Boise National Forest Invasive Treatment Contract

The objective of this project is to effectively continue noxious weed/annual grass management and treatment during the growing season through the use of chemical controls within the known and discovered noxious weed and annual grass infestations. Treatment areas are located on the Boise National Forest. This project involves four specific treatment areas which are described by location and in detail below:

1).  Treatment area #1 - (known as the Cow Creek to Wildhorse EDRR Project) is on the Mountain Home Ranger District located within the boundary of the Big Springs Cattle and Horse (C&H) Allotment, approximately 35 miles Northeast of Mountain Home, Idaho, on the Boise National Forest.  Using chemical controls on known and newly discovered annual grass infestations and noxious weeds, rangeland and watershed health will be restored on approximately 70 acres within Sage Grouse habitat.  This project site has an emphasis on treating ventenata, medusa head and cheatgrass.  However, noxious weeds will also be treated within the project area.   Sites will be checked for effectiveness after the initial herbicide treatment and re-treated if necessary.  The expectation is to have an increase in perennial grasses and forbs, including preferred sage grouse species such as lupine, hawks beard, arrowleaf balsamroot and milkvetch's and a decrease in noxious weed and annual grass presence. 

2).  Treatment area #2 - (known as the Atlanta Sawtooth Weed Treatment) is on the Idaho City Ranger District near Atlanta, Idaho, approximately 130 miles Northeast of Boise, Idaho, located on the Boise National Forest but also borders the Sawtooth Wilderness.  Treatment areas will be focused within designated motorized and non-motorized trail networks. The overall objective of this project area is to build upon previous noxious weed management. This area has been impacted by a large influx of recreational traffic ; the treatment of the project area would directly reduce the spread in and around the wilderness and surrounding areas. The noxious weeds that will be targeted in this treatment would be spotted and defuse knapweed, dalmatian toadflax and orange hawkweed.   

3).  Treatment area #3 - (known as the South Zone Post Fire Restoration Project) is on the Mountain Home Ranger District near Anderson Ranch Reservoir, approximately 33 miles north of Mountain Home, Idaho, on the Boise National Forest.  Treatment areas will be focused within the South Fork of the Boise River corridor between Anderson Ranch Reservoir and Danskin Bridge.  Also included in this treatment area is the Wilson Flat Trail System, just above Anderson Ranch Reservoir. The overall objective of this project area is to improve forest, rangeland, shrubland and watershed health and reduce the secondary effects, weed establishment, and spread, that a fire can have in post-fire areas.

4).  Treatment area #4 – (known as the North Zone Post Fire Restoration Project) is on the Lowman Ranger District, near Lowman Idaho, approximately 90 miles from Boise, Idaho, located on the Boise National Forest.  Treatment areas will be focused on the Deadwood Reservoir corridors. The overall objective of this project area is to improve forest, rangeland, shrubland and watershed health and reduce the secondary effects, weed establishment, and spread, that a fire can have in post-fire areas.

An Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) protocol for detection and treatment will be applied to all four project areas using herbicides for annual grasses in small-isolated patches (i.e. specifically medusa head and ventenata) and weed species on the Idaho State noxious weed list that are of particular local concern but not limited to:  spotted knapweed, diffuse knapweed, white top, yellow and dalmatian toadflax, leafy spurge, hounds tongue, rush skeletonweed, Canada thistle, scotch thistle and orange hawkweed.  Complete eradication of invasive plant species on Forest lands is a difficult task, but with our combined, diligent, and ongoing efforts it remains a realistic goal. 

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, transportation, supervision, supplies (except those designated as Government-furnished), incidentals, and perform all work necessary to provide noxious weed management and treatment in compliance with terms, specifications, conditions, and provisions of this solicitation.