Seed Project 4 WRD Soda Springs Performance Work Statement.pdf

Soda Springs Thinning - Performance Work Statement

Project Title WRD Soda Springs Thinning Task Order

General Information

1. PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

1.1. All general descriptions and contract terms and conditions listed in the Base IDIQ Performance Work Statement/Contract remain unchanged and are applicable to this Task Order PWS.

1.2. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: to secure thinning services for 1,926 acres and establish no-thin corridors in young growth stands approximately 24 to 55 years of age.

1.3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Shall be 19 May 2022 – 31 October 2024

1.4. GENERAL ACCESSIBILITY

1.4.1. This project is located on the Tongass National Forest’s Wrangell Ranger

District, on Zarembo Island, approximately 10-15 miles west of the town of Wrangell, Alaska. No roads connect the project area to Wrangell or any other nearby communities. The Zarembo Island road system is accessed at one of two marine access facilities on the island, at Roosevelt Harbor or St. John Harbor, via boat or chartered aircraft.

1.5. ITEM(S) SITE ACCESSIBILITY

1.5.1. This project is situated along the Zarembo Island road system. See Appendix 1: Access Information. The majority of service areas are accessible by roads open to vehicle traffic after winter weather (snow/ice) conditions dissipate, some with an additional short (a half-mile or less) walk-in or ATV access on roads that have been partially overgrown. Service areas will likely require a longer walk-in or ATV access on roads that have been partially overgrown. There may also be roads within some items that are overgrown. A reasonable amount of brushing will be allowed on these overgrown roads by the contractor in order to improve walk-in or ATV access. See: Detailed Item Information Table for specific details.

1.6. LOCAL SERVICES

1.6.1. Wrangell, Alaska is a full-service community that is linked to Seattle, Washington via Alaska Airlines, the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System (from Bellingham, Washington) and barge services from Seattle. Wrangell is the administrative site of the Wrangell Ranger District.

2. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS/TASKS

2.1. TASK – THINNING

2.1.1. The Contractor shall thin all eligible conifers to the following specifications:

Tree Size Treatment <2 feet high Leave and ignore for spacing >2 feet high and < 9 inches dbh Cut trees to reach the desired spacing 9 inches dbh and larger, not residual trees Girdle trees to reach the desired spacing all residual trees Leave and ignore for spacing

2.1.2. The Contractor shall thin all eligible conifers greater than 2 feet in height to the following spacing specifications:

Species Items Target Spacing

Minimum Spacing

Maximum Spacing

SS, WH, MH 22, 23 12’x12’ 9’ 15

SS, WH, MH 1-21, 24,

28 14’x14’ 10.5’ 17.5’

SS, WH, MH 25, 26, 29 16’x16’ 12’ 20’ SS, WH, MH 27, 30 18’x18’ 13.5’ 22.5’

YC, RC All 8’x 8’ 6’ 10’

Conifer tree spacing may be varied from the target spacing in order to give the Contractor the greatest opportunity for selecting the most desirable crop trees. Crop trees shall be no closer and no farther apart than the minimum and maximum values listed in the above table for any given spacing by species. Overall average spacing using the target spacing guides shall be maintained wherever possible.

In areas within each item that contain more abundant yellow cedar (YC) and/or redcedar (RC) trees, the crop tree spacing will change to 8’ x 8’ and will only apply to the spacing between cedar trees. The spacing between cedar trees and all other crop trees will follow the wider target spacing for that item as listed in the above table.

All spacing distance between trees shall be adjusted to horizontal distance and measured from the face of the tree boles at breast height (4.5 feet above ground level). Though most stands contain openings not occupied by trees, overly dense thickets shall not be left in one spot to offset the lack of trees in another.

2.1.3. TREES TO FAVOR FOR LEAVE TREES - Within the spacing requirements the

Contractor shall select as leave trees, the largest, best formed, most vigorous tree, of the preferred species. It shall be dominant or co-dominant, free from mechanical or animal damage, and show no signs of disease or dwarf mistletoe.

In the event the Contractor determines that no tree meets these specifications, they shall choose the one that comes closest to meeting the specifications in order to maintain the required spacing.

2.1.4. The Contractor shall not select double-trunked trees or trees that are growing on logs or stumps as leave trees unless no other crop tree is available. Double-trunked trees may be selected, in the absence of a more desirable crop tree, if they are at least half or more the height of the alternate tree choices. If a double-trunked tree is selected, both stems shall be left.

2.1.5. SPECIES PREFERENCE - The Contractor shall thin all eligible conifers greater than 2 feet in height based on the following species preference / priority ranking and no-cut specifications:

District Project Area Crop Tree Species

Preference/Priority Ranking* No- Cut / Ignore For Spacing**

1 2 3 4 5

Wrangell Soda Springs YC SS RC WH MH LP, RA, BC, CA

*Species Preference / Priority Ranking: 1 is highest priority species; when two species appear in the same priority ranking, they shall be considered equal and one should not be favored over the other – the objective is to leave both species distributed proportionally throughout the stand.

**No-Cut / Ignore For Spacing: Except on closed roads to aid access, these species shall not be cut and will not count as crop trees.

Species Codes: SS = Sitka Spruce; WH = Western Hemlock; MH = Mountain Hemlock; YC = Alaska yellow cedar; RC = Western red cedar; LP = Lodgepole Pine; RA = Red Alder; BC = Black Cottonwood; CA = crab apple

2.1.6. ESTABLISH NO-CUT CORRIDORS - The no-thin wildlife corridor(s) shall be 15 feet wide. It does not have to be in a straight line, curves can be used to avoid cliffs and landings, as long as the 15 foot width is maintained.

2.1.7. STUMP HEIGHT – REMOVAL OF LIVE LIMBS - All trees to be cut shall be cut below the lowest live limb, except when prevented by natural or man-made obstacles. Obstacles are objects that could damage a saw blade if nicked, include but not limited to as rock, cable or mineral soil. They do not include logs or stumps. Any live limbs left on stumps because of natural obstacles shall be trimmed to within 4 inches of the obstacle. Stump height shall not exceed 12 inches above ground level or 4 inches above natural obstacles.

2.1.8. PRUNING - Pruning branches of leave trees is allowed only when required to access and sever excess trees growing within the leave tree crown. Pruned branch stubs should not exceed 4 inches in length. Care should be taken not to damage the leave tree bole.

Damaged leave tree boles or long- branch stubs in excess of 4 inches shall count as a damaged tree for inspection purposes.

3. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT MEASUREMENTS:

Performance Objective

PWS

Paragraph

Measurement Method

Allowable Performance Deviation

Remedy Amount or Corrective Action

Task - Thinning 2.1 COR will inspect using plot at a spatial frequency relative to the unit area. The COR will inspect a minimum of one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the unit/contract area.

10% deviation

0% deviation for no-cut corridors

Contractor shall rework the thinned area(s), if possible.

If over cutting has occurred:

Contractors shall be charged per area in accordance with Appendix 2 – Damages Table.

Full invoice payment upon acceptance of services.

Distance from a specified centerline or designated width or following defined no-cut boundary

4. DELIVERABLE / SCHEDULE

4.1. Work Schedule IAW parent PWS.

5. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

5.1. N/A

6. Appendix:

Appendix 1: Access Information