SOW_Dezza_Bluff2_(1)_(2).pdf

Bureau of Indian Affairs Navajo Regional Office

Fuels Management Program Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project

Dezza Bluff Silvicultural Prescription

STATEMENT OF WORK

Background

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Region, Fuels Management Program utilizes prescribed burning activities as a tool to re-introduce fire into the ecological process for removing dead and down woody material and to promote healthy forest conditions. The primary purpose of prescribed burns is to create a break in the continuity of ground fuels in order to protect communities and structures and reduce the accumulation of hazardous ground fuels to prevent the loss of human life and/or property, critical wildlife habitat, water resources, and cultural resources in the event of a catastrophic wildland fire.

Historically, natural fire occurrences within the Southwest ranged from every ten-to-twenty years. Previous logging activities within the Navajo Region resulted in above normal fuel loads.

The accumulation of natural fuels along with logging slash has resulted in heavy fuel loads, which are referred to as hazardous fuels.

Prescribed burning activities within the Navajo Region are guided by policy in the Wildland and Prescribed Fire Management Policy Implementation Procedures Reference Guide, the Ten Year Forest Management Plan for the Navajo Nation, and the Navajo Region Fire Management Plan.

Prescribed burns are conducted under pre-planned conditions outlined in approved burn plans.

Burn plans document objective and goals, burn boundaries, safety concerns, burn patterns and methods of ignition, natural resource variables and weather prescriptions for achieving low intensity fires that will remove hazardous fuels and not damage natural resources. Identifying areas of concern within each burn unit that may require modified burn prescriptions or methods of ignition.

Goals

Decrease the total fuel loading by 70% Allow for 5% total tree mortality.

2023 Prescribed Burn:

1. Dezza Bluff MMA ~ 4,438 acres Total ~4,438 acres

Project Locations

Dezza Bluff MMA

The proposed project site is located approximately 5 miles north of Tohatchi, NM at an elevation of approximately 8,850 feet. The project will take place within Mckinley County, NM and encompasses the following USGS 7.5' topographical maps;

Chuska Peak, New Mexico.

Project

Approximately 4,438 total acres will be surveyed survey for the Dezza Bluff MMA.

Deliverables

STAND EXAM

All standard silvicultural prescriptions will be based on a stand level inventory conducted by the Management Forester prior to drafting the prescription. The inventory will be conducted at an intensity to provide accurate stand data for describing the stand(s) and formulating decisions for treatment and predicting the results of the treatment. The inventory will follow stand exam design protocol to provide overstory and understory information for each stand including but not limited to:

Overstory:

1. Species

2. Quadratic Mean Diameter

3. Average Height

4. Total Basal area

5. Basal Area by Species

6. Total Trees per Acre

7. Trees Per acre by Species

8. Relative Density by species

9. Total volume

10. Volume by species

Understory:

1. Coarse Woody Debris

2. Percent cover of understory plants.

3. Tree, shrub, forb and grass species

4. Total trees per acre

5. Trees per acre by species

The project reconnaissance and stand inventory will note and record other aspects of the treatment area such as steep and inoperable slopes, water resources, evidence of endangered plant and animal species, stone walls, and cellar holes.

REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE SILVICULTURAL

PRESCRIPTION

1. Site data – This provides the general basis for vegetative treatment and timber harvesting (or not) in the state forest, park or reservation. It is an overview description of the area that sets the stage for stand specifics and the actual prescription.

a. Geology and Landforms

i. Parent Material

ii. Topography and slope

b. Climate

i. Precipitation

ii. Wind patterns

iii. Extreme weather events/disturbance

c. Soils

i. Describe and map soils including complexity, productivity and sensitivity to forest management

1. Use NRCS Soils survey

d. Hydrology and watershed

i. Identify municipal water supply lands

ii. Describe permanent water bodies and water courses

iii. Wetlands present

e. Potential Vegetation

i. Species Composition – Overstory and Understory

ii. Seral State and track

iii. Land Use History

f. Site Productivity

i. Site index

ii. Prime Soils Analysis

g. Cultural and Archeological Features

i. Describe how the property is located relative to public interface.

ii. Document contact with DCR Office of Cultural Resources

2. Stand data – The basic unit for which the prescription(s) are written. Stands will be described in terms of structure, structural complexity, condition, productivity, and age in text and in tabular form. The stand exam will provide the physical data and information for the stand data section.

a. Forest Stand Attributes

i. The basis of the prescribed treatment for the stand(s).

1. Disturbance history and regime

2. Forest structure, species and age classes

b. Wildlife Habitat conditions

i. Include attributes such as snag density and condition and the presence of down woody material

ii. Specific information on endangered species that exist within stands

c. Water resources.

d. Recreational and Aesthetic Resources

i. Hiking Trails

ii. Developed recreational sites

e. Forest Protection Concerns

i. Physical or biological agents observed or of concern

3. Evaluation of Data and Projected Results

a. Objectives of the forest management activity; e.g. demonstrate silvicultural system, increase within stand diversity, increase landscape level diversity, improve growth on high quality stems, restore late successional characteristics, improve wildlife habitat, etc.

b. Silvicultural Prescription by Stand

i. Explanation of treatments using accepted silvicultural terminology

ii. Describe how the treatment (or exclusion from treatment) fits the approaches and directions to silviculture as described in the 2012 Management Guidelines for Woodlands.

c. Desired and Expected results

i. Within the text and in tabular form describe the stand conditions shortly after the harvest/treatment and in terms of the next entry or rotation cycle.

Describe the expected successional processes in addition to expected tree and plant growth after the harvest. The results should discuss how the treatment can achieve the stated objectives.

ii. Use forest modeling/simulation software to project results of treatment (or exclusion from treatment). Use tables and graphics to describe expected results immediately post harvest and long range in terms of growth and mortality. What will the area look like in 2 – 5 years and what will be its appearance and structure in 50 years?

d. Logging System Requirements

i. This section should explain how the harvest will take place and describe the logging system and machinery that is best suited for the silviculture to be implemented.

ii. Describe how down woody material will be augmented or maintained.

4. Prescription Documentation

a. Timber Marking Guidelines

b. Stand tables of Projected Results

c. Visualization of Projected Results

d. Maps

Dezza Bluff Silvicultural Prescription Page 6

i. Current Stand/Property Map

ii. Locus Map

iii. Soils map

iv. Logging Plan

1. Primary Log Haul Roads

2. Primary Skid or Forwarder Roads

3. Expected Secondary Skid Roads

4. Mitigation of Resource Impacts

a. Water Resources - Filter Strips

b. Wildlife Resources

e. References

i. Scientific and technical references used as a basis for the prescription.

Original silvicultural Prescriptions for all forest stands

Navajo Regional Office Commercial Forest Harvest Permit

Special interest location maps

Period of Performance

Deliverable submission date: July 2025

Government Provided Materials:

Fuels Management will provide shapefiles maps to the contractor for the survey for the prescribed Burn at Dezza Bluff MMA.

Special Requirements

Certified Silviculturist

The Deliverables must be submitted by July 2025.

The work must proceed as scheduled to meet the needs of the Federal Government. If the contractor cannot meet this deadline, the contractor shall notify BIA in writing in accordance with the terms of the contract.

Limitations and Exclusions:

No additional vehicles shall be provided by Fire Management for the conduct of this work.

No additional equipment and/or personnel will be provided by Fire Management for the conduct of this work.

Dezza Bluff Silvicultural Prescription Page 7

Performance Evaluation for Project File:

Fuels Management Management will provide a performance appraisal to the contractor.

Agency Contacts:

Bureau of Indian Affairs Branch of Fire and Aviation Management Fuels Management Program P.O. Box 1060 N443 Gallup, NM 87305

Dominick Chicharello, Regional Fuels Specialist 928-729-7385

Johnson Benallie, Regional Fire Management Officer 928-729-7391