S01. Attachment 1 - Construction Specifications.pdf

Construction Specification Index

Gary Hensley & Steve Jiles ACEP-Wetland Reserve Easement

Sec 28 & 33, T-25S; R-17E Woodson County, Kansas cs202. Construction Surveys cs203. Contractor Quality Control cs250. Mobilization and Demobilization cs251. Pollution Control cs252. Clearing and Grubbing cs253. Seeding and Mulching cs254. Earthfill cs255. Excavation cs256. Structure for Water Control cs266. Range Planting cs267. Chemical Weed Control

BRIAN W. SEVERIN

Agricultural Engineer NRCS, Emporia, Kansas

NRCS – March 2021 202-1 KS – Gary Hensley & Steve Jiles, Woodson County

Construction Specification 202 – Construction Surveys

1. Scope The work consists of performing all surveys, measurements, and computations required by this specification.

2. Equipment and material Equipment for construction surveys shall be of a quality and condition to provide the required accuracy.

The equipment shall be maintained in good working order and in proper adjustment at all times. Records of repairs, calibration tests, accuracy checks, and adjustments shall be maintained and be available for inspection by the engineer. Equipment shall be checked, tested, and adjusted as necessary in conformance with manufacturer's recommendations.

Material is field notebooks, stakes, templates, platforms, equipment, spikes, steel pins, tools, and all other items necessary to perform the work specified.

3. Quality of work All work shall follow recognized professional practice and industry standards unless otherwise specified in section 9 of this specification. The work shall be performed to the accuracy and detail appropriate for the type of job. Notes, sketches, and other data shall be complete, recorded neatly, legible, reproducible, and organized to facilitate ease in review and allow reproduction of copies for job documentation. Survey equipment that requires little or no manual recording of field data shall have survey information documented as outlined in section 9 of this specification.

The minimum requirements for placing slope stakes shall be at 100-foot stations for tangents, as little as 25 feet for sharp curves, breaks in the original ground surface and at any other intermediate stations necessary to ensure accurate location for construction layout and measurement. Slope stakes and cross sections shall be perpendicular to the centerline. Significant breaks in grade shall be determined for cross sections. Distances shall be measured horizontally and recorded to the nearest 0.1 foot.

Unless otherwise specified in section 9 of this specification, measurements for stationing and establishing the location of structures shall be made to the nearest 0.1 foot.

Elevations for concrete work, pipes, and mechanical equipment shall be determined and recorded to the nearest 0.01 foot. Elevations for earth work shall be determined and recorded to the nearest 0.1 foot.

4. Primary control The baselines and benchmarks for primary control are shown on the drawings and have been located on the job site.

These baselines and benchmarks shall be used as the origin of all surveys, layouts, and measurements to establish construction lines and grades. The contractor shall take all necessary precautions to prevent the loss or damage of primary control points. Any stakes or control points lost or damaged by construction activity will be reestablished by the contractor or at contractor expense.

5. Construction surveys Before the contractor performs surveys, the following information shall be submitted to the COR or Inspector for review: the name, qualifications, and experience of the individuals to be assigned to the survey tasks.

Contractor performed surveys shall include:

• checking and any supplemental or interim staking

• performing quantity surveys, measurements, and computations for progress payment

• other surveys as described in section 9 of this specification

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6. Staking Construction staking shall be completed before work on any item starts. Construction staking shall be completed as follows or as otherwise specified in section 9 of this specification:

Clearing and grubbing—The boundary of the area(s) to be cleared and grubbed shall be staked or flagged at a maximum interval of 200 feet, closer if needed, to clearly mark the limits of work. When contractor staking is the basis for determining the area for final payment, all boundary stakes will be reviewed by the engineer before start of this work item.

Excavation and fill—Slope stakes shall be placed at the intersection of the specified slopes and ground line. Slope stakes and the reference stakes for slopes shall be marked with the stationing, required cut or fill, slope ratio, and horizontal distance from the centerline or other control line. The minimum requirements for placing slope stakes is outlined in section 3, Quality of work.

Structures—Centerline and offset reference line stakes for location, alignment, and elevation shall be placed for all structures.

7. Records All survey data shall be recorded in fully identified standard hard-bound engineering survey field notebooks with consecutively numbered pages or loose-leaf notebook sheets manually numbered. All field notes and printed data shall include the purpose or description of the work, the date the work was performed, weather data, sketches, and the personnel who performed and checked the work.

Electronically generated survey data and computations shall be bound, page numbered, and cross referenced in a bound field notebook containing the index for all survey activities. All work shall follow recognized professional practice.

8. Measurement and payment The quantity of work will not be measured for payment. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings. Payment for this item is made at the contract price and will constitute full compensation for the completion of the work.

Compensation for any item of work not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 9 of this specification.

9. Items of work and construction details The Government will perform basic layout and staking as detailed below prior to commencement of construction. Most staking will occur after mowing and/or clearing and grubbing operations have been completed. Construction staking in those areas will be completed within 5 working days after notification by the contractor. All reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve staking throughout the construction period. Reestablishing any staking that is disturbed by construction activity will be the contractor’s responsibility.

All staking shall be done in accordance with Section 6 except that slope ratios are not required to be marked on stakes.

Benchmarks - The benchmark locations will be referenced to local coordinates. Elevations will be provided to the nearest 0.01 foot. The location and elevations of additional benchmark locations for construction staking and final checking will be supplied to the contractor.

Earthfill Stakeout – The earthfill will be staked at all 100-foot stations, grade breaks, and changes in cross section using the slope stake method. Distances between staked stations will not exceed 100 feet. Fill toes will be marked with a flag and anchored by a 1-inch x 2-inch wooden stake. The stakes will be marked with the project station, earthfill required, and toe offset from centerline. Offsets at all stations are optional and the COR or Inspector will determine when they will be utilized. Fill toe locations and any offsets will be recorded in a handheld GPS or data collector.

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Structure Stakeout – Structure and pipe locations will be marked with a flag and anchored by a 1-inch x 2-inch wooden stake. The stakes will be marked with the project station. The COR or Inspector will determine if an offset stake will be utilized.

Excavated Depression Stakeout – Cut toe locations will be marked with a white flag and spaced as needed (not to exceed 100-foot) to represent the structure’s curvature. The amount of cut to the designed bottom of the depression will be marked on the flag. Locations of the cut toes and any offsets will be recorded in a handheld GPS or data collector.

Other Area Stakeouts – Mowing or clearing and grubbing areas will be marked with orange flagging at maximum 200 foot intervals. Pollution control measures will be marked with yellow flags.

The microdepression zone will be marked with white flags at a maximum of 200 foot intervals. The approximate center of each individual depression within the microdepression zone will be marked with a white flag.

The item of work to be performed under this specification are the following:

Subsidiary Item - Construction Surveys

a) Notify the Engineer and/or Inspector when mowing operations are complete.

b) Construction surveys will be as specified in Section 5 and include the reestablishment of any basic staking disturbed by construction activity.

c) Survey control point locations shall be verified prior to starting work, and the Engineer shall be promptly notified of any discrepancies discovered.

d) Compensation for Construction Surveys will be included in the payment for Bid Items 1 and 12 –

Mobilization / Demobilization.

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Construction Specification 203 – Contractor Quality Control

1. Scope The work consists of developing, implementing, and maintaining a quality control system to ensure that the specified quality is achieved for all materials and work performed.

2. Quality control system The contractor shall develop, implement, and maintain a system of quality control to provide the specified material testing and verification of material quality before use. The system activities shall include procedures to verify adequacy of completed work, initiate corrective action to be taken, and document the final results. The identification of the quality control personnel and their duties and authorities shall be submitted to the contracting officer in writing within 15 calendar days after notice of award.

The quality control system shall include, but not be limited to, a rigorous examination of construction material, processes, and operation, including testing of material and examination of manufacturer's certifications as required, to verify that work meets contract requirements and is performed in a competent manner.

3. Quality control personnel Quality control activities shall be accomplished by competent personnel. A competent person is: One who is experienced and capable of identifying, evaluating, and documenting that the materials and processes being used will result in work that complies with the contract; and, who has authority to take prompt action to remove, replace, or correct such work or products not in compliance.

4. Records The contractor's quality control records shall document both acceptable and deficient features of the work and corrective actions taken. All records shall be on forms approved by the contracting officer, be legible, and be dated and signed by the competent person creating the record.

Unless otherwise specified in section 6 of this specification, records shall include:

a. Documentation of material delivered including quantity, storage location, and results of quality control examinations and tests.

b. The determination that the material or item met the contract provisions and documentation that the engineer was notified.

c. For deficient work, the nature of the defects, specifications not met, corrective action taken, and results of quality control activities on the corrected material or item.

5. Measurement and payment The quantity of work will not be measured for payment. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings. Payment for this item is made at the contract price and will constitute full compensation for the completion of the work.

Compensation for any item of work not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 6 of this specification.

6. Items of work and construction details The item of work to be performed under this specification are the following:

Subsidiary Item - Contractor Quality Control

a) This item shall consist of furnishing personnel to perform the testing and inspection necessary to implement a quality control system and ensure quality construction work.

b) The contractor shall identify a quality control manager who shall be on-site or be available for immediate consultation during all periods of production work.

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c) Finished top of dike earthfills shall be constructed to within +0.2 foot of the planned elevation.

Finished dike earthfill slopes shall be constructed to within ±0.3 foot of the planned elevation as calculated for any horizontal distance on the slope. The elevation difference shall not exceed 0.2 foot at successive staked stations along the slope line. The slope shall be nearly uniform (within

0.2 foot of true slope) from top to bottom.

d) Finished natural auxiliary spillway elevations shall be constructed to within +0.1 foot of the planned elevation.

e) Finished excavation of the borrow areas shall be constructed to within ±0.3 foot of the planned elevation with 50% of the area at the planned elevation or lower.

f) Contractor must furnish material certifications for the following specific items:

• Structure for Water Control

• Plastic Pipe

• Bar Guard

• Pipe Anchor (Assembly)

• Seed (Critical Area Planting)

• Mulch

• Herbicide (Chemical Weed Control)

• Seed (Range Planting)

g) Compensation for Contractor Quality Control will be included in the payment for Bid Items 1 and 12 – Mobilization / Demobilization.

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Construction Specification 250 – Mobilization and Demobilization

1. Scope The work consists of the mobilization and demobilization of the contractor's forces and equipment necessary for performing the work required under the contract. It does not include mobilization and demobilization for specific items of work for which payment is provided elsewhere in the contract.

Mobilization will not be considered as work in fulfilling the contract requirements for commencement of work.

2. Equipment and material Mobilization shall include all activities and associated costs for transportation of contractor's personnel, equipment, and operating supplies to the site; establishment of offices, buildings, and other necessary general facilities for the contractor's operations at the site; premiums paid for performance and payment bonds including coinsurance and reinsurance agreements as applicable; and other items specified in section 4 of this specification.

Demobilization shall include all activities and costs for transportation of personnel, equipment, and supplies not required or included in the contract from the site; including the disassembly, removal, and site cleanup of offices, buildings, and other facilities assembled on the site specifically for this contract.

This work includes mobilization and demobilization required by the contract at the time of award. If additional mobilization and demobilization activities and costs are required during the performance of the contract, an adjustment in contract price may be negotiated.

3. Measurement and payment The quantity of work will not be measured for payment. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings. Payment for this item is made at the contract price and will constitute full compensation for the completion of the work.

Compensation for any item of work not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 4 of this specification.

4. Items of work and construction details The items of work to be performed under this specification are the following:

Bid Items 1 and 12 – Mobilization and Demobilization

a) This item consists of mobilization and demobilization of the contractor's forces and equipment necessary for the completion of the work.

b) Transportation of any materials incorporated into the permanent works shall not be considered a mobilization item.

c) All roads, culverts, bridges, sidewalks, parking lots, fences, structures, etc., shall be protected from damage during the contract period. Road surfaces shall be protected from damages by equipment.

d) Access shall be as shown on the drawings. If alternate routes are obtained by the contractor, they must be approved by the engineer or the inspector prior to use. All access routes shall be restored by the contractor to a condition equal to or better than the condition prior to the commencement of work under this contract.

e) Payment for mobilization and demobilization will be made at the contract price for the item and will constitute full compensation for all labor, equipment, tools, and other items necessary and incidental to the completion of the work. Payment will constitute compensation for the following related subsidiary items:

i. Construction Surveys – Construction Specification 202

ii. Contractor Quality Control – Construction Specification 203

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iii. Non-Structural Pollution Control Measures – Construction Specification 251

iv. Structural Sediment Pollution Control – Construction Specification 251

Bid Items 2 and 13 – Site Preparation, Mowing

a) This item consists of mowing the designated area to reduce height of existing vegetation to allow staking for earthen construction.

b) Acceptable equipment for Site Preparation, Mowing includes rotary mower or flail shredder.

c) The mowing operations will result in at least 90% of the vegetation mowed to a height of 12 inches or less throughout the designated areas. Vegetation should be chopped up to a degree that material will not blow from the site.

d) The area of Site Preparation, Mowing will not be measured. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings.

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Construction Specification 251 – Pollution Control

1. Scope The work consists of installing measures or performing work to control erosion and minimize the production of sediment and other pollutants to water and air from construction activities.

2. Material All material furnished shall meet the requirements of the material specifications listed in section 8 of this specification.

3. Erosion and sediment control measures and works The measures and works shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

Staging of earthwork activities—The excavation and moving of soil materials shall be scheduled to minimize the size of areas disturbed and unprotected from erosion for the shortest reasonable time.

Seeding—Seeding to protect disturbed areas shall occur as soon as reasonably possible following completion of that earthwork activity.

Mulching—Mulching to provide temporary protection of the soil surface from erosion.

Diversions—Diversions to divert water from work areas and to collect water from work areas for treatment and safe disposition. They are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its near original condition when the diversions are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Stream crossings—Culverts or bridges where equipment must cross streams. They are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its near original condition when the crossings are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Sediment basins—Sediment basins collect, settle, and eliminate sediment from eroding areas from impacting properties and streams below the construction site(s). These basins are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its original condition when they are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Sediment filters—Straw bale filters or geotextile sediment fences trap sediment from areas of limited runoff. Sediment filters shall be properly anchored to prevent erosion under or around them. These filters are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its original condition when they are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Waterways—Waterways for the safe disposal of runoff from fields, diversions, and other structures or measures. These works are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its original condition when they are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Other—Additional protection measures as specified in section 8 of this specification or required by Federal, State, or local government.

4. Chemical pollution The contractor shall provide watertight tanks or barrels or construct a sump sealed with plastic sheets to collect and temporarily contain chemical pollutants, such as drained lubricating or transmission fluids, grease, soaps, concrete mixer washwater, or asphalt, produced as a by-product of the construction activities. Pollutants shall be disposed of in accordance with appropriate State and Federal regulations. At the completion of the construction work, tanks, barrels, and sumps shall be removed and the area restored to its original condition as specified in section 8 of this specification. Sump removal shall be conducted without causing pollution.

Sanitary facilities, such as chemical toilets, or septic tanks shall not be located next to live streams, wells, or springs. They shall be located at a distance sufficient to prevent contamination of any water source. At

NRCS – March 2021 251-2 the completion of construction activities, facilities shall be disposed of without causing pollution as specified in section 8 of this specification.

5. Air pollution The burning of brush or slash and the disposal of other materials shall adhere to state and local regulations.

Fire prevention measures shall be taken to prevent the start or spreading of wildfires that may result from project activities. Firebreaks or guards shall be constructed and maintained at locations shown on the drawings.

All public access or haul roads used by the contractor during construction of the project shall be sprinkled or otherwise treated to fully suppress dust. All dust control methods shall ensure safe construction operations at all times. If chemical dust suppressants are applied, the material shall be a commercially available product specifically designed for dust suppression and the application shall follow manufacturer's requirements and recommendations. A copy of the product data sheet and manufacturer's recommended application procedures shall be provided to the engineer 5 working days before the first application.

6. Maintenance, removal, and restoration All pollution control measures and temporary works shall be adequately maintained in a functional condition for the duration of the construction period. All temporary measures shall be removed and the site restored to near original condition.

7. Measurement and payment The quantity of work will not be measured for payment. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings. Payment for this item is made at the contract price and will constitute full compensation for the completion of the work.

Compensation for any item of work not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 8 of this specification.

8. Items of work and construction details The items of work to be performed under this specification are the following:

Subsidiary Item – Non-Structural Pollution Control Measures

a) This item shall consist of providing a sanitary toilet facility for the job site, the collection and disposal of chemical pollutants, and the scheduling of construction activities to control the production of sediment.

b) Chemical Pollution Control

i. All waste and/or used oils and grease shall be caught in containers suitable for the storage and transportation of such pollutants. All materials shall be transported to a commercial chemical disposal facility capable of either recycling or disposing of the pollutants. The manifest(s) for all chemical pollutants and other materials removed from the site shall be, upon request, made available to the Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer's Representative. The manifest(s) shall include the date of transport, destination, description of materials transported, name of the recipient recycling facility or recipient disposal facility.

ii. Soil materials contaminated by chemical pollutants shall be disposed of with the pollutant materials.

iii. At the completion of construction, all sanitary facilities shall be removed from the site.

Any materials contaminated by the sanitary facilities, their installation, operation, or removal shall immediately be removed and disposed of in accordance with all federal, state, and local regulations.

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iv. An earthen dike will be constructed and maintained around all fuel storage tanks. The height of the dike will be as needed to contain the stored fuel without overtopping.

v. All areas disturbed by pollution cleanup operations shall be restored to as nearly original conditions as practicable.

c) No separate payment will be made for Non-Structural Pollution Control Measures.

Compensation for Non-Structural Pollution Control Measures will be included in the payment for Bid Items 1 and 12 – Mobilization and Demobilization.

Subsidiary Item – Structural Sediment Pollution Control

a) This item shall consist of the installation and maintenance structural measures required for control of sediment pollution including silt fence barriers or straw bale barriers.

b) Structural sediment control measures shall be in place prior to beginning operations when practical.

c) Silt fence barriers and straw bale barriers or a combination of these measures shall be installed where indicated on the drawings. The Engineer may identify additional locations requiring these control measures during the course of construction. All materials used for constructing silt fence barriers and straw bale barriers shall be approved by the Engineer prior to installation.

d) All structural sediment control measures shall be maintained until no longer needed. Such maintenance shall include clean out of accumulated sediment and debris and maintenance of vegetation or mulch.

e) All structural sediment pollution control measures shall be removed at the completion of the phase of work for which they are used. Such removal shall be with the approval of the Engineer after Critical Area Planting and Mulching operations are approved.

d) The length of Structural Sediment Pollution Control will not be measured. The estimated quantities are shown on the drawings. No separate payment will be made for Structural Sediment Pollution Control. Compensation for Structural Sediment Pollution Control will be included in the payment for Bid Items 1 and 12 – Mobilization and Demobilization.

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Construction Specification 252 – Clearing and Grubbing

1. Scope The work consists of clearing, grubbing, and disposing of trees, snags, logs, brush, stumps, shrubs, and rubbish from the designated areas.

2. Protection of existing vegetation Trees and other vegetation designated to remain undisturbed shall be protected from damage throughout the duration of the construction period. Any damages resulting from the contractor's operations or neglect shall be repaired or replaced by the contractor.

3. Marking The limits of the area(s) to be cleared and grubbed will be marked by stakes, flags, tree markings, or other suitable methods. Trees to be left standing and uninjured will be designated by special markings that are conducive to preventing injury to the tree and shall be placed on the trunk about 6 feet above the ground surface.

4. Clearing and grubbing All trees not marked for preservation and all snags, logs, brush, stumps, shrubs, rubbish, and similar materials shall be cleared from within the limits of the designated areas. Unless otherwise specified, all stumps, roots, and root clusters that have a diameter of 1 inch or larger shall be grubbed out to a depth of at least 1 foot below the ground surface.

Land Clearing, Light Cover is for areas dominated by relatively small trees and/or brush with diameter less than 3 inches.

Land Clearing, Medium Cover is for areas dominated with trees and /or brush with diameters less than 12 inches but larger than 3 inches.

Land Clearing, Heavy Cover is for areas dominated by larger trees with diameter greater than 12 inches.

5. Disposal All materials cleared and grubbed from the designated areas shall be disposed of at locations shown on the drawings or in a manner specified in section 7. The contractor is responsible for complying with all local rules and regulations and the payment of any and all fees that may result from disposal at locations away from the project site.

6. Measurement and payment The quantity of work will not be measured for payment. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings. Payment for this item is made at the contract price and will constitute full compensation for the completion of the work.

Compensation for any item of work not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 7 of this specification.

7. Items of work and construction details Items of work to be performed in conformance with this specification and the construction details are:

Bid Item 3 – Site Preparation - Land Clearing, Light Cover

a) This item shall consist of clearing, grubbing, and disposing of materials from the construction site as designated on the drawings or as staked in the field.

b) All woody debris not salvaged and removed by the landowner is to be buried in the burn trench area shown on the drawings. Debris must be chipped, ground, or burned prior to being buried.

Materials to be disposed of by burying shall be covered with earth to a depth of at least two (2) feet.

c) The area to be cleared and grubbed will not be measured. Payment will be based on the designed

NRCS – March 2021 252-2 quantity shown on the drawings. Payment will constitute compensation for the following related subsidiary items:

i. Excavation, Burn Trench – Construction Specification 255

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Construction Specification 253—Seeding and Mulching

1. Scope The work consists of preparing the area for treatment; furnishing and placing seed, mulch, fertilizer, inoculant, lime, and other soil amendments; and anchoring mulch in designated areas as specified.

2. Material Seed – Seed labeling, quality, and seed testing shall be in accordance with Kansas Seed Law. For Kansas Seed Law, the germination test is valid for nine (9) months after the end of the month the test was made so long as the seed remains in Kansas. Federal Seed Law pertains to seed shipped across state lines and the germination test is valid for five (5) months after the end of the month the test was made.

Where named varieties are not available, common (native harvest) seed from a source location as near to the area being seeded as possible may be utilized. For mileage restriction, native grass seed will not be used more than 250 to 400 miles north of or 100 to 150 miles south of its point of origin and an increase of elevation of 1500 feet. Seed from a southern source will be given preference over seed from a northern source. Seed source must be identified to the state and county level in order to certify mileage and elevation adequacy.

For seed purchased during the valid period of the germination test, the analysis report may be considered current for the full seeding period in effect at the time of purchase. For example, if seed is purchased March 1 and the germination test date expires March 31, the analysis report may be considered current if the seed is planted by May 15. If the seed is to be planted during a later seeding season, a new germination test shall be performed.

Hay Mulch material – Hay Mulch shall consist of cut native prairie grass hay or wheat, barley, oat, or rye straw as specified in section 6. The mulch material shall be air-dry, and shall not be musty, moldy, caked, or otherwise of low quality. The use of mulch that contains noxious weeds is not permitted. The contractor shall provide a method satisfactory for determining weight of mulch furnished such as scale tickets.

3. Seedbed preparation and treatment Areas to be treated shall be dressed to a smooth, firm surface. On sites where equipment can operate on slopes safely, the seedbed shall be tilled to a depth of 3 inches and smoothed. Soil should be firm enough as to not create a footprint more than a quarter inch deep. Depending on soil and moisture conditions, disking or cultipacking, or both, may be necessary to properly prepare a seedbed. Where equipment cannot operate safely, the seedbed shall be prepared by hand methods by scarifying to provide a roughened soil surface so that broadcast seed will remain in place.

If seeding is to be accomplished immediately following construction operations, seedbed preparation may not be required except on a compacted, polished, or freshly cut soil surface.

All debris, such as rocks larger than 6 inches in diameter, trash, weeds, and other objects that will interfere with seeding or maintenance operations, shall be removed or disposed of as specified in section 6.

4. Seeding, mulching, stabilizing and dates of planting All seeding operations shall be performed in such a manner that the seed is applied in the specified quantities uniformly in the designated areas. The method and rate of seed application and the approved planting dates shall be as specified in section 6.

The rate, amount, and kind of mulching shall be as specified in section 6. Mulches shall be applied uniformly to the designated areas. They shall be applied to areas seeded not later than 2 working days after seeding has been performed. Mulch materials shall be stabilized within 24 hours of application using a mulch crimper or equivalent anchoring tool or by an asphalt emulsion product. When the mulch crimper

NRCS – March 2021 253-2 or equivalent anchoring tool is used, it shall have straight blades and be the type manufactured expressly for and capable of firmly punching the mulch into the soil. Where the equipment can be safely operated, it shall be operated on the contour. Hand methods shall be used where equipment cannot safely operate to perform the work required.

5. Measurement and payment The quantity of work will not be measured for payment. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings. Payment for this item is made at the contract price and will constitute full compensation for the completion of the work.

Compensation for any item of work not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 6 of this specification.

6. Items of work and construction details The items of work to be performed under this specification are the following:

Bid Items 10 and 20 – Critical Area Planting – Dike

a) This item consists of preparing the seedbed and placing seed and mulch to approximate limits shown on the plans or as staked in the field.

b) The seeding operation shall be completed within 2 days after final grading is completed and approved. Mulching shall be completed as required in Section 4.

c) All accessible areas shall be sown with a grass drill. The seed shall be placed ¼ to ½ inch deep.

The drill shall be equipped with double disc or coulter furrow openers with depth bands and press wheels spaced not more than 12 inches apart. Small, inaccessible areas or wet areas may be broadcast seeded. Broadcast areas shall be lightly harrowed or raked the same day the seed is spread.

d) The seed mixture shall be as follows for the designated area. The actual quantity of seed and mulch applied will be based on the designated quantity shown on the plans.

Pounds per Acre Species in "Pure Live Seed" (PLS) El Reno Sideoats Grama 4.8 Blackwell Switchgrass 1.2 Barton Western Wheatgrass 2.0 Kaw Big Bluestem 1.2 Osage Indiangrass 1.2 Aldous Little Bluestem 0.8

e) The area to be seeded will not be measured. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings.

Bid Items 11 and 22 – Mulching – Dike

a) Mulch materials shall consist of native prairie grass hay or clean straw. If mulch is applied on or after July 15, current year hay cutting shall be used. If mulch is applied before July 15, hay shall be no older than the previous year’s cutting. All mulch hay shall be visually inspected and approved by the inspector prior to application. The mulch shall be applied at a rate of 2 tons per acre. The mulch shall be anchored by using a straight, serrated disc weighted to press the mulch into the soil a minimum of 2 inches. Spacing between discs shall not exceed 12 inches. No area shall be mulched that cannot be anchored in the same day’s operation. Weight tickets on each load of mulch shall be delivered to the inspector prior to the application. All areas seeded shall be mulched.

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b) The area to be mulched will not be measured. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings.

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Construction Specification 254 – Earthfill

1. Scope The work shall consist of the construction of all earthfill structures and earth backfills required by the drawings and specifications.

Earthfill is composed of natural earth materials that can be placed and compacted by construction equipment operated in a conventional manner.

Earth backfill is composed of natural earth material placed and compacted in confined spaces or adjacent to structures (including pipes) by hand tamping, manually directed power tampers or vibrating plates or their equivalent.

2. Material Fill material shall be obtained from required excavations and/or designated borrow areas. The selection, blending, routing, and disposition of material in the various fills shall be subject to approval by the engineer.

Fill material shall be free of sod, brush, roots, trash, or other objectionable material. Rock particles larger than 6 inches shall be removed prior to compaction of the fill.

3. Foundation preparation The earth foundation surface shall (after stripping and before placing the first layer of earthfill) be graded to remove surface irregularities, be scarified, and moisture-conditioned to a minimum depth of 6 inches to facilitate compaction and a good bond with the earthfill. The moisture content of the foundation materials at the time of compaction shall be the same as the earthfill to be placed on the foundation.

No embankment material shall be placed upon the earth surfaces of excavations, foundation preparation, or previous embankment when such surfaces have dried sufficiently to form shrinkage cracks. Such earth surfaces being readied for embankment shall have all loose, hard, dry, and cracked material removed and then scarified and moisture conditioned to a minimum depth of 2 inches.

4. Placement Earthfill shall not be placed upon a frozen surface nor shall snow, ice, or frozen material be incorporated into the earthfill matrix.

Earthfill shall be placed in approximately horizontal layers starting at the lowest point in the foundation.

The earthfill materials shall be placed in nearly horizontal layers not exceeding 9 inches before compaction or as shown on the drawings. Materials placed by dumping in piles or windrows shall be spread uniformly to not more than the specified thickness before being compacted.

Machine compaction shall be accomplished by the controlled movement of hauling and spreading equipment over the fill area. Every point on the surface of each lift shall be traversed by not less than one tread track of the equipment.

Hand compaction shall be required in areas inaccessible to heavy equipment. The hand-compacted fill shall be compacted by hand tamping or manually directed power tampers or plate vibrators. The backfill shall consist of clay material free of stones larger than 2 inches. The fill shall be placed in layers not more than 4 inches thick before compaction. Such protective measures as necessary shall be taken to ensure that the fill does not dry sufficiently to form cracks after placement.

5. Control of moisture content The moisture content of the fill material for dozer and machine compaction shall be adequate for efficient blending and bonding of the materials for obtaining the required compaction. Material being placed shall be sufficiently moist to prevent dusty conditions and sufficiently dry to be workable (without excessive rutting of the compacted surface by the earthmoving equipment). Tracks from the earthmoving equipment

NRCS – March 2021 254-2 should not exceed one-half of the compacted fill layer depth. Material that is too wet shall be dried to meet this requirement and material that is too dry shall be wetted and mixed until the requirement is met.

The moisture content of the material for hand compaction shall be near the optimum moisture content.

For clays and silts, the moisture content shall be such that a ball formed with the hands does not crack or separate when struck sharply and will easily ribbon out between the thumb and finger. For sand-silt and sand-clay mixtures, the moisture shall be such that a ball can be formed but which readily breaks and crumbles with pressure.

6. Measurement and payment The quantity of work will not be measured for payment. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings. Payment for this item is made at the contract price and will constitute full compensation for the completion of the work.

Compensation for any item of work not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 7 of this specification.

7. Items of work and construction details The items of work to be performed under this specification are the following:

Bid Item 4 and 14 – Earthfill, Dike

a) This item shall consist of the earthfill construction required for the dikes as shown on the drawings. The completed work shall conform to the lines, grades, and elevations shown on the drawings or as staked in the field.

b) Prior to placement of dike earthfill, the foundation stripping shall be approved by the inspector.

c) The dike shall be constructed in the locations shown on the plans or as staked in the field and as specified in section 4. The tolerances shall be as stated in Construction Specification 203, Contractor Quality Control.

d) Stockpiled topsoil from the stripping construction will be placed on the outer portion of the structure. Topsoil shall not be less than 6 inches or more than 2 feet thick measured vertically and shall be compacted concurrently with the earthfill. Material that contains excessive amounts of organic matter shall not be used as earthfill or earth backfill material.

e) The volume of Earthfill, Dike will not be measured. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings. Payment will constitute compensation for the following related subsidiary items:

i. Excavation, Borrow – Construction Specification 255

ii. Excavation, Stripping – Construction Specification 255

Subsidiary Item – Earthfill, Hand Compacted

a) This item shall consist of placing the hand compacted earth backfill required for the installation of the pipes and structure for water control as shown on the drawings. The completed work shall conform to the lines, grades, and elevations shown on the drawings or as staked in the field.

b) Manually directed power tampers or plate vibrators shall include only small hand-held or hand-directed compactors powered by compressed air, internal combustion engines, or electricity.

c) No separate payment will be made for Earth Backfill, Hand Compacted. Compensation will be included in the payment for Bid Items 5, 6, 15, and 16 – Water Control Structure.

NRCS – March 2021 255-1

Construction Specification 255 – Excavation

1. Scope The work shall consist of the excavation required by the drawings and specifications and disposal of the excavated materials.

2. Use of excavated material To the extent they are needed, all suitable material from the specified excavations shall be used in the construction of required permanent earthfill or rockfill. The suitability of material for specific purposes is determined by the engineer. The contractor shall not waste or otherwise dispose of suitable excavated material.

3. Disposal of waste materials All surplus or unsuitable excavated materials shall be disposed of at the locations shown on the drawings.

4. Borrow excavation When the quantities of suitable material obtained from specified excavations are insufficient to construct the specified earthfill structures and earth backfill, additional material shall be obtained from the designated borrow area or contractor supplied borrow areas.

5. Over excavation Excavation beyond the specified lines and grades shall be corrected by filling the resulting voids with approved, compacted earthfill. Before correcting an overexcavation condition, the contractor shall review the planned corrective action with the engineer and obtain approval of the corrective measures.

6. Measurement and payment The quantity of work will not be measured for payment. Payment will be based on the designed quantity shown on the drawings. Payment for this item is made at the contract price and will constitute full compensation for the completion of the work.

Compensation for any item of work not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 7 of this specification.

7. Items of work and construction details All excavations shall be constructed to the lines and grades shown on the drawings or as directed by the NRCS Engineer or their representative. The items of work to be performed under this specification are the following.

Subsidiary Item – Excavation, Borrow

a) This item shall consist of the excavation required to construct the borrow areas as shown on the drawings. The completed work shall conform to the lines, grades, and elevations shown on the drawings or as staked in the field.

b) The borrow areas shall be stripped of all vegetation and topsoil containing substantial amounts of organic matter. The stripped material can used as topsoil on the outer portion of the dike earthfill or on other disturbed areas which will require topsoil prior to seeding.

c) The volume of Excavation, Borrow will not be measured. The estimated quantities are shown on the drawings. Compensation will be included in the payment for Bid Items 4 and 14 – Earthfill, Dike.

Subsidiary Item – Excavation, Stripping

a) This item shall consist of stripping the entire area to be occupied by the dike to depths of at least

6 inches below the original ground surface. Excavated materials can be used as earthfill on the outer portions of the dike.

NRCS – March 2021 255-2

b) Stripping shall be sufficient to remove topsoil, rubbish, organic matter, and other perishable and objectionable material not suitable for the foundation of the dike or as earthfill in the dike.

c) The volume of Excavation, Stripping will not be measured. The estimated quantities are shown on the drawings. Compensation will be included in the payment for Bid Items 4 and 14 – Earthfill, Dike.

Subsidiary Item – Excavation, Burn Trench

a) This item shall consist of the excavation for a trench to burn and bury cleared trees and roots as shown on the drawings.

b) The trench excavated for the burning and burying shall be at least 4 feet deep.

c) Excavated materials shall be temporarily placed adjacent to the burn trench. Material shall be returned to the trench following burning in lifts and compacted as specified in Earthfill Specification 254. The top of fill shall be graded to drain and left smooth for seeding operations.

d) The volume of Excavation, Burn Trench will not be measured. Compensation for Excavation, Burn Trench, will be included in the payment for Bid Item 3 – Site Preparation – Land Clearing, Light Cover.

NRCS – March 2021 256-1

Construction Specification 256 – Structure for Water Control

1. Scope The work consists of furnishing and installing plastic pipe conduits, water level control structures, and the necessary fittings and appurtenances as shown on the drawings or as specified herein.

2. Material Plastic pipe conduits shall be manufactured from either Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) materials or Polyethylene (PE) materials. The water control structure shall be a pre-fabricated, water tight structure constructed of PVC, fiberglass, or other suitable materials. All pipe, fittings, and gaskets shall conform to the requirements as specified in section 9 of this specification or as shown on the drawings.

3. Pipe Installation Plastic pipe conduits complete with fittings and other related appurtenances shall be installed to the lines and grades shown on the drawings or specified in section 8 of this specification. The pipe shall be installed so that there is no reversal of grade between joints unless otherwise shown on the drawings. The pipe foundation shall be excavated a minimum of 6 inches lower than shown on the drawings or staked in the field when bedrock, boulders, cobbles, or other material that may cause pipe damage is encountered.

The pipe shall not be dropped or dumped on the bedding or into the pipe trench.

Just before placement,…