Statement_of_Work_(Aerial_Herbicide_Application_at_Leadbetter_Point).pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Aerial Herbicide Application at Leadbetter Point Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

June 9, 2022

1. GENERAL: Extensive areas of coastal dune habitat have been invaded by non-native beach grasses (Ammophila spp.) that are stabilizing the naturally shifting sands. Areas that were once an open or sparsely vegetated coastal hummock and swale ecosystem 15-50 years ago are now continuous stands of beachgrass, Scot’s broom and gorse thickets, and shore pine forests. Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Scot’s broom (Cytisus scoparius) are invasive plants that pervade native habitats; outcompeting native dune and saltmarsh species to create impenetrable thickets that make travel for humans and wildlife very difficult. These invaders are highly effective at creating an environment where they thrive, including changing the soil chemistry and casting high volumes of persistent seed. As a result, these invasive plant communities dominate much of the shoreline and uplands of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge or NWR) at Leadbetter Point.

The Willapa NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) identifies habitat restoration and predator management as strategies for recovering streaked horned lark (Eremophila alpestris strigata) and snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) on the Refuge (USFWS 2011) and within the historic range of these species. This project is part of a multi-faceted habitat management plan aimed at attaining those goals.

The primary goals of the 2022 Leadbetter Point Herbicide Application project are to:

1.1. Apply herbicides to encroaching beachgrass, gorse and Scot’s broom in designated portions of unoccupied streaked horned lark and snowy plover nesting habitats within and adjacent to the habitat restoration areas (HRAs).

1.2. Promote the development of native vegetation diversity in the dune and swale ecosystem.

2. SCOPE: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, 7112 67th Place, Long Beach, Washington 98631, requires herbicide treatment of invasive plants at Leadbetter Point. European and American beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria and A.

breviligulata) and other non-native plant species would be treated at the Leadbetter Point Unit of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge (Willapa NWR) north of Ocean Park, Washington.

The contractor will provide equipment, labor, and water to apply herbicides on the refuge. The project area will consist of treating approximately 150 acres (61 hectares) of invasive beachgrass and other non-native plant species on the Leadbetter Point Unit of the Willapa NWR (Figure 1). The Leadbetter Point Unit is located at the northern tip of the Long Beach Peninsula in southwestern Washington State. At the completion of the spraying operation the contractor will provide the refuge with a copy of the herbicide application records, and a GPS digital track line of treatment locations.

The contractor will also be responsible for:

2.1. Consulting and coordinating with Willapa NWR staff on all aspects of the project.

2.2. Herbicide spray drift management during application operations.

2.3. Spill containment materials and management from arrival to departure on all spray operations.

2.4. Providing equipment, tools, supplies, and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for spray operations per safety standards and label requirements.

2.5. Disposal of all empty/triple-rinsed herbicide containers and any debris generated from the spray operations.

2.6. Record management and required pesticide application reporting.

2.7. Coordinate safety and communications plans with on-site refuge staff.

2.8. Provide supervision and direction of day-to-day operations of crew during spray operations.

All PPE required by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), the contractor, and as per herbicide labels will be worn by those individuals directly associated with handling and applying herbicides. The USFWS is not responsible for damage that occurs to the contractor’s equipment during the contracted work.

Herbicide/surfactant, to be provided by the Refuge for treating beachgrass, will be a formulation of imazapyr and glyphosate or equivalent herbicide registered for aquatic use and Agri-Dex or equivalent surfactant. Dye may or may not be used depending on discussions with the contractor. Application rates will be determined by the herbicide labeling instructions and USFWS specifications. Timing of herbicide application will be during the fall at a time to be negotiated between refuge staff and the contractor to optimize favorable weather and minimized potential impacts to sensitive resources. Please note that exact spray locations are subject to modification. Further details on specific locations will be provided upon award of the contract.

3. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: The Leadbetter Point Unit of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, 7112 67th Place, Long Beach, Washington 98631. Herbicide spraying will occur on the western portion of the Leadbetter Point Unit within and adjacent to the Habitat Restoration Areas in Sections 05, 08, and 17 of T13N R11W and Section 32 of T14N R11W (Figure 1). The helicopter staging area will be located approximately two miles south of the project area near the north end of Oysterville, Washington.

4. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: Due to challenging, site-specific field conditions and limited access, ground application IS NOT possible and will not be considered as an acceptable method for herbicide application. The field conditions are as follows:

4.1. The Leadbetter Point Unit lies at the northern tip of the North Beach, aka. Long Beach, Peninsula at the mouth of Willapa Bay in Pacific County, Washington. The

Long Beach Peninsula separates the Pacific Ocean from Willapa Bay. Historically, low hummock and swale sand formations, that were characterized by large areas of open sand, were formed by sparsely vegetated native dune plant species. Coastal marine and wind processes worked to maintain native plant communities in early successional stages on the outer prism of many of these beaches. Where dunes were more stable and blowouts less frequent, a mosaic of native prairie and dune grasslands, freshwater ponds, swamps, bogs, and spruce-dominated forests developed. Invasive, non-native beach grasses (Ammophila spp.) planted to stabilize dune communities have change dune morphology and native plant communities.

4.2. Currently, the west side of the area is characterized by open windswept beaches backed by a series of low vegetated dunes or hummock and swale terrain. The dune topography consists of a primary foredune, an interdunal area of dunes and swales with foredune ridges that run parallel to the prevailing winds along the shoreline (also called the foredune complex), and a relatively flat deflation plain still further inland. The water table is at the surface of the interdunal area during the winter and spring months during a typical year. The tip of the peninsula is largely barren sand.

The east side consists of a narrow sand beach and extensive salt marshes and intertidal flats. The interior portions of the peninsula consist of lodgepole pine (shore pine) forest, Sitka spruce-western hemlock forest, shrub-willow-shore pine vegetation, and mature, impenetrable stands of gorse and Scot’s broom.

4.3. The nearest road access is located three to ten miles from the project area work sites.

5. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: During the base year, treatment of beachgrass would be scheduled in the fall from September 1 to October 15. The treatment of gorse and Scot’s broom will be scheduled to occur in the spring from March 1 to June 30 (during option years only). Only one treatment – spring or fall -would occur during each of the option years.

The work window dates may be modified depending on weather and site conditions.

Any modification to the period of performance will be mutually agreed upon between the Contracting Officer and the Contractor. The expected project duration is estimated at 1-2 days, depending on environmental variables.

Base year: September 1, 2022 thru October 15, 2022.

Four option years. Exact location within Leadbetter Point project area will vary in option years. Treatment of beachgrass would be scheduled September 1 to October 15 OR treatment of Scot’s broom will be scheduled to occur March 1 to June 30 at a time to be negotiated between the refuge staff and the contractor.

• Option Year 1: September 1, 2023 thru July 30, 2024

• Option Year 2: September 1, 2024 thru July 30, 2025

• Option Year 3: September 1, 2025 thru July 30, 2026

• Option Year 4: September 1, 2026 thru July 30, 2027

6. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE: A progress report will be provided to the technical coordinator within 30 days after the herbicide application has been completed.

The report shall include:

6.2. The name of the contractor, the project title, the agreement number, date of the report, and the period of time covered by the report.

6.3. The total number of crew members and hours worked.

6.4. A copy of the WSDA Pesticide Application Record.

6.5. A summary of significant activities and results, including total acres treated.

6.6. A statement explaining any problems, delays, or adverse conditions.

All work will be monitored and approved by the refuge manager or their designee prior to payment.

7. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT/INFORMATION: The Refuge will provide:

7.2. Consultation and coordination on all aspects of the project.

7.3. Permits and compliance.

7.4. Accurate work area descriptions, site maps, and spray area shapefiles.

7.5. All herbicides (imazapyr/glyphosate mix and triclopyr) and a surfactant (Agri-Dex or equivalent).

7.6. Marker dye, if requested by the contractor at the time the bid is accepted.

8. EVALUATION AND ACCEPTANCE: All spraying operations will be monitored and approved by the refuge manager or their designee prior to payment.

9. AVAILABILITY: All work will be completed Monday through Friday between 6:00 AM and 4:30 PM. Early morning operations are preferred due to the likelihood of the most favorable weather conditions. In the event of emergencies, the contractor shall provide contact information. USFWS non-duty hours include weeknights, weekends, and federal holidays.

10. LITERATURE CITED: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2011. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge final comprehensive conservation plan and environmental impact statement, In 2 Volumes. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ilwaco, Washington. 499

pp. plus appendices.

Figure 1. Leadbetter Point Project Area map.