RFP_MCS_WetlandRestoration_Oct26.docx

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE SOUTH LAKE CWSP METTAWEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL/MERCK WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT OVERSIGHT - WEST PAWLET

Please submit proposals to:

Contact Information: South Lake Champlain (SLC) CWSP; Hilary Solomon and Emily Friedman

Project Name: Mettawee Community School Wetland Restoration Implementation – West Pawlet Project ID number: 14724 Project Location: Mettawee River Watershed, Town of Pawlet Project Type: Wetland Restoration Project Stage: Project Implementation Funds Available: $6,449.70

Project Summary The South Lake CWSP is interested in hiring a consultant to oversee implementation of a wetland restoration project. The project area includes two adjacent properties in West Pawlet, Vermont: The Mettawee Community School (MCS) and a parcel owned by the Merck Forest and Farmland Center (Merck) where Vermont Land Trust holds a conservation easement. The site is actively used for education and recreation, with a new boardwalk installed in 2025 to improve student access to the wetland.

The project is based on a complete (100%) final design developed by Arrowwood Environmental (AE) who were contracted to the South Lake Champlain Clean Water Service Provider. The design is informed by a field site assessment conducted in July 2025, and engagement with key stakeholders including MCS staff, and identifies key restoration priorities for improving wetland habitat and enhancing water quality. Importantly, the proposed wetland restoration project is designed to integrate with the recently created boardwalk and accommodates the needs of students, teachers and staff. All permits have been acquired or are in the final stages of approval.

Implementation will focus on restoring approximately 3.35 acres of a wetland and riparian buffer area through native tree and shrub plantings, with targeted site preparation practices, including invasive plant removal, designed to support and improve planting success.

Project Description This project includes:

· Coordinating with the CWSP to finalize the planting plan, source materials including native trees and shrubs, and issue RFPs for site preparation and project installation,

· Ensuring that the site preparation and installation meets the standards and specifications of the design plan by Arrowwood Environmental, and that the contractor hired by the South Lake CWSP completes to the best of their ability:

· Excavation of the site and herbicide application for control and remediation of woody and herbaceous non-native invasive species (NNIS);

· Installation of a native plant garden, in conjunction with students;

· Planting of approximately 3.35 acres using a mix of bareroot trees, shrubs, and live stakes at a planting density of 500 stems per acre;

· Deployment of protective measures for trees including tree tubes and spiral guards; and

· Providing long-term NNIS treatment at the project site at established intervals.

· The hired consultant, in consultation with the CWSP project managers, will help with all project details, as requested, including procurement of subcontractor(s) and technical support to the CWSP,

· The hired consultant will be responsible for communicating with the subcontractor(s) to ensure that the project is installed according to the plan and/or is installed to maximize the intended functionality and design life of the project.

The goals of this project also include:

· Hired consultant, CWSP project managers, and other project partners will liaise with Merck Forest & Farmland Center and the Mettawee Community School to plan the timing of implementation of the project. Partners may assist with traffic control, etc, if needed.

· The hired consultant and CWSP project managers will use accepted DEC tools, such as the DEC Stormwater Treatment Practice Calculator and will need to understand any potential deviations from the design plans that occur,

· Additionally, the CWSP will manage, track, and report the results of this project per DEC requirements and may require information about installation details and/or phosphorous calculations to do so.

Applicable Milestones from the 2023 CWIP Funding Policy:

These milestones are the responsibility of all project partners working together.

· 10 year (minimum) DEC Operations and Maintenance (O & M) Plan signed by O & M responsible parties (Merck Forest and Farmland Center and the Mettawee Community School) with the Basin 2/4 CWSP).

· Project initiated: proposal/bid solicitations issued, pre-bid site visits and contractor selected/contracted.

· Required permits secured.

· Pre-construction kick-off meeting, walk through of the site with plans, evaluate needs/issues/considerations for plan adjustments.

· Clean Water Project Sign installed during construction (project is considered publicly visible).

· Other permit-required activities completed or elements installed as applicable (none required)

· VDHP Review (completed)

· Return of Clean Water Project sign to host site.

· Project complete Applicable Deliverables from the 2023 CWIP Funding Policy:

In addition to the deliverables already completed by the CWSP, we may need help with the following:

· Documentation of permits needed/proof they are not needed,

· As-built drawings with a list of change orders describing adjustments made during construction,

· Photos of the site as the infiltration practice is constructed (at key stages of construction), and including a photo with the Clean Water Project Sign,

· Media Announcement,

· Final Performance Report or ANR Online Clean Water Project – Project Closeout

BIDS

Bids shall be electronically submitted via email, clearly marked, and sent to hilary@pmnrcd.org and emily@rutlandrpc.org by 7:00 PM on 10/9/2026.

Site visits, though not required, can be planned. Please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in visiting, and we will set up a site visit with you.

All bids, upon submission, become the property of the South Lake CWSP. The expense of preparing, submitting, and presenting a bid is the sole responsibility of the contractor. The South Lake CWSP retains the right to reject any and all bids received, to negotiate with any qualified source, or to cancel in part or in its entirety this RFP as in the best interest of the CWSP, project partners, or the landowner. This solicitation in no way obligates the CWSP to award a contract. Bid openings will not be open to the public for in-person viewing.

Bids should include:

· A brief description of similar projects completed by the bidder;

· Project Budget: A budget should include staff time and expenses calculated with as much transparency as possible. Please include as much information as necessary to show itemized costs and include budget narratives, if needed.

Please include names and billable rates for staff listed in the budget, as well as hourly rates and estimated number of hours for equipment to be used in the project;

· It is helpful if the budget reflects the deliverables listed above.

BID EVALUATION CRITERIA:

· Completeness of proposal

· Qualifications of proposer

· Experience with similar projects

· Knowledge of the site

· Clarity of the budget Bids will be evaluated by CWSP staff and board members. Input may be received from the Merck Forest and Farmland Center and the Mettawee Community School.

TIMELINE

9/23/2026 – Request for Bids emailed and publicly posted 10/9/2026 @ 7:00 PM EST – Bid Proposals Due 10/21/2026 – Contractor Notification 11/10/2026 – Kick-off and Scoping Site Visit to be completed no later than this date (unless the project partners agree).

11/30/2028 – Project completion including listed milestones and performance measures.

CONTRACTING PROVISIONS

This project will be funded wholly or in part by the South Lake CWSP FY24 Formula Grant. Invoices will be submitted to the Rutland RPC and payments are generally within 45 days of invoice receipt.

The South Lake CWSP will not be considered liable or obligated to the selected consultant(s) for all phases of this project (specifically work that is planned but uncompleted), however, we may choose to hire the consultant that wins this bid award for future stages of project work.

All contractors, and any sub-contractors, must comply with applicable laws, statues, ordinances, rules, regulations, and/or requirements of federal, state, and local governments and agencies thereof, which relate to or in any manner affect the performance of this agreement. Those requirements imposed upon the South Lake

CWSP, as a recipient of federal funds, are thereby passed along to the contractor and any subcontractors.

Contractors shall not assign or subcontract any portion of the awarded contract to another party without the prior written permission of the South Lake CWSP. If approved, subcontractors must also adhere with all the terms of the agreed upon contract. All contractors and sub-contractors must comply with all pertinent federal, state and local laws, affirm to being an equal opportunity employer with an affirmative action plan, and must carry adequate insurance coverage, both for the benefit of PMNRCD and Rutland RPC (not less than $1,000,000 single occurrence general and professional liability; $2,000,000 aggregate, and workers compensation insurance).

No warranty is made that these coverage amounts and limits are sufficient to cover the interests of the contractor, but instead act as minimum amounts required for contract award. It is further stated that per best practices, a good-faith effort to obtain services from disadvantaged business enterprises will be made.

Prior to project start, we will need a copy of the COI with PMNRCD and Rutland RPC listed as additional insured and a current W-9.

ATTACHMENTS

Arrowwood Environmental - Mettawee Restoration Plan 100% Arrowwood Environmental - 100% Design Memo -

Introduction The South Lake Champlain (SLC) Clean Water Service Provider (CWSP) has retained Arrowwood Environmental (AE) to deliver a Final Design for a wetland and floodplain restoration project located in Pawlet, VT.

This memo addresses the 100% Design project milestone. Components of the 100% design and this accompanying memo include:

· Accompanying documents:

· Annotated plan view of existing site conditions and existing vegetative conditions.

· Annotated plan view of proposed restoration conditions. This includes restoration details and planting plan for all components of the proposed restoration.

· Draft 10-year (minimum) access license & DEC Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan.

· Documentation of support/commitment from O&M responsible party and landowner.

· Memo components:

· Field Survey Results

· General description of proposed restoration practices

· Anticipated cost estimates for project implementation

· Phosphorus reduction numbers Background The designed restoration project addresses a stream and wetland system that spans two properties in Pawlet, VT: The Mettawee Community School (MCS), and a parcel owned by the Merck Forest & Farmland Center (Merck). Vermont Land Trust owns an easement on the Merck property.

The Merck property is used by students and teachers at MCS, and a new boardwalk was constructed in the summer of 2025 to facilitate access by students to the wetland and the Merck property beyond. The proposed wetland restoration project is designed to integrate with the boardwalk and accommodate the needs of MCS students, teachers, and staff.

Field Survey Results A field study was conducted on July 9th, 2025. During this site visit AE ecologists spoke with MCS staff and assessed the site for restoration needs. Key findings that influenced chosen restoration practices include:

· The stream is not incised and already has a high level of connectivity to its floodplain. Additionally, there is already dead and dying wood in and near the stream. Therefore, Re: 100% Design for the South Lake CWSP Mettawee Community School/Merck Wetland Restoration project.

April 22, 2026 the stream would not benefit from significant berm removal or other practices to increase floodplain connectivity.

· Hydrology is not significantly impaired within the project area, and the site already contains multiple anthropogenic ponds. Therefore, the site would not benefit from additional shallow scrapes or other similar practices.

· Native plant diversity and establishment is strong in many places. Some places show strong tree and shrub recruitment, while much of the site would benefit from the cessation of brush-hogging and supplemental plantings.

· The pond is lacking habitat diversity and could benefit from woody material additions.

· Non-native invasive species (NNIS) have a heterogeneous distribution across the project area. A few large swaths are dominated by reed canary grass, which is inhibiting the regeneration of native-woody species. Other NNIS (such as purple loosestrife, goutweed, and multiflora rose) are scattered throughout.

Key site conditions affecting restoration practices are shown on the associated Existing Site Conditions and Existing Vegetative Conditions maps.

Restoration Practices – General Description Site restoration will center on native tree and shrub plantings, with targeted supplemental practices designed to support planting success, control NNIS, improve habitat quality and provide additional educational opportunities. Direct hydrologic manipulation will not occur in the wetland. Included in the 100% plan are two designs for an optional native plant welcome garden located at the new boardwalk entrance. The project has been designed to be self-sustaining in the long term, with limited follow-up maintenance required in the first few years to ensure success.

Each restoration practice is presented on the attached Restoration Plan map and described below in the order in which they should be initiated.

Well & 100’ Well Offset Zone Summary:

· MCS requested that no restoration activities occur within 100’ of their water supply well.

· All contractors should be made aware of this before beginning work on the property.

· Wooden stakes or some other marker should be installed prior to any restoration activities to make this boundary clear.

· Maintenance within this area is at the discretion MCS.

Cost:

$0.00 This is a continuation of current management practices and zero cost is assumed.

Brush Hog Every Other Year Zone Summary:

· Area of high-quality native plant meadow adjacent to the athletic field.

· Discretional management by MCS.

· Suggested to maintain as meadow by brush hogging every other year, or as conditions allow.

Description:

South of the MCS athletic field is an area of meadow that supports a particularly diverse suite of native herbaceous species including common milkweed. This area is currently managed with brush hogging on a semi-regular basis. Brush hogging should continue here for a 2-year interval to maintain the current habitat diversity. Mowing could cease in the future if desired. If so, the area should be monitored and treated for any NNIS species that may establish.

Cost:

$0.00 This is a continuation of current management practices and zero cost is assumed.

Site Prep/Maintenance NNIS Treatment: Existing Tree/Shrub Zone Summary:

· 1-5% cover of NNIS shrubs is present in areas of existing trees and shrubs in the project area.

· Treatments that include herbicides are most cost effective and successful.

· Coordinate timing and methods with MCS principal and Merck.

· Work with a qualified contractor for herbicide treatments (options provided in cost estimate section).

· Mechanical removal or repeated cuttings without herbicide application are options but are less likely to be successful without dedicated and ongoing follow-up management.

· Initiate treatment as soon as possible, ideally before restoration planting begins.

· Follow-up treatments should be conducted annually for 2 years, with periodic additional follow-up treatments as needed.

Description:

The areas of existing trees and shrubs have 1%-5% cover of NNIS woody shrubs including honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus), and multi-flora rose (Rosa multiflora). Additional NNIS species may be present.

If possible, management of these woody NNIS should be initiated prior to restoration planting. Herbicide is the most cost-effective and successful method of treating woody NNIS species, but care should be taken to follow methods that pose minimal harm to nearby native species and that align with any safety considerations of MCS. The timing and methods of treatment must be coordinated with the MCS principal and Merck.

Common methods include targeted foliar spray or cutting and applying herbicide to the stump. The cut/dab stump method is more expensive but poses less of a risk of collateral damage to nearby native plants, especially in the first application when NNIS plants are larger. An initial treatment should occur before restoration planting if possible, and follow-up treatments should occur every year thereafter for at least 2 additional years, with periodic additional follow-up treatments as needed. Hire a certified contractor who will know the concentrations and combinations of chemicals for successful management and control of NNIS.

Mechanical removal or repeated cutting without herbicide application are options where herbicide is not an appropriate or desired method, though these techniques often fail without dedicated and ongoing follow-up.

Cost:

The below estimate is from Redstart Natural Resource Management (Redstart) using cut/dab stump method. Foliar spray is half as expensive but is more likely to harm non-target plants. Other estimates from other contractors are similar or more expensive.

Cost summary for Existing Tree/Shrub: NNIS Treatment (Redstart, cut/dab stump method)

Herbicide treatment Year 3

* Note that treatment cost estimates are a range, and the total cost has been calculated from the high end of the estimate range.

Site Prep/Maintenance NNIS Treatment: Goutweed Treatment Zone Summary:

· Two patches of goutweed are present in the project area.

· Goutweed is persistent and will remain in both meadow and forest conditions.

· Initiate treatment as soon as possible, ideally before restoration planting begins.

· Coordinate timing and methods with MCS principal and Merck.

· Two treatment options:

· 1) Herbicide application twice (spring and fall) a year for 3 consecutive years. Restoration planting can occur right away because non-target mortality can be minimal with careful foliar application.

· 2) Smothering with thick black plastic for 5 years. Does not require herbicide but must be regularly monitored and maintained. Restoration planting must be delayed for 5 years. No local contractors were identified who have experience with this method.

Description:

Two patches of goutweed (i.e., bishop’s weed, Aegopodium podagraria), were observed near the athletic field. Goutweed is an herbaceous NNIS that persists and spreads in both sunny and shady areas. Because of this it will not be shaded out by the restoration plantings.

There are two options for treating goutweed: 1) applying herbicide, and 2) using black plastic to smother the plants. The timing and methods of treatment must be coordinated with the MCS principal.

The first method involves herbicide treatments conducted twice a year (spring and fall) for 3 consecutive years. This is the method of choice for Redstart Natural Resource Management. The second option involves smothering the area of goutweed with thick black plastic for 5 years. This choice does not use herbicide, but requires care to not puncture the plastic, regular monitoring to look for holes and gaps, and rapid response to fix any holes in the plastic. No local contractors were identified who have experience with this method.

If herbicides are used, then restoration plantings could occur immediately if the contractor is able to use application methods (for example low-volume backpack sprayers) with low non-target mortality. Tree tubes could also be used to protect the trees from herbicide drift. If black plastic is used, the area will need to be seeded and planted when the plastic is removed in 5 years.

Cost:

The estimate below is from Redstart using herbicide spray. Other estimates from other contractors are similar or more expensive. Experience using black plastic on such a large area is limited and no quotes were available.

Cost summary for Goutweed: NNIS Treatment (Redstart)

Herbicide treatment Year 1 (spring)

Herbicide treatment Year 2 (fall)

* Note that treatment cost estimates are a range, and the total cost has been calculated from the high end of the estimate range.

Natural Succession and Woody Material Addition Zone Summary:

· Optional practice to add habitat diversity to central pond.

· Opportunity for student involvement and outdoor classroom enhancement.

· Use available material (dead trees, logs, limbs, etc.) from Merck property.

· Larger material is preferred, but smaller material can be fastened together to create larger structures.

Description:

The baseline restoration practice prescribed for the central pond is passive natural succession. The pond is expected to slowly fill in overtime with sediment and woody plants without the help of active plantings, though this process could take decades.

Woody material additions to the central pond (such as dead logs, root balls, bundled smaller stems, etc.) are recommended as an optional restoration practice to complement the natural succession that will occur there. This practice could occur at any time.

Woody material additions help habitat diversity by providing a place for small creatures to rest and find shelter, as well as a location for some plants to take root. Woody material additions could also be an opportunity for student creativity and scientific observation due to the location of the boardwalk at the edge of the pond.

The pond currently does not have a lot of habitat diversity and would benefit from the addition of woody material. If desired, MCS or Merck can bring logs or other woody material in from the

Merck property. Care should be taken to only use local material to prevent the spread of forest pests and pathogens such as emerald ash borer. Care should also be taken to avoid spreading non-native invasive species.

Appropriate material could be already dead logs brought in from the forest, or sections of trees that have been felled during maintenance or forestry operations. Larger material is better than smaller material, but smaller material can be fastened together to create large bundles, piles, or log-cabin style “fish cribs.”

Cost:

$0.00 This is a voluntary practice using free materials and staff/student time.

Native Plant Garden (Optional) Summary:

· Optional native plant garden at entrance of new boardwalk.

· Two alternate designs for budgetary flexibility.

· Designed for accessibility, edibility, pollinator habitat, and minimal maintenance.

Description:

MCS and Merck recently built a new boardwalk that gives students access to the wetland, as well as to the fields and forest beyond. An optional native plant garden is proposed that could be planted at the entrance of the boardwalk, along both sides of the new trail. A native plant garden at this location would welcome people to the newly constructed boardwalk, would be regularly visited, and would provide easy access to native plants for classroom use.

Two alternate designs were created for the garden to provide budgetary flexibility. Both designs use the same native flowers and shrubs, but one design also includes native ferns. All the plants were chosen for their pollinator support, and some are also edible. The designs are meant to be simple and low maintenance so that the garden will be self-sustaining over time. Staking out the limits of the garden is recommended to clearly demarcate its boundaries relative to other restoration practices.

A portion of the native plant garden overlaps with proposed natural succession and restoration plantings zones on the attached Restoration Plan. If the garden is not installed, the underlying restoration practices should be implemented.

The native plant garden is considered optional because wildflowers and ferns do not directly count towards phosphorus crediting. Alternative funding sources may need to be identified.

Native Plant Garden Species Lists and Quantities

weed

Cost estimate is from the Champlain Valley Native Plant Restoration Nursery (CVNPRN). No other quotes were solicited.

Native Plant Garden Installation and Maintenance Cost

Mulch

$150

$60

Planting installation

$2695

$1032

Post-planting maintenance (2 years)

$1123

$431

Total

$6372*

$2700*

* The original cost estimate provided by CVNPRN was for a design with 593 plants. The current design options have been altered, and the estimates were scaled accordingly.

Microtopography and Plantings Zone Summary:

· There are areas of dense reed canary grass in the project area.

· Reed canary grass creates a thick sod with its extensive roots that can exclude other plants.

· Treat dense stand of reed canary grass with an excavator in the fall prior to planting.

· Excavator turns soil over, burying much of the reed canary grass, leaving a rough and loose soil surface to recreate natural microtopography.

· Excavator treatment will be followed by a wetland seed mix, tree and shrub planting, and string trimming around plantings for two years (twice in first growing season, once in second).

· Reed canary grass is not anticipated to be eradicated but should diminish in extent due to shading.

Description:

On the Merck property, just east of the boardwalk, is a dense stand of reed canary grass. Reed canary grass is known to inhibit tree and shrub establishment because it outcompetes other plants. It also produces a thick thatch which shelters small rodents that girdle young trees and shrubs in the winter.

This stand of reed canary grass will be treated with an excavator, which will turn over the soil and create a rough and loose soil surface to recreate natural microtopography. The reed canary grass will be knocked back and the treatment will also create a soil surface easier to plant in than intact sod. The rough and loose surface will dissipate surface water flow, reduce erosion, and increase water infiltration.

Excavator work needs to occur before tree and shrub planting (described in Plantings Zone section below). Late September or early October is recommended because the soil typically is less saturated than in the springtime, and because fall is the ideal time to sow wetland seed mixes. Immediately after excavation the site should be sown with a wetland seed mix and then mulched with weed free straw. Tree and shrub planting can occur before or after the seed mix is sown in the fall, or during the following spring. String trimming around the tree and shrub plantings should be conducted for two years as described below.

This treatment is not anticipated to eradicate the reed canary grass but combined with the application of a wetland seed mix, tree and shrub plantings, string trimming around plantings, and eventual shading from the new canopy, the reed canary grass should diminish over time while native plant diversity increases.

Other patches of reed canary grass exist within the project area. These areas will not be treated with an excavator because they are either less dense or too difficult to access.

The quote below is from Davenport Excavation out of Poultney. Other quotes were solicited but not responded to.

Microtopography Cost Estimate

Plantings Zone

· Plant trees and shrubs immediately after the Microtopography excavator treatment in the fall, or the following spring. Plant when the ground is thawed but the plants are dormant.

· Some plants and live stakes could be set aside for students and/or volunteers to plant.

· Design density of woody stems is 500 stems per acre.

· The planting areas are categorized into 5 moisture categories. Each category has a tailored plant mix.

· 3.17 acres will be planted with 2-3’ bareroot plants.

· 0.18 acres will be planted with live stakes.

· Tree protection (5’ tall tree tubes) is required for oaks, maples, and basswoods.

· Tree protection (18” spiral tree guards) are recommended for birches and willows.

· Follow-up string trimming around the new plants should occur twice in the first growing season, and once in the second.

Description:

Tree and shrub plantings will increase biodiversity, improve water quality, and qualify the project for phosphorus credits. It is anticipated that the majority of the planting work will be completed by a professional work crew, but some plants and live stakes could be set aside as an opportunity for students and volunteers to plant.

Three-hundred stems per acre are required for phosphorus credits. The planting plan includes 500 stems per acre for 2-3’ bareroot plants to allow for expected mortality, and 6-foot stem spacing for live stake materials (1210 stakes/acre).

The 3.35 acres of planting areas are organized into 5 moisture categories: Flooded, very wet, wet, moist, and upland. Each category has a plant mix tailored to its moisture conditions.

Bareroot plants will be installed in 3.17 acres of the planting areas. Tree tubes will be installed on all deer-susceptible maples, oaks, and basswoods. Live stakes will be planted in 0.18 acres of the planting areas. The Restoration Plan includes detailed species and material allocations for each planting zone.

Plantings should occur in the fall or spring when the ground is thawed but the plants are dormant. All maples, oaks, and basswoods will be protected with 5’ tall tree tubes, which protect these browse-susceptible species from rodents, deer, herbicide, and string trimmers. Bird exclusion netting will be installed at the top of each tube to prevent birds from becoming trapped in the tubes, and to prevent wasps from making nests in the tubes. All birches and willows should be protected with 18” spiral tree guards.

Plantings will require three treatments of string trimming to reduce competition from nearby herbaceous plants. This will occur twice in the first growing season after planting, and once in the second growing season.

Tree tubes should be removed when the base of the trees reach 3.5” in diameter, about 5 years after planting.

The estimate below for bareroot planting materials is from the Champlain Valley Native Plant Restoration Nursery (CVNPRN). Alternate estimates have been solicited from Redstart and the Intervale Center. When accounting for labor, both of these estimates are within $1000 of the CVNPRN plants plus labor estimate.

Cost for Bareroot Planting Materials (CVNPRN)

$ 14,604

*Note: Plant costs are a range, and the total cost has been calculated from the high end of the per plant estimate range.

The cost estimate below uses planting materials and labor from CVNPRN, and tree tube and string trimming estimates from Redstart. Actual services could come from one or both of these organizations.

Cost Summary for Plantings (CVNPRN and Redstart)

Source

Spiral tree guards (rodent protection) + labor

Tree tubes (deer and rodent protection) + stakes + labor

String trimming - Year 2 early summer

* Note that plant costs are a range, and the total cost has been calculated from the high end of the per plant estimate range.

Full-service quotes were also solicited from Redstart ($45,718) and the Intervale Center ($84,046). Redstart is ~$700 more expensive than the hybrid CVNPRN/Redstart scenario above. The Intervale Center has similar plant material and installation costs to both CVNPRN and Redstart. Their string trimming costs are similar to Redstart’s. Their livestake material and labor is more expensive (~$30,000), as are their tree protection costs ($16,959.50), presumably because they estimated for living fascines instead of livestakes, and because they protect more or all of their tree species with tubes.

Natural Succession Zone (i.e., No-Mow) Summary:

· Some areas of meadow within the project area will be left to passively follow natural succession. This means that mowing should no longer occur, and trees or shrubs will not be actively planted.

Description:

Many parts of the existing meadows within the project area have high native plant diversity without NNIS present. Discontinuing existing vegetation management (i.e., stop mowing) and allowing for natural succession is a preferred practice in these areas.

$0.00 This is a passive practice with no cost.

Site Maintenance NNIS Treatment: Natural Succession, Plantings, Microtopography and Plantings, Lives Stakes, Brush Hog Every Other Year Zones Summary:

· Areas that have been regularly mown often see an increase in woody NNIS once mowing stops.

· Proactively treating these areas and then following up for a couple of years, can help native woody plants establish and out-compete NNIS species.

· Initiate treatments (foliar herbicide spray) the year after planting.

· Coordinate timing and methods with MCS principal and Merck.

· Two follow-up treatments should occur in years 2 and 4 after planting.

Description:

This practice treats potential NNIS issues in the areas of the site not covered by the other NNIS treatments. This includes the natural succession, planting, live stakes, and the brush hog zones. All of these areas (5.6 acres in total) are currently dominated by herbaceous vegetation, and most of them are areas where mowing will stop. Areas that have been regularly mown often see an increase in woody NNIS once mowing stops, and so proactively treating these areas can help native woody plants establish and out-compete NNIS species in the natural succession areas and the planting areas.

Foliar herbicide spray is likely the most effective and cost-effective option. The first treatment should occur the year following plantings, late in the growing season. A second treatment should occur the year after the first, late in the growing season. The third treatment should occur two years after the second (fourth year after plantings), late in the growing season. The timing and methods of treatment must be coordinated with the MCS principal and Merck.

The estimate below is from Redstart using foliar spray.

Cost summary for Natural Succession, Plantings, Microtopography and Plantings, Lives Stakes, Brush Hog Every Other Year: NNIS Treatment (Redstart)

CWSP Project Management

· Implementation of the project will require coordination by CWSP staff.

· The South Lake Champlain CWSP put together an estimate for an implementation funding application.

Description:

Project implementation will funds to support CWSP staff bidding out the project and broadly overseeing and documenting installation of the project.

Cost:

The estimate below is from the SLC CWSP.

Cost summary for Project Management

Project Management

· Implementation of the project will require coordination of and selection of contractors.

· Year 1 will involve project initiation and onsite management.

· Years 2-4 will involve coordination of contractors for follow-up management.

Description:

Project implementation will require selection and coordination of contractors to conduct the site prep, acquire planting materials, implement the practices, and conduct three years of follow-up management. The project manager will be present during one day of microtopography treatment and one day of planting to ensure that the site plans are being followed correctly, that natural resources are being protected, and that any day-of problem solving can be resolved while ensuring project objectives are met and site constraints are accommodated.

The estimate below is from Arrowwood Environmental.

Cost summary for Project Management

Year 1: Onsite management

Phosphorus Reduction Numbers

Project Type

Practice Type

Acres

Cost Calculated Estimated P Load Reduction (kg/yr) Estimated Annual P Load Reduction

(kg/acre/yr) Total Project Estimated Cost Effectiveness ($/kg/yr)

Forested Riparian Buffer

Planting

3.35

3.227

0.96

Native Revegetation

No-mow

1.67

0.387

0.23

Project Total

* 7.84 acres is the entire project area including areas that do not fit into one of the above project types but are part of the entire treatment.

** This cost estimate includes NNIS treatments and the optional native plant garden design 2. This cost estimate does not include yearly inspections, tree-tube removal, or unforeseen adaptive management like replacement plantings.

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