Trout Creek Cut-To-Length Stewardship IRSC

Trout Creek Cut-to-Length Stewardship IRSC Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Page 1 of 18 12363N26Q4068 Revised 01.06.2022 ATTACHMENT 1 - APPENDIX A PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT FOR SERVICE ITEMS SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK: To advance EO 14225, Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production, and the USDA's National Active Forest Management Strategy, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit shall utilize Stewardship Authority delegated to the USFS to award an Integrated Resource Service Contract to reduce hazardous fuels and promote healthy and resilient forest stands in the project area while protecting the pristine water quality of Lake Tahoe and riparian vegetation communities such as aspen, alder, willow, and meadow grasses and shrubs in Stream Environment Zones. The project area consists of NFS lands located in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and general forest, with 248 acres designated for treatment. The project compliments defensible space treatments that have been implemented by local municipal fire districts on adjacent non-federal lands. The project objectives shall be met by performing the following service work: 1. Cut, process, forward and remove included sawtimber. A Cut-to-Length (CTL) logging system shall be used. CTL technology typically consists of a harvester to cut and process trees at the stump and create slash mat. A forwarder then transports the material to a designated landing location on top of the slash mat. This logging system is required by the NEPA Record of Decision to protect soil and water quality. 2. Cut standing dead conifer trees and transport to landings. 3. Mechanically cut small diameter trees and remove to landings. 4. Treat fuels by mechanically masticating existing dead and down material and project- generated slash. Remove slash and large dead and down to landings when necessary to meet the fuels treatment specification. 5. Remove biomass and cull logs from landings to off-Forest disposal sites. 6. Construct temporary road to facilitate thinning treatment and decommission the roads prior to demobilization. 7. Perform road maintenance and erosion control on roads used for timber haul or otherwise damaged by Contractor’s operations. 8. Perform work in Optional Units 12 and 28 and remove timber subject to agreement (TSTA) as described in Bullets 1-6 if awarded. Perform road maintenance commensurate with use. -- 1 of 18 -- Trout Creek Cut-to-Length Stewardship IRSC Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Page 2 of 18 12363N26Q4068 Revised 01.06.2022 SECTION II – WORK ITEMS Mandatory Item 1: Cut, Process, Forward and Remove Included Timber (10.0-inch DBH – 29.9-inch DBH) (Units 3, 7, 13, and 29 - 165 Acres) Unit Acres Tree Designation Harvesting Method 3 57 ITM CTL 7 46 ITM CTL 13 33 ITM CTL 29 29 ITM CTL 1. Using Cut-to-Length equipment, cut, process, forward and remove all sawtimber trees which meet the minimum tree specifications as identified in Appendix B. All Appendix B requirements apply. a) Cut trees are designated with a blue tracer paint cut tree mark. b) To the extent practicable, minimize damage to aspen groves. 2. Cut all standing dead conifer trees 3.0 – 19.9” DBH and transport to landings, with the following exceptions: a) In Unit 3: where fewer than 3 snags per acre 20” DBH or greater are not present within each treatment unit, retain the largest snags <19.9” DBH as needed to reach an average of 3 snags per acre. b) In Units 7, 13, 29: where fewer than 8 snags per acre 20” DBH or greater are not present within each treatment unit, retain the largest snags <19.9” DBH as needed to reach an average of 5-8 snags per acre. 3. Treat live tree cut stumps using an Environmental Protection Agency registered borate compound for stumps > 14 inches DBH to prevent annosus root rot. 4. Flush-cut stumps (maximum 2” stump height or as low as safely possible) within 25 feet of recreation improvements, facilities, paved county or state roads and NFS system roads and trails. 5. Restore landings after operations are complete as follows. These actions shall be taken in addition to the requirements in Appendix B. a) Providing ground cover, such as slash, wood chips or masticated material. b) Ditching, sloping, and water bars may be used where needed as determined by the Contracting Officer Representative to disconnect runoff from surface water features. c) Landings will be ripped to approximately a 12-inch depth after ground cover has been spread. Ripping is not permitted where known infestations of noxious weeds are present and may not be possible in rocky soils; these determinations shall be made by the Contracting Officer Representative. 6. When operations occur within 150 feet of National Forest System Trails, Contractor shall, unless relieved in writing by Forest Service, provide such flagmen, post signs, erect and maintain barricades, guards, construction signs, warning signs, and detour signs as necessary to warn and protect the public at all times from injury or damage as a result of Contractor's operations. In addition, Contractor shall provide a watchman for the area whose sole duty shall be to warn and advise the public of any hazards present in the area. -- 2 of 18 -- Trout Creek Cut-to-Length Stewardship IRSC Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Page 3 of 18 12363N26Q4068 Revised 01.06.2022 Mandatory Item 2: Mechanical Small Tree Thin (Units 3, 7, 13, and 29 - 165 Acres) 1. Using Cut-to-Length equipment, cut all Biomass trees (3.0” - 9.9” DBH) as designated in the Unit cutting description table below. All material must be removed to a designated landing location. Biomass material that is not removed will be utilized for erosion control in accordance with C6.6 (slash mats). All Appendix B requirements apply. Unit Cutting Description 3, 7, 13, 29 Leave 10 trees/acre of 3”-9.9” DBH trees. 10 trees per acre is roughly equivalent to 66-foot spacing, but variable spacing is acceptable. Avoid leaving ladder fuel trees …