140FS226Q0116 Woody Vegetation and Tree Removal Page 1 of 8 Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Statement of Work

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) has a requirement for the removal of woody vegetation, trees, and brush in Yellow Bank Township in Big Stone County, Minnesota.

Due to the complexity of this project, a site visit is highly encouraged and expected for a realistic and reasonable quote. This is public land on Big Stone NWR. Please address site visit questions with Brandon

Semuel, 320-808-9470, brandon_semel@fws.gov..

Overview:

• Prior to starting the work at this site during any phase, the contractor must notify USFWS at least 48 hours in advance.

• Work must be done with proper freeze-up or dry conditions to prevent damage to native prairie, wetlands, and granite outcrop areas. Due to the presence of remnant prairie, granite rock outcrops, and wet floodplain areas, heavy equipment is NOT permitted on designated sections of the work site.

• Topography: Very steep, sometimes wet, and uneven ground with numerous exposed granite outcrops. The Minnesota River and river flood plain form the northern boundary of the project area. A large, abandoned granite quarry with a large boulder pile also is present.

• No extras will be allowed because of the Contractor’s misunderstanding as to the amount of work involved or lack of knowledge of existing conditions. Any stoppage, or re-mobilization costs will be considered incidental to offer.

• Project is split into multiple phases for more comprehensive offers. If all offers overrun available budget, line items will be removed from all submitted offers until a lower offer can be awarded within budget.

• Vegetation removal cannot begin until after August 15, 2026.

Phase 1: Woody Vegetation Removal Specifications Zones 1-3 – Deadline 12/15/2026 Zone 1: Hand work only brush removal (13.9 acres)

• Heavy equipment is not permitted in Zone 1

• Zone 1 contains two areas: A and B. Species targeted for removal are more limited on A:

o A: All buckthorn, honeysuckle, Siberian elm, and Russian olive greater than 2 feet tall must be cut as close to the ground as possible and the stumps treated with herbicide. Any eastern red cedars (regardless of height) must be cut as close to the ground as possible and below the lowest branch. All other tree species, except oaks, can be left standing or cut for access improvement.

o B: All trees (except oaks) and brush (except snowberry, Amorpha spp. [leadplant, false indigo, etc.]) that are greater than 24 inches tall must be cut as close to the ground as possible and the stumps treated with herbicide. Any eastern red cedars (regardless of height) must be cut as close to the ground as possible and below the lowest branch.

• Chemical Treatment o Optional: Trees and brush less than 7 feet tall AND less than 2-inch stump diameter can be basal bark sprayed (i.e., all the way around the stem between the base and 12 inches

up) rather than cut.

o All deciduous vegetation with a DBH 2 inches or greater and/or 3 ft tall must be treated with Garlon 4 per label instructions or equivalent triclopyr based chemical within

2 hours of being cut. You must mix the chemical with an appropriate oil carrier such as

“basal oil” which is the recommended oil to be used.

▪ The label must be followed for all herbicides.

mailto:brandon_semel@fws.gov

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▪ Cut stump treatment: Spray around the top of the stump next to the bark and all exposed bark below the cut (including exposed roots).

▪ The contractor must use Liquid Harvest Lazer Blue dye (3-6 oz/gallon) unless a different dye is approved by the Site Manager. A blue herbicide marker dye must be used to make inspection possible on cut stumps. The dye must be visible for at least two weeks on the stumps and bark for inspection purposes.

▪ A MN DNR FAW Pesticide Application Report (NA-0081-FAW) must be submitted to the Site Manager when the project is completed.

• Flush Cut Expectations o Cut vegetation flush with the ground surface. Stumps may not exceed 2 inches in height. Lower is preferred. Existing high stumps must be cut to not exceed 2 inches in height. Stumps must be cut flat to prevent tire punctures. Contractor should do their best to meet these specifications in rocky areas.

Zone 2: Heavy Equipment tree and brush removal (2.7 acres)

• Heavy equipment may be used in Zone 2, but it CANNOT drive over nearby exposed granite outcrops.

• All buckthorn, honeysuckle, Siberian elm, and Russian olive (except snowberry, Amorpha spp.

[leadplant, false indigo, etc.]) with a DBH 2 inches or greater and/or 3 feet tall must be cut as close to the ground as possible and the stumps treated with herbicide. Any eastern red cedars

(regardless of height) must be cut as close to the ground as possible and below the lowest branch.

o All Chemical Treatment and Flush Cut Expectations from the Zone 1 treatment area apply.

Zone 3: Hand work only brush removal (13.1 acres)

• All Chemical Treatment and Flush Cut Expectations from the Zone 1A treatment area apply.

Fig. 1: Zone 1A buckthorn.

https://www.pheasantsforever.org/getmedia/9798c051-1264-4b3b-a3aa-e2f98a40390e/ExhibitE-PesticideApplicationReportForm_TreeRemoval_CliftonRollingHills.pdf.aspx

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Fig. 2: Zone 2 Siberian elm grove.

Fig. 3: Zone 3 granite quarry area.

Woody Debris Removal

• Woody material should either be removed from the site, mulched, or piled for burning. See

Options below.

o All trees and woody debris larger than 2 inches in diameter and 2 feet in length must be removed, mulched or piled. This includes already dead and fallen trees, existing tree piles, and branches on the site.

o If mulched onsite, wood chips must be scattered to avoid creating a layer thick enough to smother new vegetation growth.

• During the life of this contract any of the wood biomass can be marketed for lumber, wood chips, etc., and hauled off site by the contractor.

Option 1: Burn Pile Specifications

Tree Pile Specifications: Piles not meeting these specifications will need to be re-piled. The goal is for piles to burn on their own without needing any additional tending (i.e., logs on the edge thrown toward the center flame). Note different specifications for each Zone:

Zones 1 and 3:

• Piles will be placed in areas marked by the project manager using brightly colored flagging tape. Areas will be primarily brome, reed canary grass, or exposed soil areas previously under

140FS226Q0116 Woody Vegetation and Tree Removal Page 4 of 8 thick brush and will not be located on exposed rock areas or the public hiking trail (faint mowed path marked by green trail markers).

• The piles must be hand stacked to facilitate burning and should follow these specifications:

o Stack trees and woody debris tightly and uniformly, with a mixture of fuel sizes throughout the pile, or most of the smaller diameter fuels on the bottom for more effective fuel consumption.

o No treetops on top of the pile with branches protruding toward the sky.

o All tree buttresses/stumps (largest diameter fuel) must be placed in the center of the pile or on top of other fuels. These cannot be set on the ground on the outside edge of the pile.

o Cut lateral limbs and substantial secondary limbs off trunks. Individual pieces are not to exceed 20 feet in length.

o Orient trunks and limbs parallel to each other as much as possible, to facilitate better pile packing.

o All branches, limbs, logs, etc. that are protruding from the pile must be cut and placed on top of the pile.

o Compact the piles with larger tree trunks or logs.

o MAXIMUM pile size is 25 ft in diameter. All piles must be stacked at least 6 ft high.

The higher, the better.

Zone 2:

• Piles will be placed in areas marked by the project manager using brightly colored flagging tape. Areas will be primarily in dense brome areas in the cutting area or in planted warm season grasses outside of the tree clearing area.

• The piles must be stacked to facilitate burning and should follow these specifications:

· Stack trees and woody debris tightly and uniformly, with a mixture of fuel sizes throughout the pile, or most of the smaller diameter fuels on the bottom for more effective fuel consumption.

· No treetops on top of the pile with branches protruding toward the sky.

· All tree buttresses/stumps (largest diameter fuel) must be placed in the center of the pile or on top of other fuels. These cannot be set on the ground on the outside edge of the pile.

· Cut lateral limbs and substantial secondary limbs off trunks. Individual pieces are not to exceed 20 feet in length.

· Orient trunks and limbs parallel to each other as much as possible, to facilitate better pile packing.

· All branches, limbs, logs, etc. that are protruding from the pile must be cut and placed on top of the pile.

· Soil cannot be placed in the piles from root wads, grapple buckets, etc.

· Compact piles with heavy machinery.

· MINIMUM pile size is 25 ft in diameter if multiple piles will be made. All piles must be stacked at least 10 ft high. The higher, the better.

· “Windrow” piles are acceptable upon approval by the Site Manager.

▪ This type of pile is longer than it is wide.

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Option 2: Complete Removal of Material from Site Specifications

• All trees and woody debris larger than 2 inches in diameter and 2 feet in length must be completely removed.

• If mulched debris cannot be removed from site without damaging sod, it must not be left in a way that smothers vegetation.

Phase 2: Follow-Up Woody Vegetation Retreatment Specifications - Deadline 06/30/2027

Zones 1-3: Retreatment (must be completed between June 1 and June 30, 2027) Foliar Treatment: Foliar spray herbicide to all trees and brush smaller than 2 inches in diameter and/or shorter than 3 feet and that are not included above as species targeted for retention.

• Plants meeting specifications for foliar spray must be treated with Triclopyr 4 (e.g. Garlon 4) mixed with seed/crop oil surfactant and blue dye. Written instructions included on the label must be followed.

• Only backpack or handheld equipment may be used, no broadcast, boom, or aerial spraying.

• Contractor must be cognizant of presence of native prairie species located in spots where foliar application is required and minimize spray on non-target plants. Contractor may not apply herbicide when winds are above 10 mph.

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Project Guidelines:

Access:

The project area should be accessed via the Outcrop Trail Parking Lot off the Refuge Auto Tour

Route. The entrance to the Auto Tour is located about 1.5 miles SE of Ortonville, Minnesota on

Highway 7/75.

Boundaries:

The Big Stone NWR Project Manager has final approval on Project location. Contractors should download Avenza Maps from their preferred online app store. This app is free to download and users are allowed to store up to three maps within the free version. With this application, the contractor will be able to utilize georeferenced PDF maps provided by the Big Stone NWR Project

Manager that shows their location within the Project Unit. This tool will help contractors ensure they are within Project Unit boundaries in order to abide by contract stipulations. The Big Stone

NWR Project Manager can assist contractor in downloading the app and storing maps for use while on the specified Units.

Sensitive Features:

The Big Stone NWR Project Manager will determine suitability of soil and ecological conditions to begin project operations. Some areas may be sensitive to rutting and management procedures will be implemented to reduce soil impacts at the direction of Big Stone NWR Project Manager.

Heavy equipment will not be permitted on rock outcrops. Hand crews should take care when working in these areas not to damage ball cactus or brittle prickly pear cactus (pictures of cacti included below). One sensitive area within the project boundary is excluded from treatment.

Close communication with Project Manager is imperative.

Ball Cactus (Coryphantha vivipara) Brittle Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia fragilis)

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Contractor Responsibilities:

Project completion deadline is 6/30/2027.

• Tree removal work may begin as soon as the contract is executed and must be completed by June

30th, 2027. Proper freeze up and dry conditions will be determined by USFWS. USFWS reserves the right to halt work if soil conditions become vulnerable to sod damage.

• Contract work will be inspected by USFWS staff or an authorized representative. Contractor must check-in with USFWS staff to receive clearance for heavy equipment access as soil conditions dictate.

• Work will be conducted in a manner that will minimize rutting, disturbance, or compaction of soil or sod and the spread of noxious and invasive species.

o All disturbed areas must be smoothed out and levelled out with no dirt lumps, ruts, or holes remaining.

• Equipment must be cleaned pre and post entry of the site and will be inspected by

USFWS staff to avoid the spread of invasive species.

• Contractor is responsible for furnishing all equipment, labor, supplies, transportation, fuel, and all else necessary for job completion as described within this request.

• Equipment left on site must be secured and is the sole responsibility of the contractor.

• Quotes must include the contractor’s name, address, phone, and email. Total project cost and the technical approach must be clearly defined.

• No extra funding will be allowed because of the contractor’s misunderstanding as to the amount of work involved or lack of knowledge of existing conditions and failing to include such in the cost of the offer.

• Contractor must have a current Minnesota Pesticide Applicator License to safely apply herbicides as described above.

Phase Item Unit Quantity Unit Price Sub Total Cost

Debris Removal

Phase 1 Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Phase 2 Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

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Project is separated into parts to allow for more comprehensive offers on this project. Depending on funding availability, project may be partially awarded. Mobilization costs must be included within the line items listed.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Big Stone NWR: Auto Tour Route Brush Removal

Produced at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge Author: Brandon Semel Produced: 5 May 2026

T-R-S: T121N, R46W, Section 35

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Zone 2

Zone 3

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