W912ES-16-T-0062_Control_Undesirable_Vegetation_at_7_sites.pdf

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W912ES-16-T-0062 11-Apr-2016

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180 5TH STREET EAST

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STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

Prescribed by GSA – FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

SEE SCHEDULE

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SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/ SERVICES

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QUANTITY UNIT

22. 23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

19.

ITEM NO.

W912ES-16-T-0062

Section SF 1449 - CONTINUATION SHEET

ITEM NO SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

0001 2 Acre

Gores Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Gores WMA Treatment Area U046.2016.01.

On-site Performance Period 6/1/16 - 7/15/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

MILSTRIP: W81G6760687507

PURCHASE REQUEST NUMBER: W81G6760687507

NET AMT

0002 9.90 Acre

Gores Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Gores WMA Treatment Area U046.2016.02.

On-site Performance Period 6/1/16 - 7/15/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0003 1 Acre

Trimbelle Property

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Trimbelle Property Treatment Area U001.2015.01. On-site Performance Period 6/15/16 - 7/31/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0004 1 Acre

Trimbelle Property

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Trimbelle Property Treatment Area U001.2015.01. On-site Performance Period 10/15/16 - 11/30/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0005 4.60 Acre

Trimbelle Property

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Trimbelle Property Treatment Area U003.2015.01. On-site Performance Period 6/15/16 - 7/31/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0006 5.20 Acre

Trimbelle Property

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Trimbelle Property Treatment Area U004.2015.01. On-site Performance Period 6/15/16 - 10/1/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0007 2.50 Acre

Rush River Property

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Rush River Property Treatment Area U001.2014.01. On-site Performance Period 6/01/16 - 6/30/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0008 2.50 Acre

Rush River Property

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Rush River Property Treatment Area U001.2014.01. On-site Performance Period 9/01/16 - 9/30/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0009 9.90 Acre

Indian Slough

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation (woody invasives) - Indian Slough Treatment Area U012.2013.01. On-site Performance Period 6/01/16 - 2/28/17. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0010 2.80 Acre

Indian Slough

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation (woody invasives and pricky ash) - Indian Slough Treatment Area U012.2013.02. On-site Performance Period 6/01/16 - 2/28/17. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0011 20.10 Acre

Pool 5 Dredging

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation (woody invasives) - Pool 5 Dredging Treatment Area U018.2016.01. On-site Performance Period 7/16/16 - 9/30/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0012 .90 Acre

Goose Island

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Goose Island Treatment Area U019.2016.01.

On-site Performance Period 6/1/16 - 6/30/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0013 .50 Acre

Goose Island

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Goose Island Treatment Area U020.2016.01.

On-site Performance Period 6/1/16 - 9/30/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0014 2.25 Acre

Upper Iowa River Delta

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Upper Iowa River Delta Treatment Area U004.2016.01. On-site Performance Period 6/1/16 - 8/31/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0015 .40 Acre

Upper Iowa River Delta

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Upper Iowa River Delta Treatment Area U024.2015.01. On-site Performance Period 6/1/16 - 7/15/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0016 .40 Acre

Upper Iowa River Delta

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Upper Iowa River Delta Treatment Area U024.2015.01. On-site Performance Period 10/15/16 - 11/30/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0017 .10 Acre

Upper Iowa River Delta

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Upper Iowa River Delta Treatment Area U024.2016.01. On-site Performance Period 6/1/16 - 8/31/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

0018 .05 Acre

Upper Iowa River Delta

FFP

Control Undesirable Vegetation - Upper Iowa River Delta Treatment Area U024.2016.01. On-site Performance Period 11/1/16 - 11/30/16. See Statement of Work (SOW) for specifications and Attachment A - Maps.

FOB: Destination

SPECIFICATIONS

STATEMENT OF WORK / SPECIFICATIONS

Control Undesirable Vegetation at Seven Reforestation Sites on Corps of Engineers Property between Redwing, MN, La Crosse, WI and New Albin, IA

1. GENERAL

1.1 BACKGROUND AND SCOPE

The work includes application of herbicides to control undesirable vegetation at seven (7) forest management locations on Army Corps of Engineers (COE) property totaling up to approximately

68.55 acres in Pierce, Buffalo and Vernon Counties in Wisconsin, Goodhue County in Minnesota and Allamakee County in Iowa. Four of these areas (Indian Slough, Pool 5 Dredging, Goose Island and the Upper Iowa River Delta) are within the Upper Mississippi River National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and are co-managed with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). These sites are in various stages of restoration to maintain floodplain forest habitat. In this Statement of Work (SOW), undesirable vegetation is defined as any vegetation that competes with regenerating forest trees for growing space, water and nutrients. Multiple applications using a variety of chemical and mechanical treatments will be needed during 2016 to achieve vegetation control during the 2016 growing season. Some areas are accessible by land, while other areas are accessible only by boat. Maps for each area are included in Attachment A – Maps with a vicinity map and a prescription area map for each of the project sites. Background information and treatment specifications for each site are described in section 1.2 and subsections below.

1.2 Prescription Areas

1.2.1 Gores Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

Project Area Treatment Area Begin Date End Date Acres Treatment

Gores WMA U046.2016.01 Jun 1, 2016 Jul 15, 2016 2.0 Spot application for broadleaf control

Gores WMA U046.2016.02 Jun 1, 2016 Jul 15, 2016 9.9 Spot application for broadleaf control

The project area is located just west of the main Mississippi River channel between river mile 805 and 806. The legal description is within the E ½, Sec.10, T114N, R16W, Goodhue County, Minnesota (see Attachment A - Map 1 Attachment 1, page 1). There is no direct road access to the project area. Transportation of supplies, equipment and contractor personnel must be via workboat and/or barge from a suitable nearby landing. The contractor will be responsible for arranging their own transportation and river access.

In winter 2013, a timber harvest was completed in this area to test different silvicultural methods (clear-cut, shelterwood and group selection) on natural floodplain forest regeneration dynamics.

Post-harvest reforestation efforts, including tree planting, were initiated in the spring of 2013 within all the silvicultural treatments and followed up with pre- and post-emergent herbicide application in 2013, 2014 and 2015 to prevent encroachment of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea, RCG) and to encourage the development of tree seedlings. A total of about 7500 tree seedlings (American elm, black walnut, cottonwood, river birch and black walnut) were planted in rows at an 8’ x 8’ spacing in group selection areas and 7’ x 7’ spacing in clear-cut areas. 2015 post-emergent applications were intended to target RCG and vines in buffers around group selection areas, but RCG had apparently been well controlled under 2014 treatments.

However, areas treated with pre-emergent herbicide had been heavily invaded with broadleaves, particularly pigweeds (Amaranthus tuberculatus) and nettles (Laportea spp.) which had not been effectively controlled by pre-emergent herbicide.

Under this contract, applications shall be applied only to a subset of the group selection areas (Attachment A – Attachment 02, page 2, U046.2016.01, 2.0 ac.) and a portion of the clear-cut areas (Attachment 02, page 2, U046.2016.02, 9.9 ac.) to release planted seedlings from broadleaf weed competition. Seedling survival on the site has been low, so it is estimated that only approximately 25% of seedlings are surviving into 2016 (about 1750 for the entire area). Spot herbicide applications should only be applied to release living, planted trees from the list of species in the paragraph above. Spot applications should cover an area no larger than 16 square feet (square with 4 foot sides, or circle with a 2.25 foot radius) and no smaller than 4 square feet (square with 2 foot sides, or circle with 1.13 foot radius), unless living seedlings occur adjacent to each other, in which case a band application may be made that is no more than 4 feet wide and no less than 2 feet wide. Total kill of species other than the planted trees (including naturally occurring tree regeneration) is expected in the sprayed areas. No applications should be made over naturally established seedlings of silver maple or other species that occur outside of the spray area described above, or more than 4 feet from a planted tree seedling.

Use of broadleaf specific herbicides is preferred, but it is critical that the herbicide is labeled for control of pigweeds and nettles. If the herbicide selected has the potential to damage hardwood tree seedlings, the contractor shall be responsible for protecting planted seedlings from herbicide drift. All herbicide applications should be made in early growth stages of annual broadleaves between June 1 and July 15 of 2016. No applications shall be made after July 31, 2016.

Treatments will be considered effective if 90% of COE quality assurance (QA) plots demonstrate 90% or greater mortality of broadleaf annuals in treatment areas and < 5 % of natural and planted tree seedlings showing evidence of herbicide damage.

1.2.2 Trimbelle Property

Project

Area

Treatment

Area

Begin Date End Date Acres Treatment

Trimbelle U001.2015.01 Jun 15, 2016 Jul 31, 2016 1 Broadleaf weed and herbaceous vine chemical control in elm cultivar resistance trial planting

Trimbelle U001.2015.01 Oct 15, 2016 Nov 30, 2016 1 Pre‐emergent herbicide in elm cultivar resistance trial planting

Trimbelle U003.2015.01 Jun 15, 2016 Jul 31, 2016 4.6 Broadleaf weed and herbaceous vine chemical control; spot spray any reed canary grass with broad‐ spectrum herbicide

Trimbelle U004.2015.01 Jun 15, 2016 Oct 1, 2016 5.2 Spot treatment (4 sq. ft.

area) of weeds around planted trees in planting lanes

The Trimbelle project area is located in Pierce County, Wisconsin (Attachment A – Maps, page 3, Attachment 03). The project encompasses a matrix of former Ag fields, wet meadows and upland forest. The area is roughly bounded on the north by 770th St. and on the east by County Highway W. The western and southern boundaries are adjacent to private land. The Trimbelle River flows through the middle of the property. It encompasses part of E 1/2 Sec. 23 and NE 1/4 Sec. 26, T27N R18 W with approximate coordinates of the center of the project area located at 92°31'31.501"W 44°48'22.997"N. Access to treatment area U001.2015.01 (Attachment A – Maps, page 4, Attachment 04) is from 770th St.; treatment area U003.2015.01 is accessed by an access road running west through COE property from Highway W, while area U004.2015.01 requires access through adjacent private land. The COE maintains an easement to access this area but the Contractor is required to provide the Government Point of Contract (POC) at least a 3 business day notice prior to accessing the site in order for the COE to notify the private landowner.

All of the areas in the 2016 herbicide contract have been planted with bottomland hardwood trees and have been treated since 2013 with various pre- and post-emergent herbicides to limit herbaceous and grass competition and promote seedling growth. These areas were all treated applications of pre-emergent herbicides in fall of 2015 and control of weed competition is anticipated to last into early- to mid-summer. However, in 2015, in spite of application of pre-emergent herbicide in fall of 2014, broadleaf weeds, primarily marestail (Conyza canadensis) and giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) had established by midsummer in U001.2015.01 and U003.2015.01 and were over 10 feet tall by August. Control of annual broadleaf weeds is a primary goal in these areas for this year. Area specific objectives are described below.

U001.2015.01: This area is a research plantation being monitored by plant pathologists with the US Forest Service to test the resistance of individual American elm cultivars to Dutch elm disease and special care is needed in this planting. Mechanical equipment may be used to spray the site; however, any mechanical or chemical damage to planted trees as a result of herbicide application in this area will be considered unacceptable and will result in a payment deduction.

No RCG is present so only a single growing season application targeting broadleaf weeds is required in this area, but the post-emergent herbicide application must be applied no later than July 31, 2016. Bur cucumber is also becoming established in the eastern part of this planting and should also be specifically targeted in 2016. A single application of pre-emergent herbicide should be applied in late fall of 2016. If green leaves are still present on the trees at the time of pre-emergent applications, no pre-emergent herbicides with foliar activity (e.g. Oust) should be used. It is preferred if treatments are not implemented until leaf-drop has occurred.

U003.2015.01: This area has been planted multiple times with a mix of bottomland hardwood tree species and includes an operation trial of enriched American elm. Broadleaf weeds are the primary concern and should be controlled chemically in this area in 2016. Some small pockets of RCG are present in U003.2015.01 and will also need to be spot-treated with broad spectrum herbicide in summer 2016. Treatments in this area should be implemented between June 15 and July 31, 2016. Following herbicide applications in 2016, it will be determined whether a further planting is necessary in this area.

U004.2015.01: This area consists of a series of planting lanes in very poorly drained soils.

Control of competing plants has been good in previous years, with the exception of sedges and rushes growing in the wettest parts of this area. In 2016, herbicide applications should focus on spot spraying around planted seedlings in the planting strips to maintain a weed free growing area of about 4 – 6 square feet. No herbicide should be applied in areas in which trees have not established. Vegetative growth is slow in this area and competitors are mainly perennial weeds, so the window for application in this area is June 15 – Oct 1, 2016.

Treatments will be considered effective in all areas if 90% of COE quality assurance (QA) plots demonstrate 90% or greater mortality of target undesirable vegetation in treatment areas and < 5 % of natural and planted tree seedlings showing evidence of herbicide damage. In area U001.2015.01 at the Trimbelle property, applications will only be considered acceptable if there is no damage (0%) to planted elm seedlings; a payment penalty equal to the proportion of seedlings damaged (as determined by COE staff) will be assessed for any damaged seedlings.

1.2.3 Rush River Property

Area

Treatment

Area

Begin Date End Date Acres Treatment

Rush River U001.2014.01 Jun 1, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 2.5 Broadcast application of glyphosate to control boxelder resprouts and all other established vegetation. Complete by

June 30

Rush River U001.2014.01 Sep 1, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 2.5 Broadcast application of glyphosate to control boxelder resprouts and all other established vegetation. Complete by

Sep 30

The Rush River project area is located in Pierce County, Wisconsin. The project encompasses a matrix of former ag fields, wet meadows and upland forest. The area is roughly bounded on the west by County Highway A on the east by E. Rush River Road/385th Street (Attachment A – Maps, page 5, Attachment 05). The Rush River flows through the middle of the property. It encompasses parts of Sec. 4 and Sec. 9, T24N and Sec. 33, T25N R16W with approximate coordinates of the center of the project area located at -92.329743, 44.597346. For this year, there is one treatment area at this site, U001.2014.01 (Attachment A – Maps, page 6, Attachment 06), which needs two separate applications. The treatment area is accessible only through adjacent private land. The COE maintains an easement to access this area but the Contractor is required to provide the Government POC at least a 3 business day notice prior to accessing the site in order for the COE to notify the private landowner.

These areas were directed seeded with a mix of hardwood tree seed in the fall of 2011. The direct seeding generally failed, and it was decided that the site should be planted with seedlings instead.

In 2015 broadleaf weeds were controlled in the northern section of this unit but it was determined that boxelder seedlings in the southern section were too large and dense to treat without mechanical biomass reduction. Boxelder seedlings were mowed to ground level in March 2016 using a forestry mulcher. Under the current contract two broadcast applications of glyphosate are to be applied in the June and September of 2016 to control boxelder resprouts and all other vegetation within the area. The COE plans on planting trees on this site in the fall of 2016 or spring of 2017 (the tree planting itself is not part of this contract). Mechanical herbicide application is acceptable for treatments on the Rush River Property. However, care must be given to avoid or minimize damage to established tree and shrub seedlings and saplings.

Treatments will be considered effective in both areas if herbicide action (yellowing, curling and wilting of leaves) or complete mortality is observed on 90% or more of the vegetation (including woody resprouts) assesses in COE QA plots (depending on the timing of Quality Assurance inspections).

1.2.4 Indian Slough

Project Area Treatment

Area

Begin Date End Date Acres Treatment

Indian Slough U012.2013.01 Jun 1, 2016 Feb 28, 2017 9.9 Control of all woody invasives

Indian Slough U012.2013.02 Jun 1, 2016 Feb 28, 2017 2.8 Control of all woody invasives in addition to prickly ash in openings

The Indian Slough project area (Attachment A- Maps, page 7, Attachment 07) is located approximately 0.4 miles across the main channel of the Mississippi River northeast of Wabasha, Minnesota and 2.3 miles south of Nelson, WI. It encompasses part of N 1/2 Sec. 13 T22N R14W, Buffalo County, WI, with approximate coordinates of the center of the project area located at 92°1'31.037"W, 44°23'27.65"N. Most of the site is accessible only by boat via the Indian Slough Boat Landing off of US Hwy 25, though the 2016 project areas (U012.2013.01 and U012.2013.02, Attachment A – Maps, page 8, Attachment 08) are accessible by a footpath from the southern end of the Indian Slough Boat Landing parking lot.

The 2016 treatment units are adjacent to one another. U012.2013.01 consists of two sections; one section north of the main ridge running through the stand and a second, larger section, encompassing the majority of the lower-lying area in the interior of the stand. U012.2013.02 includes the narrow, higher elevation ridge running through the northern section of the stand as well as the slightly higher elevation western edge of the stand. Large swamp white oak are currently sporadically distributed along the ridge. In both areas common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is prevalent and Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is scattered; all buckthorn and Japanese barberry stems should be killed. Buckthorn stems range in size from first year seedlings up to 2-3 inch diameter shrubs. Foliar, cut stump and basal bark applications may be utilized, depending on the size and distribution of stems. Any foliar applications should be applied in a manner that will minimize damage to off-target plants and should be avoided in areas with established woody regeneration of desirable species or with a diverse herbaceous understory. In addition, in U012.2013.02 only, prickly-ash should be controlled in areas where the prickly ash dominates a naturally occurring canopy gap or where prickly-ash is directly competing with or overtopping swamp white oak or hackberry regeneration. Prickly-ash should not be treated in U012.2013.01. Applications on both treatment areas may be made at any time between June 1, 2016 and February 28, 2017. The contractor shall use appropriate herbicide formulations for the time of year in which herbicide is applied.

Treatments will be considered effective in both areas if basal bark applications are evident at the base of 90% or more of target stems in COE QA plots, if cut stump applications are evident on 90% or more of the target stems in COE QA plots, or if 90% or more of the stems in COE QA plots are beginning to show signs of herbicide action (depending on the timing of Quality Assurance inspections).

1.2.5 Pool 5 Backwater Dredging Site

Project Area Treatment Area Begin Date End Date Acres Treatment

Pool 5 Dredging U018.2016.01 July 16, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 20.1 Woody invasive control

The Pool 5 Backwater Dredging Site project area (Attachment A- Maps, page 9, Attachment 09) is located on the east side of the main Mississippi River channel between approximately river miles 743.8 and 744.6. The site is approximately 1 mile west of Buffalo City, WI in Buffalo County, WI. It encompasses SW 1/4 Sec. 12 T20N R13W with approximate coordinates of the center of the project area located at 91°53'7.751"W 44°13'26.809"N. Access to the site is by boat only. Multiple boat landings in the area are available to access the site. Transportation of supplies, equipment and contractor personnel must be via workboat and/or barge from a suitable nearby landing. The contractor will be responsible for arranging their own transportation and river access.

This site is an island that was a historical dredge placement site. In 2015, fine material was dredged from an adjacent backwater and placed on top of the historic dredge material in U019.2015.01 and U019.2015.02 (Attachment A - Maps, page 10, Attachment 10). Treatments in this contract will occur only in U018.2016.01. An active bald eagle nest is located just south of prescription area at the coordinates 91°52'56.43"W, 44°13'17.43"N (see attachment 10). Due to the potential to disturb nesting eagles, no treatments may occur within 660 feet of this nest prior to July 16, 2016. If it is determined USFWS biologists that the nest is no longer active, the Government POC will notify the contractor in writing that treatments may commence earlier than July 16, 2016. (Treatments in the remaining area outside of the 660 foot buffer area may be implemented as soon as June 1, 2016.)

U018.2016.01 encompasses the area around the 2015 and 2016 dredge placement areas. It does not cover the southern third of the island, however. A pink flag line will mark the southern treatment boundary. There is a low to medium density of a mix of invasive woody plants in this area, primarily Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila, approximately 100-200 stems/ac), common buckthorn and bush honeysuckles (Lonciera spp.). Actual stem densities have not been assessed, but it is roughly estimated that there are 100-200 Siberian elm stems per acre and 500-800 buckthorn and bush honeysuckle stems per acre. Diameters are generally under 2 inches, though some Siberian elm is as large as 8-10 inches in diameter. Any and all woody invasives should be treated using control techniques appropriate to the species and conditions, including foliar, frill or basal bark applications of herbicides or girdling or cut stump treatments with application of herbicide to the cut surface according to label directions for the selected herbicide. Grape (Vitis spp.) vines within 25 ft. of the perimeter of the areas with fine material placement in 2015 should also be treated with either basal bark or cut stump herbicide applications. Grape vines should be controlled in the remaining area only if they are overtopping an oak (Quercus) sapling greater than one (1) inch diameter at breast height (dbh).

Treatments will be considered effective in U018.2016.01 if treatment is evident on 90% or more of target undesirable stems on 90% or more of randomly located COE QA transects (25 x 3 ft) in the treatment area. Treatments will be considered effective in the remaining units if there is evidence that the pre-emergent herbicide application occurred.

1.2.6 Goose Island

Project Area Treatment

Area

Begin Date End Date Acres Treatment

Goose Island U019.2016.01 Jun 1, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 0.9 Spray weed free strips in tree rows

Goose Island U020.2016.01 Jun 1, 2016 Sept 30, 2016 0.5 Black locust resprout control

The Goose Island project area (Attachment A- Maps, page 11, Attachment 11) is a large island complex just south of La Crosse, WI. A large area of the island is outgranted to the La Crosse County Parks Department. This is one of the earliest locations for COE forest management starting in the 1990s. It encompasses Parts of Sec. 3, 4, 5, and 9, T14N R7W, Vernon County, WI and parts of Sec. 27, 28, 32-34, T15N R7W, La Crosse County, WI, with approximate coordinates of the center of the project area located at 91°13'0.587"W, 43°43'51.659"N. Goose Island is accessed by taking WI35 approximately 1.5 miles south of La Crosse, WI, then turning west on County Rd GI onto Goose Island, traveling another 1.75 miles to the 4-way intersection within Goose Island County Park, then turning south and travelling about l mile to the general area of the treatments.

There are two small treatment units at Goose Island for 2016 (Attachment A- Maps, page 12, Attachment 12). U019.2016.01 is an area that was planted in the late 1990s and early 2000s at the same time as black locust (Robinia pseudacacia) control efforts. Black locust has been generally eliminated in this area, but most of the planted seedlings, though surviving, have shown very slow growth rates. Intense competition from warm-season grasses established on the site may be limiting water and nutrient availability for tree growth. In 2016, a small 1 acre patch will be sprayed to control grasses around planted trees. The trees are generally tall enough to allow for application of a broad-spectrum herbicide (e.g. glyphosate) for grass control, so a broad-spectrum herbicide should be used. Herbicide should only be applied in a strip between 3 and 5 feet wide (1.5 – 2.5 feet on either side of each tree) within rows oriented in the direction of tree planting. Trees are planted at a wide spacing; if the contractor prefers to spot spray around each individual tree creating a sprayed patch between 9 and 25 ft2 in area (square with sides of 3- 5 feet, or circle with a radius of 1.7 to 2.8 feet) a spot treatment will be considered acceptable.

Growth on these trees will be monitored in comparison to adjacent trees for two growing seasons to determine whether grass control is able to improve growth.

U020.2016.01 is a small area in which was treated around 2010 to remove black locust then planted with desirable hardwoods. A few clusters of black locust resprouts are present in this area and these resprouts should be killed in 2016. Stem diameters are less than 1 inch. Either cut stump or basal bark applications will be acceptable. If cut stump treatments are used, no slash removal is required. Applications should be completed within the growing season of 2016, and no later than September 30, 2016.

Treatments will be considered effective in U019.2016.01 if grass is killed (or showing definite signs of herbicide action) in 90% of the total area around 90% or more of the trees and if treatment areas do not extend beyond the specified dimensions. Treatments will be considered effective in U020.2016.01 if basal bark applications are evident at the base of 90% or more of black locust stems, if cut stump applications are evident on 90% or more of the stems, or if 90% or more of the stems are beginning to show signs of herbicide action (depending on the timing of Quality Assurance inspections).

1.2.7 Upper Iowa River

Area

Treatment

Area

Begin Date End Date Acres Treatment

Upper Iowa

River Delta

U004.2016.01 Jun 1, 2016 Aug 31, 2016 2.25 Treat half of expanding gap areas with glyphosate once during growing season.

Upper Iowa

River Delta

U024.2015.01 Jun 1, 2016 Jul 15, 2016 0.4 Spot spray broad‐ spectrum herbicide around caged seedlings.

Upper Iowa

River Delta

U024.2015.01 Oct 15, 2016 Nov 30, 2016 0.4 Spot spray pre‐emergent herbicide around caged seedlings.

Upper Iowa

River Delta

U024.2016.01 Jun 1, 2016 Aug 31, 2016 0.1 Spray planting strips with broad‐spectrum herbicide.

Upper Iowa

River Delta

U024.2016.01 Nov 1, 2016 Nov 30, 2016 0.05 Spray half of each planting strip with pre‐ emergent herbicide.

The Upper Iowa River Project area (Attachment A – Maps, page 13, Attachment 13) is located on US Army Corps of Engineers land in the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, McGregor District. The site is in Allamakee County, IA, approximately 1.3 miles east of the US Hwy 26 bridge over the Upper Iowa River and 2.6 miles west of mile marker 672 in the main channel of the Mississippi River. It encompasses part of W1/2 W1/2 S. 13 T100N R4W with approximate coordinates of the center of the project area located at 91°16'14.369"W, 43°28'22.727"N. Access for the current project to the site is by boat from the main Mississippi River channel and up the Upper Iowa. The Blackhawk Park boat landing just south of Genoa, WI provides the best access to the site. An additional ramp managed by Iowa DNR (Blackhawk Point WMA) is available just upstream of the site on the Upper Iowa River on the west side of US Hwy 26. Utilization of this landing can be difficult during low water periods.

There are three herbicide application areas at the Upper Iowa River site for 2016 (Attachment A

– Maps, page 14, Attachment 14). Two of the areas (U024.2015.01 and U024.2016.01) are located within a site that was grazed with cattle in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in an attempt to control reed canary grass. The third site (U024.2016.01) is a site that is being prepped for a potential timber sale.

U024.2015.01 was planted in 2014 with about 35 bare root swamp white oak, cottonwood and silver maple seedlings, each surrounded by an approximately 6-foot tall by 5-foot wide welded wire fence to prevent damage from grazing cattle. Planting fabric was installed around the base of each seedling to control weed growth. High mortality of swamp white oak and cottonwood seedlings prompted re-planting in fall of 2015 with root production method (RPM) swamp white oak trees where the initial seedlings had died, along with a handful of black walnut (Juglans nigra) RPMs. The planting fabric was pulled up around the newly planted trees. Weed control in

2016 will consist of a single application of broad-spectrum herbicide inside of and including a 1 foot ring outside of each of the welded wire tree cages, an area of approximately 30 ft2. In addition, Oust will need to be applied in fall of 2016 (Oct 15 – Nov 30) at a rate of 0.5 oz/ac around the caged trees. If green leaves are still present on the trees, no pre-emergent herbicides with foliar activity (e.g. Oust) should be used. It is preferred if treatments are not implemented until leaf-drop has occurred.

Prescription area U024.2016.01 consists of 7 strips totaling approximately 0.1 ac. Each strip is 5 ft wide, with 3 of the strips being 200 feet long and 4 being 100 feet long. The strips need to be prepped prior to tree planting in fall of 2016 and/or spring of 2017. The strips are placed in open areas between sparse tree cover. Each strip should be sprayed with glyphosate during mid- to late-summer 2016 to kill established reed canary grass. Oust will need to be applied to half of each strip in late October or early November of 2016 at a rate of 0.5 oz/ac following planting.

The other half of each strip will not be treated with Oust to determine effects of the herbicide on cuttings and seedlings. Planting strips will be indicated with a flagged stake on each end and a flagged stake in the middle. Oust will be applied on the portion of each strip that is labeled with the word “Oust” and will not be applied in the portion of the strip where the end stake is not labeled. Oust applications should not be implemented until leaf-drop has occurred.

In prescription area U004.2016.01, half of the future opening areas will be treated this summer with a broad-spectrum herbicide to eliminate all herbaceous competition while half will be left untreated. Boundaries of the openings to be sprayed will be marked with a single band of pink flagging tape labeled “Spray”. The actual GPS coordinates of the openings are still being determined and will be provided to the contractor prior to herbicide application.

Treatments will be considered effective in all areas if 90% of COE quality assurance (QA) plots demonstrate 90% or greater mortality of target undesirable vegetation in treatment areas and < 5 % of planted tree seedlings (in U024.2015.01) showing evidence of herbicide damage.

2. MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

Payment for this work will be based on the CLIN schedule. The Contractor is responsible for determining the actual acreage treated and must include adequate information in their pay request to show how the acreage was measured and calculated. Following completion of herbicide application, and Government receipt of the Post-Application document, the Contractor may submit invoice for payment. The acreage measurement may be verified by the Government Point of Contact (POC). The Contractor may submit partial payments requests as individuals work areas are completed.

2.1 Site Visits

Quoters are encouraged to inspect/view the sites where the work will be performed before quoting. For site area questions or to schedule a site visit, contact the Government POC shown in Section 7. Site visits may be arranged during normal business hours.

2.2 Invoices

The contractor must submit invoices to the Government POC to initiate payments.

Al l Invoices shall be sent via email or FAX to the Technical Point of Contact, Andy Meier at andrew.r.meier@usace.army.mil. Invoices with errors or that are not acceptable per FAR Clause 52.212-4 will be returned and a new invoice with a new date must be submitted for payment.

Failure to do so may cause a delay in payment to the contractor.

SUBMIT INVOICES TO: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Recreation and Natural Resource Branch, Environmental Section Attn: Andy Meier 1114 South Oak Street La Crescent, MN 55947-1560

3. SAFETY

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this contract, the Contractor shall comply with all safety and health requirements as outlined in the Corps of Engineers Safety and Health Requirements Manual (EM 385-1-1) and OSHA Safety Standards to ensure the safe working conditions for his employees and government workers. Instructions for accessing the manual are available online at:

http://www.usace.army.mil/SafetyandOccupationalHealth/SafetyandHealthRequirementsManual.

aspx.

The entire Safety Manual is available for downloading or viewing on the Internet at:

http://www.publications.usace.army.mil/Portals/76/Publications/EngineerManuals/EM_385-1- 1.pdf.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Should a spill of petroleum, pesticide, or other contaminant occur, the Contractor's immediate response shall be to proceed with measures to limit the further spread of contamination.

Immediately following this initial response, the Contractor shall notify the local Fire Department, the Government POC, the Contracting Officer, and appropriate local, state, and federal officials.

This may include the National Response Center (1-800-424-8802) if a reportable quantity is released to the environment. The appropriate state official is the Department of Public Safety Duty Officer. The Minnesota Duty Officer can be reached at 1-800-422-0798. The Wisconsin Duty Officer can be reached at 1-800-943-0003. Spills in Iowa should be reported to 1-515-725- 8694. These numbers are staffed 24 hours a day.

Subsequent to these actions, the Contractor shall take actions to clean up the spill as recommended by the appropriate state hazardous spill agency as listed above and at no cost to the government. Should a personnel contamination occur, the Contractor shall take immediate actions as prescribed by the chemical manufacturer so as to protect the safety and health of the contaminated individual(s).

5. HERBICIDE

5.1 Herbicide Plan

The Contractor shall submit a written plan that addresses their recommended herbicides, application rates, timing, spray methods proposed to achieve the contract goal of vegetation control at the seven (7) management areas, target pest and reason for choice. If appropriate, surfactants shall be added per label instructions to appropriate herbicide mixtures. All carriers and adjutants must be non-toxic. The herbicide plan shall detail the carriers, adjutants and surfactants to be used. Also include application rates, where mixing will occur, and plans for environmental protection if mixing is to occur on government property. EPA product labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for all proposed products (website links are acceptable) shall be submitted with the herbicide plan. The Government POC must receive submission of this plan a minimum of five (5) working days prior to the desired application date. The request will be reviewed, considering as a minimum, relative effectiveness and toxicity. The contractor shall also submit a tentative application schedule to the Government POC five (5) working days prior to initiating any work on this contract.

All treatments must be conducted during a period when target species are susceptible to the herbicide being used. No broadcast spraying shall be performed when wind speeds exceed specifications listed on the herbicide label, or wind directions are likely to result in drift to surface water or non-project lands. To protect groundwater resources, herbicide applications will not be allowed prior to precipitation that could facilitate rapid leaching of herbicide to the water table. At a minimum, herbicide(s) cannot be applied when the forecast indicates a high probability of significant precipitation during the next 24 hours. The Government POC shall have the right to make these determinations and terminate any planned herbicide applications based on available weather forecasts and current conditions. Additionally, excessively dry conditions that can negatively affect herbicide performance should also be avoided. The Contractor is to notify the Government POC of any planned herbicide applications and receive prior approval before completing the planned application.

5.2 Handling and Mixing

All herbicides will be handled and stored in accordance with instructions on the EPA registration label. All herbicides shall be mixed in accordance with the label instructions so that the desired rate of application can be attained with the Contractor's application equipment. Potable water is not available. However, river water is generally available at all sites and should the Contractor decide to use river water, proper setback distances between the Contractor’s mixing tank and the river as specified by the States of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa shall be maintained. The possibility exists that turbid water will diminish the effectiveness of the chemical used and the Contractor is liable for the cost of reapplication should failure of the treatment occur.

The Contractor is required to provide a secondary containment system around their herbicide mixing area when herbicides are mixed on government property. This containment system must be constructed of impervious materials. In addition, the Contractor will ensure that no contamination of any water source occurs and that emergency spill containment equipment is at the worksite and is capable of containing all potential herbicide spills from Contractor vehicles/equipment. Unused, mixed pesticides will be disposed of in accordance with local, state and EPA guidelines. Spray equipment cleaning will also be accomplished in accordance with these guidelines. Prior to leaving a worksite for the day, the Contractor shall remove all equipment and unused materials, any waste materials, oil, empty herbicide containers and litter resulting from contract activities on government property.

5.3 Licensing

The Contractor, all of their employees, and any subcontractors performing herbicide work under this contract shall possess a valid state commercial herbicide applicator's license for Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa (or have completed requirements necessary for license reciprocity in these states) and shall comply with all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations applicable to the contract work and to the products and materials used by the Contractor in performing that work.

Evidence of such state and applicable reciprocal licensing shall be submitted prior to any herbicide application. Department of Labor as well as state regulations regarding employment of youth shall be observed.

5.4 Post-Application Documentation

The Contractor shall submit completed copies of the ‘Post-Application Documentation Form’ for each day’s herbicide work and for each herbicide used. A sample form is provided in Attachment B and may be reproduced. The Contractor may use his or her own form if it contains all information included on the Corps form. Scanned or digital copies of this form may be submitted electronically or hard copies may be mailed to the address of the government point of contact (POC) listed below (see Section 7) within five working days of each application or at the time of invoice submission, whichever is earlier. No payment will be made for services until post-application documentation has been supplied to the Government POC.

5.5 Herbicide Warranty

The Contractor shall exercise his/her professional judgment as to the application rate, time and extent of application of the herbicides. The Contractor warrants that:

Should the desired results not be achieved, the Contractor will, at no additional cost to the Government, reapply the herbicide to those areas where targeted vegetative growth continues or recurs. The determination as to the acceptable performance of the Contractor and the need to reapply the herbicides will rest solely with the Government POC, Contracting Officer or the authorized representative. A request to retreat an area may be either verbal or in writing. The desired results to be achieved are listed in each of the area descriptions in Section 1.1 above.

5.6 Site Restoration

The Contractor shall be responsible for restoring any area that does not satisfy the warranty requirements at no additional cost to the Government. Areas will be retreated within the time specified by the Contracting Officer’s or Government POC’s notice to the Contractor. The Contractor is responsible for damages to persons or property, including unreasonable or unnecessary damages to non-target vegetation, within and outside the treatment areas resulting from the performance of the contract work. Reseeding of non-target native vegetation damaged in this way may be necessary and will be at the Contractor’s expense. Excess and waste material shall be removed and properly disposed of off-site. Areas that have been damaged by spraying operations shall be restored to original condition at the Contractor’s expense.

6. PRE-WORK MEETING

A pre-work meeting must be held within 10 days after contract award. Government inspection procedures will be reviewed at that time. The Contractor will be notified by the Government POC of the meeting location.

7. GOVERNMENT POINT OF CONTACT

Andy Meier, Forester U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Recreation and Natural Resource Branch, Environmental Section 1114 South Oak Street La Crescent, MN 55947-1560 Office phone: (651) 290-5899, Mobile phone: (651) 728-1872 Andrew.R.Meier@usace.army.mil

8. LIABILITY OF AND DAMAGES TO THE GOVERNMENT

8.1 Insurance

The contractor will carry liability insurance that will cover the application of herbicides as defined in this specification. This coverage will include as a minimum drift, run-off, and pollution (sudden and accidental) for all contract operations. The amount of coverage this insurance will provide will not be less than $1,000,000 per incident. A Certificate of Insurance form signed by the insuring agency shall be provided to the contracting officer within 10 working days after award of the contract. The insurance must provide coverage for the entire contract period. The insurance policy shall state that it cannot be cancelled without 30 days written notice to the Contracting Officer. Failure to secure and maintain insurance may be grounds for termination during the performance period of this contract.

8.2 Government Liability

The Government assumes no liability from the Contractor's performance of the contract work.

The Contractor shall hold and save the Government harmless from any and all liability to others arising from the performance of the contract.

8.3 Responsibility for Damages

The Contractor is responsible for all damages to persons and property resulting from performance of the contract work.

9. INSPECTIONS AND ACCEPTANCE

Work will be inspected periodically for conformance with these specifications for timeliness, safety and results achieved.

10. ATTACHMENTS

10.1 Attachment A – Maps 1-14

Attachment 01 - Vicinity Map for Gores WMA

Attachment 02 - Prescription Map for Gores WMA

Attachment 03 - Vicinity Map for Trimbelle Property