S01_ATTACHMENT A - SOW RED BELLY TURTLE FINAL.pdf

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ATTACHMENT A - STATEMENT OF WORK

RED-BELLIED COOTER SURVEY

BUCKS COUNTY, PA

A. INTRODUCTION

NRCS is working on the design to rehabilitate a dam in Pennsylvania. The Northern Red-bellied Cooters (Pseudemys rubriventris) are known to inhabit the areas around the lake created by the Dam. A Northern Red-bellied Cooter survey is required for these activities as they may impact Northern Red-bellied Cooter habitat. The species is currently listed as a threatened species by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). The area to be surveyed is estimated at 325 acres in size. The anticipated pool created by the lake is about 175 acres in size.

The objectives of this project are to determine the extent of the population of Northern Red-bellied Cooters in the lake in order to assess the potential for this residual pool to provide habitat for the turtles during construction. This survey also seeks to understand the distribution of the Cooters in the lake habitats and how these habitats may be affected by the construction phase of the rehabilitation of the dam.

Construction of the rehabilitation will require the lake to be drawn down for 18 to 24 months to facilitate work on the dam’s principal spillway riser tower. As required per the permit conditions for the construction work on the dam, a Pennsylvania Diversity Inventory (PNDI) database search was recently performed (PNDI Search No. 605304_2). The Species Impact Review (SIR) performed by the PFBC requires the performance of a presence/absence survey for the Norther Red-bellied Cooter due to the potential habitat impacts from to proposed construction.

B. SCOPE OF WORK

A recognized, qualified Northern Red-bellied Cooter Surveyor (Surveyor) is to be retained to perform visual basking surveys and nesting habitat surveys to better understand the effects of the proposed drawdown to the turtle. It is anticipated that the Surveyor will require at least nine on-site visits with a spotting scope to perform the surveys. These visits will be made in coordination with the USDA NRCS technical representative at appropriate times to determine what areas of the lake are being used by the Northern Red-bellied Cooter as well as the approximate population in those areas.

The lake is located in Bucks County PA, which are publicly accessible during normal hours (dawn to dusk). The “conservation pool” is a portion of the lake that is separate from the main pool by a road and acts as a natural forebay. It is currently undergoing construction to improve habitat. The rehabilitation of the dam, and the associated drawdown, is separate from the “conservation pool” project.

The performance time to complete the Plan of Work shall be 180 calendar days.

C. WORK TO BE PERFORMED

1) The contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, equipment, power equipment, labor, materials, transportation, space and related support facilities to perform the Northern Red-bellied Cooter surveys.

The biologist shall be listed with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and qualified in accordance with the PFBC’s survey guidelines.

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a) The Contractor will work cooperatively with the NRCS Pennsylvania personnel, contacting the designated NRCS personnel prior to initiating site visit to inform him or her of the contractor’s proposed work schedule and operations. NRCS personnel will ensure that all impacted areas are properly identified and will help arrange field visits and secure any needed permissions. NRCS personnel may meet the contractor on site prior to commencing site visit.

b) Rights of Way: Where rights-of-entry have been obtained by NRCS (the Government), the contractor will be advised as to arrangements previously made with landowners, if any. The contractor will assume all responsibility for and take all precautions to prevent damage to property entered. An ownership map (subject to recent change can be provided to the contractor.

c) Private Property Integrity: The Contractor will assume all responsibility for and take all precautions to prevent damage to property entered.

d) Hours of Operation: All field work shall be conducted Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 AM and 6:00 pm, unless the contractor requests and receives permission from the Government to work outside these hours.

e) Safety: The Contractor is required to perform work in accordance with all applicable U.S.

Department of Labor Occupation Safety and Health Administration Standards and take precautions to protect people and livestock from injury caused by falling into open pits.

f) Principal Investigator’s Responsibilities: The Principal Investigator will be responsible for the validity of the material presented in all investigation reports. In the event of controversy or court challenge, the Principal Investigator may be called upon to testify on behalf of the Government in support of his findings at Government expense, at established Government rates.

2) Site reconnaissance trips will be conducted to qualitatively identify potential Northern Red-bellied Cooter basking and nesting habitat within and adjacent to the lake on the subject site, using the guidelines set forth by the PFBC.

3) Upon the completion of the surveys, the Surveyor shall submit a report for review and comment by both NRCS and PFBC within 14 calendar days.

D. OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF DATA AND MATERIALS

Title to all data recovered or generated under this work is vested in the Government. Should the successful Contractor wish to publish or otherwise employ the data outside of the form and report specified in this SOW, the Contractor must receive written permission from NRCS.

E. TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

Work shall conform to all NRCS policy documents and technical guidelines and references as well as PFBC standards and specifications.

1. Surveyor shall complete visual basking surveys along the entire margin of the lake, habitat delineation and mapping of potential habitats within the project area inclusive of all life stages of the turtles, and nesting surveys.

a) Visual basking surveys shall be conducted for at least 5 days (not necessarily consecutive). These surveys must take place during appropriate climatic conditions (water temperature should be at least 10°C) from mid-April to mid-October. All available basking habitat within the survey area shall be examined as much as possible through an ocular device. A high-power ocular device such as a spotting scope that allows the surveyor to differentiate between the red-bellied cooter and red-eared slider must be used. Cameras that can take clear photographs from afar or through the spotting scope shall be used for vouchering observations. Number of basking objects observed and number and species of turtles identified should be recorded, as well as weather conditions.

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b) A herpetologist who is qualified/recognized to survey for the species of special concern shall conduct turtle nesting presence/absence surveys on-site in the potential habitat areas. Nesting surveys shall be conducted from June 1st through July 31st.

c) Potential nesting areas shall be visited at least 4 times between June 1st and July 31st. All types of nesting activity must be recorded (nest construction, completed nests, predated nests, semicompleted nests, egg laying) of all turtle species present on site.

d) All areas of potential nesting habitat shall be GPS located.

2. Deliverables include:

a. Within fourteen calendar days of award, provide a brief survey plan including approximate dates, durations and areas of visits, as well as what equipment will be used.

i) The purpose of this deliverable is to enable better coordination with the owners and security of the park and inform them of what they might expect to see during the survey.

b. Draft and final summary reports including a map and keyed photographs depicting current basking and nesting habitat that could be affected by the lowering of the impoundment. Draft report is due 14 calendar days after last site visit.

i) Draft summary report shall be provided in MS Word format (with .pdf attachments, as appropriate) for review and comment. Comments from NRCS technical POC will be provided within 14 calendar days for additional information or to finalize report.

ii) Report shall include quantitative and qualitative descriptions of turtle populations that are using the habitat.

iii) Report shall discuss potential mitigation that could be completed to protect the Northern Red-bellied Cooter and core habitat that may be affected by the drawdown of the lake.

iv) The “conservation pool” area may provide additional refuge for turtles during the drawdown; an analysis of this potential should be included in the report.

c. Final summary report shall be provided in both MS Word and .pdf formats. Final summary report is due 45 calendar days after final site visit

d. No hard copies of the report are required for this project. Email reports to State POC.

F. NONDISCRIMINATION

“In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter https://www.ascr.usda.gov/how-file-program-discrimination-complaint

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to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email:

program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.”

G. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Additional information, including the site location, design report, drawdown plans, and PFBC SIR will be provided to the contractor upon award.

mailto:program.intake@usda.gov