map depicts the FY 2023 treatment areas for soapwort on refuge. This map reflects the prioritized areas where soapwort will be sprayed using herbicide. Either side of roads may be treated and the final areas sprayed should be represented and reported as polygons created from post-treatment evaluations.

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Necedah National Wildlife Refuge FY 2023 Herbicide Treatment Priorities

SH 21

7th Ave

Headquarters R d

O

SR

20th St (Grand Dike Rd)

Dam #1 Rd

OSR 5

East D ike R d

OSR 5/6 Road

DU 1 Rd

W illi am s

R d

DU 5 Rd

Laske Rd

DU Unit 4

D U

6 R d

D U

U ni t 7 E

Parham R d

Dam #2 Rd

Suk Cerney Rd

D U

U nit 7 W

Bow Shoot

To w er R d

Su k

Ce rn ey D ike R d

DU 6 Rd

20th St (G rand D ike R d)

D am

R d

Source: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS

Legend NNWR Boundary

2nd Tier Priority

DU 6 Rd

Dam #1 Rd

Dam #2 Rd

Headquarters Rd

Suk Cerney Access Rd

Suk Cerney Dike Rd

0 0.85 1.70.425 Miles

This map depicts the FY 2023 treatment areas for soapwort on refuge. This map reflects the prioritized areas where soapwort will be sprayed using herbicide. Either side of roads may be treated and the final areas sprayed should be represented and reported as polygons created from post-treatment evaluations.

Ñ

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge FY 2023 Herbicide Treatment Priorities