Phase 3 of the Rock Creek Service Project contains up to 170 acres, 4 total units further divided into three primary units and one secondary unit on BLM-administered land. Primary units are the priority for treatment. The secondary unit may be added if budget allows. Completion of this project will result in enhanced ponderosa pine, pinyon/juniper and mixed conifer forest conditions that support big game and a vast array of other wildlife species through increased habitat heterogeneity, improved ecosystem function, and creating a resilient forest structure. The Colorado State Forest Service/Division of Forestry will act as the Project Manager and is solely responsible for ensuring the terms of the service contract are met. DNR will award this project to a single Contractor based on a qualitative assessment of the Forestry Operations Plan, Project Timing, Equipment recommended and Total Project Cost. The Department reserves the right to add additional goods/services that would be seen as a natural extension of this procurement over the term of this award. The Department reserves the right to increase or decrease acreage based upon a set-aside budget. All mastication units are designation by prescription. Wildlife trees to leave: Those with presence of holes/cavities Those with presence of wildlife nests Aspen Stands Stands located within other unit types Masticate 95% of conifers under 10” DBH Masticate standing dead aspen under 10” DBH Masticate 75% of ground juniper Leave all ponderosa pines Ponderosa Pine Units/Stands Some specifically delineated units and some stands located within other unit types Order of species preference to retain: 1) ponderosa pine, 2) aspen, 3) bristlecone pine, 4) limber pine, 5) Douglas-fir, 6) white fir Priority 1 - Leave approximately 50 trees per acre (with 30 ft tree spacing) Priority 2 – Leave 50% as solitary trees; 50% as clumps of 3-5 trees Priority 3 – Leave isolated ponderosa pine trees under 8” DBH with good health/form while creating a spacing of 30 feet between each one Masticate 95% of live Douglas-fir less than 10” DBH, retaining only those with the best health/form (i.e. live leader and single stem with no insect/disease damage) Masticate all live white fir less than 10” DBH Masticate all standing dead trees less than 10” DBH Masticate all conifers less than 13” DBH that are growing within 20 feet of dripline of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir greater than 18” DBH. Masticate all pinyon and juniper trees less than 14” DBH Masticate 75% of ground juniper Pinyon/Juniper Units Meadow units – trees are present, but shrubs and grasses are the dominant vegetation; less trees per acre than woodland units with rarely touching canopies Enhance natural openings by masticating at least 95% of pinyon/juniper Retain approximately one-tenth acre for every five treated. These “clumps” are of 3-7 trees with touching canopies. Clump trees should be only those with the best health/form (i.e. live leader and single stem with no insect/disease damage) Retain all legacy pinyon/juniper trees greater than 14” DBH Leave isolated ponderosa pine trees with the best health/form while creating a spacing of 30 feet between each residual tree Masticate all conifers less than 10” DBH that are growing within 30 feet of dripline of residual ponderosa pine Masticate all Douglas-fir, all white fir, and all blue spruce Woodland units – trees are the dominant vegetation type and are denser than meadow units with more closed canopies and trees per acre At least 95% of each unit must be treated to the following prescription: Thin pinyon-juniper to a 20ft. spacing between crowns 75% of trees must be individuals Leave clumps of 3-7 pinyon-juniper with minimum spacing of 30’ to closest residual tree Remaining clumps must not exceed 25% of residual trees Leave isolated ponderosa pine trees with the best health/form while creating a spacing of 30 feet between each residual tree Masticate all conifers less than 10” DBH that are growing within 30 feet of dripline of residual ponderosa pine Masticate any other conifers under 9” DBH including blue spruce Douglas-fir, and white fir Retain all legacy pinyon/juniper trees greater than 14” DBH Up to 5% of each unit may remain untreated due to terrain restrictions or other unforeseen natural resource concerns such as bird nests, animal dens etc. Performance Standards Stump Height: 6” on the uphill side Minimize residual tree damage No more than 10% of residual trees should show signs of damage No greater than 25% of the diameter of a tree damaged No greater than 2 vertical feet damaged Chip depth: Mastication debris/Chip depth must not exceed 4” Ensure Mastication debris/Chips on the ground are broken up into smaller areas and are not continuous in nature Treatment Unit Boundary Designation: Project area boundaries are marked with blue flagging. Operational & Treatment Restrictions: Contractor should not remove the Red-painted trees as those were marked by the BLM as cadastral property boundary delineations Mechanical treatments should not take place on slopes over 30% on BLM units No mastication activities are allowed from May 15 through July 15 for the entire project area The above restriction is intended to minimize potential disturbance to Migratory Bird Habitat No mastication activities permitted within BLM Pinyon/Juniper woodland & meadow units from April 1 through October 15 The above restriction is intended to minimize the spread of pinyon ips beetles The project area falls within the Bishop Rock cattle grazing allotment and Contractor should take care to not disturb and/or injure the cattle herds when they are on site Contractor should avoid habitat disturbance (alteration/removal of vegetation or general ground disturbing activities) during long-duration severe winter conditions from Dec 1 – April 30 for big game winter range habitat that encompasses the entire project area 3.4 Important Considerations
