RSW_Mit_Park_Fence_Trails_Fuel_Reduction_Tech_Specs_2026-27.pdf

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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

AIRPORT MITIGATION PARK

FY 2026–2027 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

FOR PERIMETER FENCE REINFORCEMENT AND VEGETATION

MAINTENANCE, SIGNAGE ADDITION, TRAIL SYSTEM

MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANICAL TREATMENT FOR

FUEL REDUCTION

July 2026

This document includes the technical specifications associated with the bid request for the services detailed below at the Southwest Florida International Airport Mitigation Park (Exhibit

1). The objectives of the work are to 1) reinforce and maintain portions of the perimeter fence to establish a clear boundary and reduce trespassing, add specific signage to reduce trespassing, and remove the vegetation on and adjacent to the perimeter fence to allow access for maintenance and establish a clear boundary; 2) perform vegetation maintenance within the Airport Mitigation Park trail system to continue to provide access and firebreaks throughout the property; and 3) use mechanical treatment to reduce fuel loads and limit spot over to reduce the severity of wildfires.

1.0 Project Summary and Description

Airport Mitigation Park consists of three different areas referred to as Flint Pen Strand

(FPS), Imperial Marsh (divided into Imperial Marsh North (IMN) and Imperial Marsh South), and

Site H. These areas are located in Sections 13, 14, and 23, Township 46 South, Range 26 East;

Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, and 18, Township 46 South, Range 27 East; and Sections 29 and 30, Township 45 South, Range 27 East; Lee County, respectively (Exhibit 1). Proposed work in this task will occur within all three areas of the Airport Mitigation Park property.

The bid request for this project will include the following tasks to be performed along portions of the perimeter fence that serve as the property boundary of the Airport Mitigation Park, within the Airport Mitigation Park trail system, and within fuel reduction areas along and outside of the trail system (Appendix A of Exhibit 2). Specifically, the bid package includes the tasks below:

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1.1 Perimeter Fence Reinforcement, Signage Additions, and Vegetation

Maintenance

• Perimeter Fence Reinforcement (i.e., fence post and wire repair/replacement or maintenance, as needed, and cross member and brace wire additions): A one-time repair/replacement/maintenance/reinforcement event of 5,464± linear feet

(LF) of pre-identified sections of the perimeter fence and an additional 100± LF of perimeter fence to be selected based on field observations at Airport

Mitigation Park. This work includes creating a series of additional mid-line/in-line braces by adding cross members and brace wires to reinforce the existing fence. This work also includes maintaining and repairing damaged fence wires, reattaching existing fence wires to close openings in the fence, and repairing damaged or rotten posts as needed. The main entrance gate to Airport

Mitigation Park along Corkscrew Road will also be repaired or replaced as part of this bid item.

• Perimeter Fence Signage Additions: A one-time addition of 18 “No Berry

Picking” signs at pre-identified locations along the perimeter fence throughout

Airport Mitigation Park, including at entry gates to FPS, IMN, and Site H, to deter trespassing.

• Perimeter Fence Vegetation Maintenance: A one-time maintenance event within a 15-foot strip interior to and adjacent to 5,210± LF of the perimeter fence throughout Airport Mitigation Park. This includes limited mechanical methods (i.e., roller-chopping, mowing, mulching) and/or manual removal techniques (i.e., chainsawing, cutting, etc.), as appropriate, to maintain clear access along the fence line for fence maintenance and fire suppression throughout Airport Mitigation Park.

All fence maintenance shall conform to the University of Florida Livestock Fence

Construction specifications attached as Appendix B of Exhibit 2.

1.2 Trail System Maintenance

A one-time maintenance of the 173,561± LF Airport Mitigation Park trail system, including maintaining the existing approximately 15-foot-wide trails by trimming, -3-removing, and/or mulching any vegetation (overhanging limbs, branches, palm fronds, or any other vegetation) that impedes or obstructs vehicular access through the trails. Fallen and leaning trees encountered along the Airport Mitigation Park trail system are included in this maintenance. All vegetative material generated by these activities may be mulched or cut and placed adjacent to the trails, provided no brush piles are created. Exotic and nuisance vegetation will also be treated within the entire access trail system (173,561± LF by 100-foot-wide corridor using a 50-foot-wide strip from the centerline on either side of the trail). All species listed in the 2025 Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) list of exotic species (Appendix D of Exhibit 2) and nuisance species listed in Table 1 of Exhibit

2 shall be treated.

1.3 Mechanical Treatment for Fuel Reduction

• A one-time mechanical treatment of 35.00± acres of overgrown native and exotic and nuisance vegetation that may serve as a potential fuel source. This treatment includes single-pass roller-drum-chopping to reduce understory vegetation within portions of FPS.

• A one-time mechanical treatment of 7.07± acres of overgrown native and exotic and nuisance vegetation that may serve as a potential fuel source, especially for spot over. This treatment includes mulching within 15 feet of either side of the existing trail system edge. An additional 1.00± acre of trail will be identified and included in this mechanical treatment.

1.4 Winter Mow and Spring Treatment

• A one-time mow event of 12.65± acres of primarily exotic and nuisance vegetation, including native vegetation within 15 feet of the perimeter fence.

• A one-time treatment of exotic and nuisance vegetation within 12.65± acres following a mow event. All species listed in the 2025 FISC list of exotic species

(Appendix D of Exhibit 2) and nuisance species listed in Table 1 of Exhibit 2 shall be treated.

Additional details for these treatments are found in Exhibit 2.

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2.0 Technical Specifications

The technical specifications for the bid items in Section 1.0 are attached as Exhibit 2

(Perimeter Fence Reinforcement and Vegetation Maintenance, Signage Addition, Trail System

Maintenance, and Mechanical Treatment for Fuel Reduction).

3.0 Special Conditions

A pre-construction meeting will be scheduled with the successful Sub-Contractor before any work is started. As soon as possible after the Date of Award, the Lee County Port Authority

(LCPA) will contact the Sub-Contractor to arrange a time, date, and place for the meeting. Items to be discussed at the pre-construction meeting will include the following:

• Schedule of Values

• Scheduling of the Work

• Staging Area for Materials and Equipment

• Inspection of the Contract Work and Field Verification of Treatment Area Boundaries

• Protection of Trees, Vegetation, Wildlife, and Premises

• Identification and Responsibility of the Sub-Contractor’s Employees

• Required Submittals

• Safety and Health Requirements

• Communications and Correspondence

• Authorized Persons

• Mobilization

• Parking

The Sub-Contractor’s superintendent and any sub-contractors or suppliers whose presence is necessary or requested by the LCPA shall attend the pre-construction meeting. The Sub-

Contractor shall submit a detailed project progress schedule at the pre-construction meeting. The schedule shall show a complete sequence of activities and the projected percentage of completion for each item. This schedule will be used for planning, organizing, executing, and directing the work. Access to the site will be provided by the existing adjacent road network and through existing locked gates. The access gates are to remain locked at all times after entry and exit. Gate access information will be provided to the Sub-Contractor prior to starting work. The treatment areas shall be accessed through the existing on-site trail system and former farm fields and

-5-pastures. The Sub-Contractor shall not damage existing native vegetation to establish new trails within the treatment areas. The Sub-Contractor shall be responsible for providing the LCPA information to identify who will be on-site and the type(s) of vehicles.

All equipment brought on-site for maintenance activities must be cleaned prior to being used at Airport Mitigation Park to prevent cross-contamination from another site. This includes but is not limited to trucks, trailers, all-terrain/utility vehicles, tractors, mowers, and spray rigs.

Equipment used on-site must also maintain the current state of the on-site trails. If any equipment damages the trail system or former farm fields and pastures (i.e., creates ruts), the Sub-Contractor must restore the affected trails to their original condition prior to ending work.

The Sub-Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining quality control over suppliers, manufacturers, products, services, site conditions, and workmanship to produce work of specified quality and to comply with industry standards except when more restrictive tolerances or specified requirements indicating more rigid standards or more precise workmanship exist. The Sub-

Contractor assumes all liability for any equipment that they store on-site during non-working hours.

The Sub-Contractor shall notify the LCPA and the General Environmental and Planning

Consultant (GEPC) of any wildlife encounters (i.e., alligator burrows and holes, bird rookeries, gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows, etc.) that may directly impact the successful treatment of the contracted work area. Particular care should be taken when trail maintenance and roller-chopping are performed within Flint Pen Strand since there are areas adjacent to the trail known to contain gopher tortoise burrows, and the roller-chopping areas consist of an upland habitat that can be utilized by gopher tortoises for burrowing and foraging. If such conditions are deemed limiting to the successful execution of the contracted work, alternatives will be discussed between the Sub-Contractor, the LCPA, and the GEPC, provided adequate notice is given.

4.0 Treatment Schedule

The Treatment Schedule for the bid is summarized below. The Notice To Proceed (NTP) for work to be conducted will depend on approval of funding by the Owner (i.e., the LCPA) for that specific year. The LCPA reserves the right to release a portion of the work or none of the work during any given fiscal year, depending on availability of funds for the fiscal year. Treatment shall

-6-begin based on the LCPA NTP and follow the schedule (Table 1) below. Additional details on the timing of treatments are outlined in Exhibit 2.

Provided there are no schedule delays due to weather conditions or other situations outside of the Sub-Contractor’s control, the anticipated start date for the work under the bid will be after the

NTP is issued in late January 2027. Depending on weather conditions and on-site water levels, repair, maintenance, and treatment work is expected to be substantially completed by June 1, 2027. The treatment schedule may be adjusted upon agreement between the Sub-Contractor and the LCPA, provided adequate notice is given before the due date. Successful completion will be determined by the LCPA and GEPC.

Table 1. Schedule of Events

Event Date

Notice to Proceed1 Late January 2027 Mechanical Treatment Area: 50% Complete March 26, 2027 Treatment A – Winter Mow: Potential Completion Date2 April 3, 2027

Treatment B – Spring: Potential Start Date3 May 17, 2027

Substantial Completion June 1, 2027 Project Completion July 1, 2027

1The Notice to Proceed (NTP) is based on an early to mid-January Board of Port Commissioners meeting date. If the NTP is significantly delayed, the Substantial Completion date and Project Completion date will be adjusted accordingly.

2Treatment A must be completed a minimum of four weeks before the Treatment B start date, or with adequate time to allow for the treatment to be inspected and for herbaceous regrowth (i.e., seedlings and resprouts) to reach a minimum height of four to six inches. If Treatment B is delayed because the vegetation has not achieved the specified minimum height or water levels restrict treatment, the Substantial Completion date and Project Completion date will be adjusted accordingly.

3Treatment B shall occur when seedlings and resprouts of herbaceous species reach a minimum height of four to six inches. If the Treatment B start date is delayed because the vegetation has not achieved the specified minimum height or water levels restrict treatment, the Substantial Completion date and Project Completion date will be adjusted accordingly.

“Potential” dates are not tied to liquidated damages and are intended for reference and to suggest a conservative, achievable project treatment schedule based on anticipated site conditions.

Each item approved under the contract will be completed once during the duration of the contract. The work areas are depicted on Appendix A of Exhibit 2. The basis of payment shall be a lump sum for the contracted amount of the entire linear footage or area.

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Basis of Payment:

Item 1.1 – Perimeter Fence Reinforcement and Maintenance and

Additional (5,564± LF) -- (Lump Sum)

Item 1.2 – Perimeter Fence Signage Additions (18) -- (Lump Sum)

Item 1.3 – Perimeter Fence Vegetation Maintenance (5,210± LF) -- (Lump Sum)

Item 1.4 – Trail System Maintenance (173,561± LF) -- (Lump Sum)

Item 1.5 – Mechanical Treatment Area (35.00± acres) -- (Lump Sum)

Item 1.6 – Mechanical Treatment (Trails) and Additional (8.07± acres) -- (Lump Sum)

Item 1.7 – Treatment A (Winter Mow) (12.65± acres) -- (Lump Sum)

Item 1.8 – Treatment B (Spring) (12.65± acres) -- (Lump Sum)

5.0 Acceptance and Payment

All areas must be verified for treatment completion by the GEPC before the invoices can be processed on a monthly basis. No project summaries or work reports, as required by the contract documents, shall be outstanding at the time of invoicing. All herbicide treatment shall result in mortality of all target species with minimal non-target damage. If the treated vegetation is not killed within the label-specified or industry-standard number of days after the treatment, as confirmed by the GEPC, the Sub-Contractor shall be responsible for re-treating the area at no expense to the LCPA. The time frame will start from the date the contractor notifies the LCPA that the work is completed. If the contractor does not notify the LCPA of the completion date, the time frame will start when the GEPC performs the oversight inspection of the area and confirms the area has been treated.

With regards to the trail and fence vegetation maintenance, cut vegetation should be scattered (i.e., no piles), there shall be no soil rutting or visible vegetation cuttings (i.e., vegetative debris) on the trail, and there shall be no disturbance outside the 15-foot-wide perimeter fence edge vegetation maintenance area or the 100-foot-wide trail corridor exotic treatment area.

Upon completion of all tasks, the Sub-Contractor shall request an on-site meeting with the

LCPA and the GEPC for the purpose of having the work accepted. If additional work is necessary to satisfy the contract documents, the GEPC will prepare and the LCPA will issue a completion punch list. Upon completion of corrective work addressed within the punch list, the Sub-Contractor shall request a second meeting to have the work accepted. If further work is necessary to satisfy

-8-the contract documents, the Sub-Contractor shall request a third meeting when it feels the work is complete and in conformance with the contract documents.

Payment will be made upon completion and the acceptance of the work by the LCPA. For fence reinforcement and maintenance, the payment will be full compensation for all work and materials for complete installation and repair, including line, posts, and corner bracing. Such price and payment will include, but is not limited to, the following specific incidental work:

• Any work required to level and repair the terrain along the perimeter fence line;

• All preparation of post holes, in whatever type of material; and

• Any surveying required to establish the property limits along unfenced areas, if required.

6.0 List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1. Project Location Map

Exhibit 2. Perimeter Fence Reinforcement and Vegetation Maintenance, Signage Addition, Trail System Maintenance, and Mechanical Treatment for Fuel Reduction

Appendix A. Aerial with FY 2026–2027 Treatment Areas

Appendix B. University of Florida Livestock Fence Construction

Appendix C. No Berry Picking Sign

Appendix D. Florida Invasive Species Council’s 2025 List of Invasive Plant

Species

EXHIBIT 1

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FENCE/TRAILS/FUEL REDUCTION

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AIRPORT MITIGATION PARK -

FENCE/TRAILS/FUEL REDUCTION

EXHIBIT 1. PROJECT LOCATION MAP

FENCE/TRAILS/FUEL REDUCTION

SEC 13-14, 23 TWP 46 S, RNG 26 E

SEC 5-8, 17-18, TWP 46 S, RNG 27 E

SEC 29-30, TWP 45 S, RNG 27 E

SITE H

IMPERIAL MARSH SOUTH

FLINT PEN STRAND

6/09/26T.S.

IMPERIAL MARSH NORTH

EXHIBIT 2

PERIMETER FENCE REINFORCEMENT AND

VEGETATION MAINTENANCE, SIGNAGE ADDITION,

TRAIL SYSTEM MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANICAL TREATMENT

FOR FUEL REDUCTION

PERIMETER FENCE REINFORCEMENT AND VEGETATION

MAINTENANCE, SIGNAGE ADDITION, TRAIL SYSTEM

MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANICAL TREATMENT

FOR FUEL REDUCTION

July 2026

1.1 Perimeter Fence Reinforcement and Maintenance

Perimeter Fence Reinforcement and Maintenance totals 5,464± LF and includes adding mid-line/in-line braces to the existing perimeter fence (i.e., Fence Reinforcement). These braces will consist of brace posts, cross members (i.e., horizontal brace posts), and brace wires set within four (4) distinct sections of perimeter fence. Installing these braces will provide extra support, or reinforcement, in sections of fence that have historically been encroached on by trespassing, cattle activity, etc. The locations for the braces are depicted on Appendix A. The linear footage (LF) listed below and on Appendix A is the total length of bracing that must be installed within the section:

(1) Flint Pen Strand – 40.00± LF

(2) Flint Pen Strand – 40.00± LF

(3) Imperial Marsh South – 60.00± LF

(4) Site H – 60.00± LF

In the case of the section of fence to be reinforced and maintained within Imperial Marsh

South that borders off-site preserves to the south, only 60± LF will be reserved for bracing. This

60± LF (i.e., section (3)) is included in the 5,464± LF total for Fence Reinforcement and

Maintenance, as are the sections represented by 1, 2, and 4. There is also an area within Site H within which approximately 100 LF of bracing will be installed. This Fence Reinforcement –

Additional (Appendix A) will consist solely of sections of bracing within the area depicted, with the exact locations to be determined in the field by the Sub-Contractor and verified by the

General Environmental and Planning Consultant (GEPC) and the Lee County Port Authority

(LCPA) before work begins. The bracing locations shall be selected based on encroachments or portions of fence that would benefit from reinforcement. Details for constructing these braces are described in the University of Florida (UF) Livestock Fence Construction publication (Appendix

B). Braces shall, at a minimum, conform to this standard. Specifications for other components of the bracing, such as post holes, barbed wire, and brace wire, are described below.

In addition to reinforcement, this bid item includes maintenance. Except for the cases described above for bracing, most of this bid item falls into this category. Fence maintenance shall also conform to Appendix B. Existing fence posts deemed unacceptable (i.e., rotted, insecure, split, defective, etc.) or existing wire that is broken or loose shall be removed and replaced as applicable. Wood posts shall be common, commercially available posts, chemically treated to minimize rot and insect infestation. New wooden line posts shall be a minimum of

4 inches in diameter and 6.5 feet long. New wooden corner and in-line brace posts shall be a minimum of 6 inches in diameter and 8 feet long. Post spacing shall conform to the existing fencing but shall not exceed 15 LF between line posts. Braces shall be set at corner locations, every 1,300± LF of fence line, and as specified above for reinforcement. Post holes should be a minimum of 24 inches deep. If rock occurs within the required depth of the post hole, a hole of a slightly larger diameter than the post shall be drilled and the post grouted in. In areas crossing wetlands or in areas of standing water, steel posts similar to those already being used in wet conditions on-site shall be used to prevent rot and increase the life of the posts. The steel posts are to be studded T-Posts 6 feet by 1.25 inches or greater, typically used for agricultural fencing.

Corner braces and in-line braces shall be set in accordance with Figure 1 of the attached

UF publication (Appendix B). Both corner locations and in-line braces shall have two braces

(one on each side) and will span a total of approximately 20 feet, assuming the typical distance between line posts is approximately 10 feet. Forty-penny nails shall be used to set horizontal line posts to the brace posts. Nine-gauge galvanized brace wire shall be used and set with 1.5-inch galvanized fence staples. Ultimately, the new bracing will tie in to the two existing sections of fence at either end of the section to be braced.

Four-strand barbed wire fence shall be repaired in accordance with the Barbwire

Assembly described on Page 3 of the attached UF publication (Appendix B). Fence repair areas that do not start at a brace can be started on line posts under the same assembly instructions. Four rows of barbed wire shall be installed between 10- and 12-inch intervals along the entire length.

Barbed wire shall be 4-point, 15.5-gauge, Class 3, “Gaucho brand” high-tensile or equivalent wire. The barbed wire should be installed with 1.5-inch galvanized fence staples. Staples should be driven diagonally with the wood grain to avoid splitting the wood posts.

The main gate into Airport Mitigation Park at the entrance along Corkscrew Road shall be repaired or replaced with comparable materials to what is currently present to bring the gate back to its previous, functioning state. The gate must function to allow ease of access for authorized individuals, meaning that, once unlocked, the gate should open with minimal effort. If the materials to repair the gate to its former state are not available or the Sub-Contractor has an alternate method, this may be proposed to the GEPC and the LCPA for review and approval.

1.2 Perimeter Fence Signage Additions

Trespassing at Airport Mitigation Park has occurred since before its formal establishment. Aside from poaching, trespassing can also be attributed to illegal saw palmetto

(Serenoa repens) berry harvesting. Airport Mitigation Park already has extensive signage along the perimeter fence spaced no more than 500 feet apart and at each corner of the fence line. This signage is placed prominently along the fence to be clearly noticeable from outside the property line. Although this signage denotes that Airport Mitigation Park is a conservation area, no signage is currently dedicated strictly to prohibiting harvesting saw palmetto berries. To further discourage trespassing, this bid requires that 18 “No Berry Picking” signs be placed at the locations shown on Appendix A. These are strategic locations such as the main entry gates to

Airport Mitigation Park at Corkscrew Road, the entry road to Imperial Marsh North, and the pull-off to Site H.

Specifications for these signs will mirror those of the existing perimeter signs: Signs should conform to Florida Statute, Title XLVI, Chapter 810. Aluminum signs (typically

0.04-inch gauge; no smaller than 10 inches wide by 14 inches tall; and vertically oriented) shall be installed no more than 500 feet apart along the perimeter and at each corner of the fence line.

Signs shall appear prominently with letters of sufficient height and contrast to be visible. Signs shall be attached to existing fence posts using 2.5-inch galvanized wood lag screws. Signs shall be placed along the boundary line of the posted land in a manner and in such a position as to be clearly noticeable from outside the boundary line. Signs shall read:

MITIGATION AREA

PALMETTO BERRY PICKING IS PROHIBITED ON THIS PROPERTY. COLLECTION OF

WILDLIFE OR PLANT SPECIMENS IS PROHIBITED

[IMAGE]

AREA DE PRESERVACION

EN ESTA PROPIEDAD SE PROHIBE LA RECOJA DE

HABAS DE PALMITO. ESTA PROHIBIDO LA COLECTA

DE ESPECIMENES DE LA FAUNA Y LA FLORA.

Violators will be prosecuted.

Los infractores seran procesados.

Florida Statutes 581.185, 581.189 & 810

An example of the signage is provided as Appendix C.

1.3 Perimeter Fence Vegetation Maintenance

Perimeter fence vegetation maintenance shall include trimming and treating existing vegetation growing on or through a 15-foot strip interior to and adjacent to 5,210± LF of the perimeter fence at Airport Mitigation Park (Appendix A). In addition, all fallen trees lying directly on the fence or within the fence line shall be removed and mulched. All trees and shrubs growing on and overhanging the fence shall be hand removed with a chainsaw or machete and shall be placed within the 15-foot swath to be mulched in place by the forestry mulcher.

The vegetation maintenance area along the fence line contains herbaceous, shrubby, and forested cover and includes both upland and wetland habitats. All trees, shrubs, and herbaceous ground cover within a 15-foot swath inside the perimeter fence shall be reduced to mulch and the mulch left in place within the 15-foot zone to protect the soil surface and inhibit the growth of undesirable vegetation. A low-impact forestry mulcher with a FECON® or equivalent mulching attachment is required to be used in areas with heavier cover, while mowers may be used within herbaceous areas. Manual cutting via handheld chainsaws, machetes, etc., may be required in areas inaccessible to a forestry mulcher (e.g., saturated soils) and/or in areas immediately adjacent to desirable vegetation (e.g., in wetlands such as cypress forests). Manually cut vegetation shall be scattered (no piles) along the trail edges or placed in areas to be mulched in place with a forestry mulcher. In areas where herbaceous ground cover dominates within the

15-foot strip inside the fence, standard mowing is acceptable as long as isolated trees and/or shrubs are also removed and mulched within areas accessible to the forestry mulcher. The equipment used shall not rut soil or disturb vegetation outside of the 15-foot-wide area. Any rutting or significant soil disturbances must be restored to pristine condition once maintenance has been completed.

Vegetation removal shall not extend beyond the property limits (i.e., perimeter fence).

Any portion of vegetation hanging over the fence and into the Airport Mitigation Park property may be mechanically removed and mulched, but vegetation outside the fence line is not to be mechanically cut, removed, and/or mulched. This work shall include treating all exotic species included in the most current Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) list of exotic species

(Appendix D) and nuisance species included in Table 1 and as described in Section 1.7 below.

Additionally, vegetation on the fence line shall be cut high enough to prevent the vegetation further leaning onto or over the perimeter fence, so that the fence and associated 15-foot-wide path are unobstructed where applicable. In particular, Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia) and other shrubby species should be cut in this manner.

1.4 Trail System Maintenance

The intent of this item is to maintain the existing on-site trail network for vehicle passage and to treat exotic vegetation. Maintaining the Airport Mitigation Park access trail system

(Appendix A) includes limited mechanical vegetation maintenance (i.e., roller-chopping, mowing, mulching) of any vegetation (overhanging limbs, branches, palm fronds, or any other vegetation) that impedes or obstructs vehicular access within the existing approximately 15-foot-wide Airport Mitigation Park access trails. Mowing especially is anticipated to be needed within the 15-foot-wide portions of trail spanning the two farm fields within Imperial Marsh South since these areas pass through historically herbaceous settings; but mowing will be used as-need throughout the trail system. Native trees along the trail system may be left in place if they can be avoided and their presence does not impede access. Exotic and nuisance vegetation will also be treated within the entire access trail system (173,561± LF by 100-foot-wide corridor using a 50-foot-wide strip from centerline on either side of the trail (Appendix A)). All species listed in the

2025 FISC list of exotic species (Appendix D) and nuisance species listed in Table 1 below shall be treated as described in Section 1.7 below.

Any fallen trees encountered are to be removed from the footprint of the trail system.

Manual cutting via handheld chainsaws, machetes, etc., may be required in areas inaccessible to the forestry mulcher (e.g., saturated soils) and/or in areas immediately adjacent to desirable vegetation. Manually cut vegetation shall be scattered (no piles) along the trail edges or placed in areas to be mulched in place with a forestry mulcher. The equipment used shall not rut soil or disturb vegetation outside the maintenance area. Any rutting or significant soil disturbances must be restored to pristine condition once the maintenance has been completed. Where Mechanical

Treatment (Trails) occurs (described below), exotics associated with Trail System Maintenance shall be treated after mechanical treatment has taken place.

Because Airport Mitigation Park is an expansive natural area that includes many heavily wooded forested systems, widely scattered trees that were not present during initial project bidding may lean over or fall onto the trail during implementation of these Technical

Specifications (e.g., from settling or being knocked or blown down). The Sub-Contractor is responsible for clearing these trees. Should an extreme weather event(s) result in higher than expected obstructions (i.e., leaning or fallen trees) on the trail system, the LCPA and the GEPC will discuss the possibility of addressing the work under a separate scope with the Sub-

Contractor.

1.5 Mechanical Treatment for Fuel Reduction

Treatment Area

Portions of Airport Mitigation Park contain dense native vegetation that is considered overgrown and may serve as a potential fuel source. As such, the Mechanical

Treatment is intended to reduce fuel loads that could lead to damaging wildfires. Within the Mechanical Treatment Area, these areas of dense vegetation are found within upland forested habitats (such as pine flatwoods) that contain native canopy species like slash pine (Pinus elliottii) and cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) and native shrubs (i.e., sub-canopy/understory) like saw palmetto, myrsine (Myrsine cubana), and cabbage palm.

Mechanical Treatment includes mechanically treating (i.e., roller-chopping or mulching)

35.00± acres of these areas anywhere within the Mechanical Treatment Area

(Appendix A). This work shall include mechanically treating all exotic species included in the most current FISC list of exotic species (Appendix D) and nuisance species included in Table 1 and as described in Section 1.7 below. At this time, herbicide application is not required. Specifically, cabbage palms one meter in height or less and other species such as slash pine and saw palmetto four inches diameter at breast height or less are to be mechanically removed. Cabbage palms more than one meter in height and other trees more than four inches diameter at breast height should be avoided. Because this is an upland area, treatment can occur year-round, so Mechanical Treatment shall occur closer to the NTP. This will also limit potential accessibility restrictions later in the treatment schedule (e.g., trails become inundated, leading to difficulty hauling equipment in).

Before beginning treatment, the Sub-Contractor shall identify the 35.00± acre area(s) to be treated within the Mechanical Treatment Area depicted on Appendix A. The

GEPC shall inspect the area to determine if it is suitable for treatment (i.e., that vegetation in the understory can be mechanically treated). Treatment may commence only after the Sub-Contractor has received approval from the LCPA and the GEPC.

The preferred method for mechanical treatment is roller-chopping (i.e., roller-drum-chopping). Roller-chopping is preferred over mulching in the Treatment Area because these areas consist primarily of pine flatwoods, a Florida habitat type where roller-drum-chopping is a common, effective land management practice. Additionally, because Airport Mitigation Park is a natural area, there is a need to minimize disturbance associated with land management; and roller-chopping is widely acknowledged to minimize topsoil displacement compared to other practices.

Roller-chopping should be performed using either a rubber-tired skidder or a crawler tractor (i.e., rubber-tracked) capable of pulling a roller drum. The roller drum shall be relatively smaller (four to six feet wide, 20 to 40 inches in diameter), with blades approximately six to eight inches in height and no ballast used in the drum. If smaller equipment such as a tracked skid steer can perform this work, it may be used after approval from the GEPC and the LCPA. The roller-chopper must be able to cut through heavy woody debris up to four inches in diameter. A shear-type blade may be used with the equipment used to pull the drum if the Sub-Contractor believes vegetation is too high to simply drive or track over. A standard straight blade shall not be used, as it is an excessive erosion hazard. The roller-chopping will consist of a single pass through a series of transects or a circular/spiral pattern beginning at the perimeter and working inward, as conditions permit. Roller-chopping should clearly reduce the understory to a level where understory vegetation no longer dominates. As a metric of success, saw palmetto should generally be less than one half meter tall. A second pass of certain areas

(skips/streaks) may be required if desired results cannot be or are not achieved in the initial pass. But to reduce disturbance to soil, this bid is intended as a single-pass treatment.

The specifications for the drum and single-pass approach are intended as best management practices to reduce disturbance to the soil and root systems of canopy-sized trees. Additional required practices include avoiding the drip line (the imaginary area encompassed by the line extending downward from the edge of the crown of a tree), where possible, to reduce root damage.

If roller-chopping cannot be achieved because the height and size of species present limit the functionality of the roller drum or because the concentration of canopy-sized trees such as slash pine serves as an operational impediment (e.g., too narrow for passes or turning around of the roller drum), a dedicated low-impact forestry mulcher or a rubber-track skid steer with a Gyro-Trac, FECON®, or equivalent mulching head may be used after the LCPA and the GEPC have reviewed the request. Alternate methods may be used once reviewed and approved by the LCPA and the GEPC.

Trails

Sections of the internal trail system within Airport Mitigation Park include overgrown vegetation along the edges. For this bid, that primarily includes the main trail dividing Imperial Marsh North and Imperial Marsh South. Much like the vegetation within the Treatment Area, this condition presents a potential wildfire hazard.

Additionally, because it is positioned along features that otherwise serve as firebreaks

(i.e., the trails), the vegetation may serve as a source of “spot over.” Spot over occurs when a fire that is within a continuous area and may otherwise be contained by certain peripheral features is able to spread to another area. By mechanically treating the edges of certain portions of trail, the likelihood of spot over may be reduced.

Mechanical Treatment (Trails) includes mechanically treating (i.e., mulching or roller-chopping) 7.07± acres of these areas. Specifically, mechanical treatment will occur within 15 feet of the edge of either side of the existing trail (Inset A of Appendix A).

Because this treatment area is linear, mulching is assumed to be the more effective mechanical treatment method. A forestry mulcher or other equipment with a mulching head is commonly used for right-of-way work where a linear swath of overgrown vegetation must be reduced. Mulching may be done in a single or multiple passes, given the limitations in the size of the mulching head, so long as rutting is minimized and/or repaired. The size and height of species treated will be limited per the specifications above for the Mechanical Treatment Area. If the Sub-Contractor feels the desired results can be achieved through roller-chopping or other methods, these may be proposed to the

GEPC and the LCPA for review and approval. As with the Mechanical Treatment Area, treatment shall occur closer to the NTP once conditions (i.e., water levels) allow access.

Where Mechanical Treatment (Trails) occurs, exotics associated with Trail System

Maintenance (173,561± LF) shall be treated after mechanical treatment has taken place.

Within Flint Pen Strand, a portion of trails will also benefit from this form of mechanical treatment (Mechanical Treatment (Trails) – Additional). In this area, the Sub-

Contractor shall identify 1.00± acre of trail edge in the area shown on Appendix A.

Treatment specifications are the same as for the 7.07± acres of Mechanical Treatment.

Once the area has been identified, it must be reviewed and approved by the GEPC and the LCPA before work can commence. Note that the identified area shall not overlap with the Mechanical Treatment Area (35.00± acres) where that area (i.e., the Mechanical

Treatment Area) extends to the edge of the trail. Treatment of the area within 15 feet of the trail will be included under the Mechanical Treatment Area bid item in this case.

1.6 Treatment Area A (Winter Mow) and Treatment Area B (Spring Treatment)

These treatments are intended to create a clear boundary between the off-site parcel to the north and the project area and to minimize the chance of spot over, which has historically occurred in this area. In this way, Treatments A and B are intended to reduce fuel.

Treatment A (Winter Mow) (12.65± acres) will primarily target exotic and nuisance species within an area that is along a section of the northern boundary of Flint Pen Strand. The area represents a 100-foot-wide buffer from the perimeter fence and from the edge of the 50-foot off-center line from a portion of the Trail System Maintenance area (Appendix A). Within 15 feet of the perimeter fence, all existing vegetation, including native species, shall be mowed.

Because the area will be treated after mowing (i.e., Treatment B, described below), mulching is not required. Applying herbicide following Treatment A (i.e., Treatment B) is expected to increase the efficacy of the treatment. Treatment A must be completed a minimum of four weeks before Treatment B, or with adequate time for effective treatment to be observed and herbaceous regrowth (i.e., seedlings and resprouts) to reach a minimum height of four to six inches. Within

Treatment Area A, there are widely scattered sub-canopy (e.g., saw palmetto) and canopy (e.g., slash pine) species that are not to be mowed and shall be avoided to the greatest extent possible.

Mowing shall only begin when site conditions are dry enough that mobilizing and using the mower will not cause rutting within the treatment area and surrounding wetland environments.

Treatment B includes treating exotic and nuisance herbaceous vegetation and shall occur when seedlings and resprouts reach a minimum height of four to six inches and per Table 1 of the Technical Specifications. Treatment Area B coincides with Treatment Area A and shall include exotic and nuisance vegetation growing along the perimeter fence; however, treatment shall not extend beyond the property limits (i.e., perimeter fence). Treatment B is intended to occur in spring when plants are actively growing and have reached the appropriate height to be treated following Treatment A (i.e., Winter Mow). Prior to beginning Treatment B, the Sub-

Contractor shall notify the GEPC and the LCPA of their intentions to begin and provide photographic documentation of the height of the species to be treated, namely caesarweed

(Urena lobata). The GEPC shall then inspect Treatment Area B to determine if the exotic and nuisance vegetation is of the appropriate height to begin treatment. These areas may be treated only after the Sub-Contractor has received approval from the GEPC and the LCPA. Targeted plant species to be treated include all observed species listed as Category I and Category II invasive exotics on the most current FISC List of Invasive Plant Species (Appendix D) and those species found in Table 1 below.

1.7 Exotic and Nuisance Vegetation Treatment

Exotic and nuisance vegetation treatments for the Vegetation Maintenance, Trail System

Maintenance, and Treatment B shall be completed within the limits of each treatment area identified in Appendix A. Exotic and nuisance vegetation treatments shall not extend beyond the property limits (i.e., perimeter fence); however, herbicide treatments shall be applied to exotic vegetation growing on the fence as applicable. Targeted vegetative species to be treated include all observed species listed as Category I and Category II invasive exotics by the most current

FISC List of Invasive Plant Species (Appendix D) and those species found in Table 1 below.

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) and smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus) are not included in this scope.

Table 1. Nuisance Plant Species to be Treated

Common Name Scientific Name Cattail Typha spp.

Climbing hempweed Mikania scandens Common reed Phragmites australis Dog fennel Eupatorium capillifolium Grapevine Vitis spp.

Greenbrier Smilax spp.

White vine Sarcostema clausum

All exotic and nuisance vegetation listed above must be eradicated when observed.

Exotic and nuisance vegetation will be removed manually, mechanically (i.e., roller-chopping, mowing, mulching), and/or by applying herbicides. The bid treatment areas under contract must contain zero percent areal coverage of exotic/nuisance species within the label-specified or industry-standard number of days after treatment, whether calculated as a rounded whole percentage by areal coverage within a single vegetation community type (e.g., freshwater marsh or cypress forest) or within a general area (e.g., 50± acres).

Treatments will consist of foliar applications, cut-stump, basal bark, girdling, hand removal, and/or mechanical removal (i.e., roller-chopping, mowing, mulching) of the entire plant. The Sub-Contractor must minimize damage to non-target species as much as possible. For species where the cut-stump method is used, the herbicide must be applied within 15 minutes of cutting, with the exception of Brazilian pepper, to which the herbicide must be applied within

5 minutes of cutting. Marker dye that is clearly visible shall be included with the herbicide so that treatment can be confirmed. Cuttings can be stacked in proximity to where the cutting occurred, but in a manner that preserves existing native vegetation. Treated cuttings can remain on-site. Vine species such as Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum), greenbrier

(Smilax spp.), and grapevine (Vitis spp.) encountered encroaching upon the tree canopy shall be poodle-cut and treated in a manner that minimizes non-target damage to the surrounding native vegetation. Hauling and disposal of cut material off-site is not required at this time.

The Sub-Contractor may suggest an alternate treatment method for any of the specified site work. If an alternate method is suggested, the Sub-Contractor shall provide the details of the methodology to the LCPA and the GEPC for review and approval. The Sub-Contractor may not use an alternate method unless approved by the LCPA and the GEPC. The Sub-Contractor is responsible for using the appropriate treatment method for exotic/nuisance species based on industry standards, applicable local, state, and federal regulations, and label requirements.

Herbicide composition and application rates must be in accordance with current Florida

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Florida Department of

Environmental Protection, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules and regulations in addition to the specifications of the manufacturer’s label. All chemicals used must be labeled for use in Aquatic Systems or Natural Areas, as applicable. All herbicides must be registered by the EPA and the FDACS for use in Florida. Unregistered and/or experimental products are prohibited on this project. All chemicals must be mixed and applied by an FDACS-licensed applicator with a valid FDACS-issued Pesticide Applicator License in Natural Areas and Aquatic areas or applied under the direct supervision of one. All chemicals used must be mixed and applied in accordance with applicable material safety data sheets and label directions.

The use of soil-active herbicides containing the active ingredients imazapyr or imazapic, as well as pre-emergent herbicides, is not permitted under this project. Treatment activities shall be scheduled during periods of low or no standing water, where possible, to maximize the effectiveness of the applied herbicides.

Woody/shrubby vegetation may be treated at any time during the treatment window.

Herbaceous vegetation should be treated only when actively growing (i.e., non-dormant). To maximize the effectiveness of the applied herbicides, treatment shall occur with low to no standing water or when enough of the plant is above water for adequate uptake of herbicide to kill the plant. Herbaceous vegetation shall be treated only when environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, rainfall, soil moisture) and signs of active growth (e.g., green shoots, sprouting seeds) indicate that these species are actively growing and can be effectively eradicated.

However, treatment is weather- and site-dependent, so dates may vary as described in Table 1 of the Technical Specifications.

The Sub-Contractor is responsible for obtaining all applicable permits prior to the applying herbicides. The Sub-Contractor is to provide the LCPA with copies of all labels from the actual herbicides and adjuvants utilized on this project prior to commencing any work within the designated treatment area(s). The treatment of exotic/nuisance species throughout the designated area(s) shall be subject to inspection at any time by the LCPA, the GEPC, and local, state, and federal agencies.

The Sub-Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining daily work logs indicating which specific area was treated, the target species and the chemicals used, quantities, and application method(s). These daily work logs shall be submitted to the LCPA and the GEPC at the end of each following work week, along with a progress map depicting the treated areas for that week in relation to the project area. The weekly progress map may be submitted in any format (e.g., JPG, PDF), but each map must be accompanied by digital data files compatible with Google Earth

(KML, KMZ) and/or ArcGIS (GDB, SHP).

Storing chemicals on-site is prohibited at any time. The Sub-Contractor will follow best management practices within any areas utilized for mixing chemicals to prevent spills and soil/water contamination.