ScopeofWk_Wyandot_WoodCo6_Field_Restoration.pdf

Request for Quote: Field Restoration at Wyandot Wildlife Area and Wood

County Wildlife Area #6

History and Overview

The ODNR, Division of Wildlife is seeking contractors to bushog, spray, plant, and top mow two fields for the purpose restoring a field at Wyandot Wildlife Area and a field at Wood County Wildlife Area #6, located in Crawford Township of

Wyandot County, and Bloom Township of Wood County, Ohio respectively (figure 1). Wyandot Wildlife Area consists of clay-loam soils that and wetter than the surrounding landscape. The area takes longer to dry out in the spring than the adjacent farm fields. Wood County Wildlife Area #6 consists of silt-loam soils. The matrix of farm fields and woody corridors on these areas provide ideal upland wildlife habitat for big and small game species alike. Low-maintenance, quality upland habitat with a variety of broadleaf, grass, and sedge species is important on these areas to provide native cover and forage for a wide variety of species, both migratory and non-migratory. Correctly restoring fields for long-term quality habitat that is resistant to invasive weed species is important across the Midwest and a critical component to Ohio’s wildlife areas.

A web map of the property boundaries found within the attached maps and landcover can be found online at:

https://gis.ohiodnr.gov/MapViewer/?config=ODNRLands. Polygons, where restoration is planned, are included in

Figures 2 and 3 and these are available in an electronic format (Google Earth KML file) upon request.

Methodology and Timeframe for Dove field Installation

Task 1: Preparation and Planting. This task will be for the bushogging, spraying, and planting, of two fields (figures 2 and

3). Fields should be mowed at a height of 6 inches or shorter by March 31st , 2025 in preparation for spring green-up and upcoming herbicide application. Mowing should be done as low as possible, travelling less than 1.5 MPH, to significantly chop up debris. The first herbicide application of glyphosate, ammonium sulfate (AMS), non-ionic surfactant, and 2,4-d ester must be completed by May1st, 2025 at high label rates and result in a 90% kill of unwanted vegetation. The contractor should wait 2 weeks and before assessing if further weed control is needed due to plant-back requirements.

If green vegetation exists over more than 5% of the area by May 15th, 2025, then a second application of glyphosate, nonionic surfactant, and a contact (non-residual) herbicide, such as Reviton® (i.e. Tiafenacil, which targets annual broadleaf weeds and foxtail spp) at high label rates by May 21st, 2025. Permission from the project manager may be obtained to deviate from existing herbicide chemistry, depending on field condition and weed response.

The seed mix must be planted with a no-till, native grass drill prior to June 1st, 2025 at a rate of 6.6lb/acre. The seed mix used must contain the below modified Ohio IVM Mix. Inert materials, such as rice hulls, may be added as a filler as needed. The drilling activity must minimize disturbance of the existing seed bank (i.e. avoid ground scarification with front coulters if using a Truax Flex II drill or any other tillage implements after spraying). While drilling, contractor must assure that at least 25% of the seed is visible on top of the ground to hedge against planting seed too deep, which is a common problem with native seed mix planting. The mix to be planted is below:

Modified Ohio IVM Mix – can be found through Pheasants Forever, Inc. if no other seed vendors can custom mix the below mix. (Feel free to contact Mike Retterer at mretterer@pheasantsforever.org or Aaron Kuehl at akuehl@pheasantsforever.org for pricing.)

Species OZ per acre Bluestem, Big (VNS) Andropogon gerardii 0.3 https://gis.ohiodnr.gov/MapViewer/?config=ODNRLands mailto:mretterer@pheasantsforever.org mailto:akuehl@pheasantsforever.org

Milkweed, Common Asclepias syriaca 0.05 Milkweed, Swamp (Marsh) Asclepias incarnata 0.05 Sideoats grama (local, vns) Bouteloua curtipendula 0.5 Partridge Pea Chamaecrista fasciculata 0.75 Coreopsis, Lanceleaf (sand) Coreopsis lanceolata 0.4 Coreopsis, Plains Coreopsis tinctoria 0.1 Illinois Bundleflower (PrairieMimosa) Desmanthus illinoensis 0.75 Coneflower, Purple Echinacea purpurea 0.25 Sunflower, False (Oxeye) Heliopsis helianthoides 0.2 Bergamot, Wild (Prairie Beebalm) Monarda fistulosa 0.04 Evening primrose, Common Oenothera biennis 0.1 Goldenrod, Stiff (Rigid) Oligoneuron rigidum 0.03 Switchgrass (Blackwell) Panicum virgatum 0.5 Beardtongue,Foxglove Penstemon digitalis 0.05 Mint, Narrowleaf Mountain Pycnanthemum tenuifolium 0.015 Coneflower, Grayheaded (Yellow) Ratibida pinnata 0.1 Susan, Black-eyed Rudbeckia hirta 0.1 Susan, Brown-eyed Rudbeckia triloba 0.07 Bluestem, Little (VNS) Schizachyrium scoparium 1 Cup Plant Silphium perfoliatum 0.04 Aster, Smooth Blue Symphyotrichum laeve 0.015 Aster, New England Symphyotrichum novaeangliae 0.04 Clover, Alsike Trifolium hybridum 0.1 Clover, Crimson Trifolium incarnatum 0.4 Clover, Ladino Trifolium repens 0.1 Vervain, Hoary Verbena stricta 0.05 Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum 0.004 Alexander, Golden Zizia aurea 0.15 Addition: Wild Rye, Virginia Elymus virginicus 0.35 Addition:Sedge, Fox Carex vulpinoidea 0.01 OH IVM: Final Product (31 PART BLEND) 6.614 (lbs)

Since this seed mix will include several early-germinating species and first-year blooming species, the germination of these species will be used to evaluate the early progress of the planting. At least two of the species should be germinated in the fields at the end of July as seedlings prior to payment. These forbs should be visible at low levels across the majority (greater than 50%) of the field by the end of June, as an indicator that there is a minimum acceptable distribution of planting mix species throughout the field (i.e. no areas omitted due to running out of seed, small seeds dropping down too quickly out of seed boxes in the drill, etc.). Rice hulls or oats should be used if a carrier is needed.

Task 2. Post-Plant Top Mowing. After planting, the contractor must top-mow the planting areas at least once prior to

July 20th, 2025, at a height of 12 inches. The sites should be top-mowed a second time at a height of 12-14 inches prior to August 15th, 2025. The project manager will check results of field mowing after confirmation from the contractor that they’ve been completed.

The contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, and supplies to complete the above activities. Seed tags shall be provided to the project manager upon planting the mix. The contractor must stop using heavy equipment if ruts regularly surpass 6 inches deep or soil is too wet to till or plant. Electronic maps can be made available if needed. The contractor is required to contact the ODNR, Division of Wildlife project manager at least two business days prior to initially entering the property for work. Exceptions may be made to task specifications and deadlines due to extremely wet or extremely dry weather conditions.

Guidelines for submitting a quote (deadline October 30th, 2024) and future payment:

Bidders must visit the site prior to bidding on the project. The contractor must contact (i.e. call or text) the project manager when visiting the site, so the bidder can be documented as having a site visit prior to bidding. The bid will not be accepted from contractors that did not visit the site prior to bidding. Please submit a bid by October 30th, 2024 in

Ohio Buys. The vendor will not receive payment until all products and services have been received as per the above specifications and deadlines listed in this document. The contractor will be paid on a percentage basis by each task completed. In the case of a germination failure, as long as fields are prepared according to specifications (e.g. sprayed, planted, and mowed) and seed tags are provided, the contractor will receive at least 60% payment overall. All Task-1 activities need to be completed for full payment on Task 2. Payment for Task 2 will be issued through FY2026 purchase order and though award of funds is likely, it is not guaranteed. If the successful bidder does not initiate or complete the work as specified above, the ODNR, Division of Wildlife reserves the right to pro-rate the payment or cancel the purchase order. Thank you for your interest and please don’t hesitate to give me a call with any questions!

Project Manager:

Justin Harrington

Assistant Wildlife Management Supervisor

ODNR, Division of Wildlife, District Two

952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, Ohio 45840

Office: 419-429-8361

Cell: 419-236-3463

Email: Justin.Harrington@dnr.state.oh.us mailto:Justin.Harrington@dnr.state.oh.us

Figure 1. Overview Map of Field Restoration Locations at Wood County Wildlife Area #6 and Wyandot Wildlife Area.

Figure 2. Field at Wood County Wildlife Area #6 (50.3 acres) where restoration is needed.

Coordinates to enter into Google Maps for directions: 41.174191, -83.601861

Figure 3. Field 14 at Wyandot Wildlife Area (7.0 acres) where restoration is needed.

Coordinates to enter into Google Maps for directions: 40.926624, -83.381822