Native Habitat Contractor Project Description:

The project includes working throughout the proposed disc golf course to improve native habitat for birds and other wildlife, while integrating educational opportunities for visitors. The area slated for the disc golf course was timber harvested within the last decade and the current vegetation is not consistent with the Nature Preserve vision for the site. The work will include approximately 3 acres of native habitat improvements including selective vegetation removal, native vegetation planting, operation and maintenance guidelines, and native habitat education integrated into the roughly 30 acre disc golf course site.

The project includes several components; selective vegetation removal in phases, native vegetation and habitat improvement efforts that align with project goals, creation of operations and maintenance guidelines, and creation of educational materials that will be integrated into the disc golf course signage. The scope requires a robust understanding of selective removal techniques, the creation of bird friendly habitats, and development of educational materials.

The project is located within a small drinking water supply watershed and in a watershed that supports its designated use. The selected contractor must hold minimum requirements designed to protect CCWA’s drinking water supply as well as the nature preserve environment. The Native Habitat Contractor must be familiar and follow all local, state, and federal regulations including those that govern sensitive areas such as riparian corridors and wetlands.

Due to the uneven topography and the limitations on use of heavy equipment, the Native Habitat Contractor shall use equipment specifically suited for herbicide application on uneven terrain and where heavy or motorized equipment is not permitted. Vegetation removal practices should be selective and minimize damage or degradation to surrounding vegetation, soil, or trails.

This project is grant funded and the selected contractor must be familiar with working on grant funded projects. The grant is partially funded by the Clayton County Public Schools and thus includes an emphasis on educational materials that will be integrated into the project and an important component of project success.

Due to the grant timeframe, the work must be performed by December 1, 2027 and develop a plan that maximizes the available budget of $170,000. The Native Habitat Contractor should have sufficient staff to perform the work with in-house staff resources to ensure adherence to schedule.

Minimum Company & Team Qualifications:

The selected Native Habitat Contractor must have the following minimum certifications:

• Georgia Commercial Pesticide Contractor License (company)

• Georgia Commercial Applicator License held by an onsite supervisor when chemical application is being used on the project

• Advanced training for herbicide use by an onsite surpervisor when chemical application is being used on the project. Examples of advanced training could include:

o North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Terrestrial Invasive Plant Management Certificate o National Park Service (NPS) Southeast Coast Invasive Plan Management Team (SEC-IPMT) training for herbicide use o Department of Interior (DOI) Ecologically-Based Invasive Plant Management

• Georgia Forestry Commission Prescribed Fire Managers Certification for supervisory staff or Owner-pre-approved equal. Chainsaw Safety Certification held by an on-site team leader anytime chainsaws are employed o National Park Service (NPS) Non-Wildland Fire Chainsaw Safety Program training certification o Georgia Arborist Association chainsaw training

• Demonstrated knowledge of native and invasive plant species in Georgia through third-party certification. Examples of such demonstrated knowledge include:

o Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance membership o Georgia Native Plant Society Native Plant Habitat certification o University of Georgia Master Gardner certification o University of Georgia Certificate in Native Plants

• Demonstrated knowledge of Georgia birds, bird habitats, and native vegetation to support creation of educational programs through one or more of the following, or equivalent.

o College degree program including native bird identification and bird habitat components o Master Birder designation (One Hundred Miles or other) o Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Academy

The Native Habitat Contractor must also provide three (3) references within the last five (5) years for similar projects in the Piedmont EcoRegion. At least one (1) of the references should be on a grant-funded project.

The Native Habitat Contractor should list the equipment available for use to the project and confirm that the staff resources are available in the project timeframe to successfully complete the project.

Project Scope:

Grant Task 1: Procurement Completion of the procurement and contracting process and participation in a kickoff meeting.

● Billing milestone: Kickoff meeting following procurement

Grant Task 2: Initial Vegetation Survey and Treatment Plan This task includes defining the initial vegetation survey and treatment plan for the 3-acre treatment area that will conform to the 319(h) grant requirements and define the specific treatments used each season. Options for the treatment plan shall consider prescribed burn, manual removal, pre-clearing with a forest rake, and application of herbaceous herbicide or aquatic-labeled herbicides.

The treatment plan will describe the methodology for removal of vegetation for field crews to follow. The treatment of invasive species is expected to vary by season. In the fall and winter, the removal will be largely manual and include both removal (pulling) and trimming/topping with a targeted herbicide application to address the roots. In the spring/summer, herbaceous herbicide will be applied to address emergent invasive vegetation. Given the sensitive environment and proximity to CCWA’s drinking water supply, targeted herbicide applications must be used.

Decisions on vegetation thinning and management should be based on ecoregion, wildlife habitat needs, and the project goals.

The treatment plan will be developed in coordination with CCWA staff, the Huie Nature Preserve Foundation Program Manager, and the Disc Golf Course designer. The disc golf course design (separate from this contract) will employ a forest rake to pre-clear the fairways for the course. The treatment plan and scope include participation by the Native Habitat Contractor to ensure the areas scheduled for pre-clearing support the overall habitat objectives of the program.

The treatment plan will outline processes and procedures to safely manage debris created from woody removal in a manner consistent with project goals.

The treatment procedures will be summarized in the treatment plan and follow all applicable state and local laws. Herbicide will not be applied within any state water quality buffers and no heavy equipment will enter state waters or water quality buffers.

● Billing milestone: Treatment plan memo

Grant Task 3: Initial Invasive Species Treatment The scope of the initial invasive species treatment will be guided by the treatment plan completed in Grant Task 2. The initial treatment will include the following subtasks. These sub-tasks are optimally performed in the Fall/Winter months.

• Forest Rake Pre-Clearing Support: The Native Habitat Contractor will advise on areas for pre-clearing by CCWA using the forest rake (outside the stream buffer), coordinating with McCabe Disc Golf and CCWA personnel to guide the best areas for pre-clearing to maximize invasive species removal and minimize native removal.

• Initial Treatment: The Native Habitat Contractor will use mechanical and chemical removal methods to control target vegetation. Removal methods may include cut-stump, girdling (manual and mechanical), hack-and-squirt, foliar application, and manual removal. The Native Habitat Contractor should be experienced in all of these methods.

Herbicide applications will be consistent with all state laws and outside stream buffer areas. Treatments will target the edge of the cleared areas.

The initial treatment is expected to last approximately 12 days with a crew of 4 to 6 staff. This work will be completed consistent with the treatment plan completed in Task 2. The work performed and its impact will be summarized in a brief memorandum.

● Deliverable: Brief memo summarizing the work performed and its impact.

Grant Task 4: Follow-Up Invasive Species Treatment The Native Habitat Contractor will use mechanical and chemical removal methods to control targeted vegetation though “follow-up” treatment. Herbicide applications will be consistent with all state laws and outside stream buffer areas. Treatments will target the edge of the forest rake pre-cleared areas.

The follow-up treatment is expected to last approximately 11 days with a crew of 4 to 6 staff. This work will be completed consistent with the treatment plan completed in Task 2 and is optimally performed in the late winter/early spring. The work performed and its impact will be summarized in a brief memorandum.

● Deliverable: Brief memo summarizing the work performed and its impact.

Grant Task 5: Final Invasive Species Treatment The Native Habitat Contractor will conduct spot treatments to control any remaining target species. This task will also include developing a list of operations and maintenance (O&M) procedures for maintaining invasive species removal or continuing the invasive species removal beyond the 3 acres included in this project.

The follow-up treatment is expected to last approximately 5 days with a crew of 4 to 6 staff. This work will be completed consistent with the treatment plan completed in Task 2 and is optimally performed in the spring. The work performed and its impact will be summarized in a brief memorandum.

● Deliverable: Brief memo summarizing the work performed and its impact. O&M recommendations for maintenance of removal and additional removal of invasive species.

Grant Task 6: Installation of Appropriate Plants Native to the Piedmont Region The Native Habitat Contractor will install native vegetation including a native seed mix (a minimum of 2 bags), a mixture of native plugs, 1-gallon, 3-gallon, and 5-gallon native shrubs, grasses, and forbs, and woody stakes. The native habitat restoration should closely mimic natural ecosystems, incorporating existing terrain, local ecotype plant species, and existing natural features.

This task includes development of O&M recommendations based on the plant materials and habitat features installed to encourage survival.

Crews of up to 6 staff (typically 4) will spend approximately 7 days on installation.

● Deliverable: Final vegetation survey and impact documented in a brief memo along with O&M procedures for the installed vegetation and habitat.

Grant Task 12: Educational Signage The Native Habitat Contractor will support the development of educational signage. Each of the 18 disc golf holes will be themed based on a native bird or plant species and habitat. The Native Habitat Contractor will provide educational information to CCWA to include through a QR code link (or other preferred method) for 18 different native bird or plant species. The information will be coordinated with the disc golf course designer to be integrated into the signage and marketing for the disc golf course. The educational material emphasize materials will educate golf course visitors on the ecoregion-specific birds, plants, and their habitats for varying educational levels.

The disc golf course is being constructed in partnership with the Clayton County Public Schools and the educational element is an important element.