Specifications include, but are not limited to: Line Item 1 – Mastication –Outside of Inventoried Roadless Areas ALL pinyon pine and junipers will be masticated. Trees will be completely masticated leaving a MAXIMUM stump height no greater than 6 inches measured on the uphill side. ALL branches below the stump cut must be severed. ALL surplus vegetation and slash shall be mulched or cut, such that no woody piece is greater than 3 feet in length. Any pinyon pine or juniper trees, or saplings, that cannot be removed by bull hog machinery must be removed by a hand crew utilizing chainsaws or loppers. Mulch depth shall not exceed three (3) inches. If mulch exceeds three inches in depth the Contractor shall spread the mulch either mechanically or by hand. The Project Inspector will make tests to determine the uniformity of the mulching operation. In the area surrounding Bear Creek the line which machinery may not cross has been flagged with pink flagging. Machinery should masticate to this flag line and take flagged trees and trees along the flag line. Any orange flagged trees along Bear Creek should NOT be removed. Equipment may ONLY cross Bear Creek and the spots designated on the contract map. Brush mats will be made at those crossing locations prior to equipment crossing and should be used by equipment for crossing. Any damage to the channel and banks from crossing will be remediated by the contractor. Line Item 2 – Mastication – Within Inventoried Roadless Areas: ALL pinyon pine and junipers 11 inches diameter at root collar (DRC) and smaller will be masticated. Trees greater than 11 inches DRC will be left. Trees will be completely masticated leaving a MAXIMUM stump height no greater than 6 inches measured on the uphill side. ALL branches below the stump cut must be severed. ALL surplus vegetation and slash shall be mulched or cut, such that no woody piece is greater than 3 feet in length. Any pinyon pine or juniper tree or sapling that cannot be removed by bull hog machinery must be removed by a hand crew utilizing chainsaws or loppers. Mulch depth shall not exceed three (3) inches. If mulch exceeds three inches in depth the Contractor shall spread the mulch either mechanically or by hand. The Project Inspector will make tests to determine the uniformity of the mulching operation. Additional treatment specifications: Contractor vehicles other than mastication equipment should not leave the travel network identified on the contract map unless they have received authorization from the Project Manager Equipment may ONLY cross streams and major washes at the crossing locations identified on the contract map. Brush mats will be made at those crossing locations prior to equipment crossing and should be used by equipment for crossing. Any damage to the channel and banks from crossing will be remediated by the contractor at the direction of the Project Manager. Servicing, refueling, or staging of equipment within 150 feet of all riparian areas is prohibited without authorization from the Project Manager. Parking/staging locations identified on the project map should be used before identifying other parking and staging areas. Additional parking and staging areas need authorization from the Project Manager. Damage to non-target trees (especially deciduous trees and shrubs) should be avoided to the greatest extent practicable. Machinery should avoid repeatedly using the same routes and any machinery routes that cause soil damage, or could become obvious travel corridors, will be ripped and/or brushed over. Project implementation ingress and egress routes will be rehabbed in accordance with methods described in A Guide for Road Closures and Obliteration in the Forest Service (USDA, 1996). Depositing cut material into perennial and intermittent stream channels will be avoided. Use of ground mastication equipment will be restricted during periods of wet soil. This is defined as any time the equipment ruts greater than 2 inches in a moist soil. Machinery will avoid springs, seeps, and wetlands. Fences, gates, water developments, ponds, pipelines and other infrastructure will be avoided and any damages will be repaired by the Contractor.
