Attention: Grazing and Haying Opportunities Notice of Cooperative Agricultural Opportunity

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking qualified applicants for a Cooperative Agricultural Program at the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Complex) which includes Willapa National Wildlife Refuge in Ilwaco, Washington, and Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer and Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge, both administered in Cathlamet, Washington. Cattle grazing and haying cooperators will have seasonal use of pasture on refuge lands for a period of three years as Cooperators with the Service. To be considered for the program applicants must complete the applicable portions of FWS Form 3-1383-C and supplemental application questions. The applicant must address in their application how they will meet the selection criteria outlined in the instructions.

Background

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 and manages over 17,000 acres of coastal habitat, including sand dune, mudflat, salt marsh, freshwater marsh, grassland, and upland ecosystems in southwest Washington. Protecting, restoring, and enhancing these diverse habitats is important for vast numbers of migratory birds particularly waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as resident mammals, native fish and invertebrates, and threatened and endangered species such as the western snowy plover, streaked horned lark and marbled murrelet.

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge (JBH) was established in 1972 specifically to protect and manage the then endangered Columbian white-tailed deer (CWTD). The refuge contains approximately 6,056 acres of pastures, forested tidal swamps, brushy woodlots, marshes and sloughs along the Columbia River in both Washington and Oregon. The refuge is managed to provide a mosaic of woodland, grassland and wetland habitats.

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1972 to preserve the vital fish and wildlife habitat of the Columbia River estuary, and its islands range from tidal sand flats and marshes to forested swamps and upland pasture. The refuge is approximately 12,163 acres and includes 20 islands stretching over 27 miles of the lower Columbia River.

The purpose of grazing and haying on the Complex are to improve forage conditions for migratory birds and Columbian white-tailed deer, prevent succession of upland meadows to woody vegetation, and reduce cover of invasive plant species. The positive and negative effects of grazing and haying programs are explored in depth in the respective Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plans (USFWS 2010, USFWS

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge ComplexCooperative Agriculture Program

2011). A Grazing and Haying Management Plan (USFWS 2015) has also been completed for the Complex and is a step-down plan of the CCP. This plan provides management direction for grassland portions of the refuge by focusing on important groups of wildlife and their associated habitats identified in the CCP planning process. The prescriptive grazing and haying activities were determined to be compatible uses. The activities are habitat management tools consistent with the Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health policy which may be used to meet resource management objectives on units of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The Grazing and Haying Management Plan also defines the process by which the grazing and haying program will be administered and further delineates the requirements and restrictions and associated share-in-kind services in a Plan of Operations - Cooperative Agricultural Agreement (CAA). Under this CAA, current management practices will continue to be followed per CCP management direction.

The Proposed Cooperative Agricultural Agreement

The selected applicants will operate under a CAA as “Cooperators” with the Service. Under each CAA, the Service is proposing that the Cooperator will be responsible for managing an allotted acreage of pasture on the Complex, with fields clustered to facilitate movement of cattle and to provide a grazing rotation which meets Refuge objectives. In most grazed fields there is a goal vegetation height of four to six inches. The Cooperator will be allowed to manage the grasslands by grazing, mowing, haying, and cutting silage from approximately April 15th to October 15th of each year. However, annual work plans will be developed for each year of a CAA prior to any Cooperator activity, and access to specific fields may be restricted for parts of each season. Fields available to Cooperators for grazing and haying under this agreement are shown in the attached table and maps (Table 1, Appendix 1).

CAA Applications and Selection

The Complex is seeking to award CAAs for the following management units:

Refuge and Management Unit(s) Number of Cooperators Willapa National Wildlife Refuge – Tarlatt and Riekkola 1 – 2 Julia Butler Hansen Refuge – Mainland 2 – 4 Julia Butler Hansen Refuge – Tenasillahe Island 1 Lewis and Clark NWR – Brownsmead 1

To be considered for the program applicants must complete and submit the applicable portions of FWS Form 3-1383-C and supplemental application questions. The Cooperator(s) will be selected through an open and competitive process where applications will be scored and ranked by Service staff. Interested Cooperators will be evaluated based on the proposed value (bid) in exchange for in-kind services ($/Animal Unit Month for grazing or $/acre for haying), and experience and qualifications that demonstrate an ability to meet the resource management objectives of the Complex. The objective criteria that will be utilized in selection are further defined in the Supplemental Instructions for FWS Form 3-1383-C. The interested Cooperator’s responses to application questions will be their opportunity to demonstrate that they meet this objective criteria.

General Operating Requirements of Grazing and Haying Program:

• The Refuge provides the Cooperator with access to pastures to perform grazing or hayingactivities. In exchange the Cooperator utilizes labor and equipment to perform activities thathelp achieve Refuge management goals. Pastures will have an assessed value based on the sizeof the pasture and the accepted Cooperator’s bid proposal, either $/acre for haying or $/AnimalUnit Month (AUM) for grazing. This pasture access value will be returned to the Refuge by theCooperator by providing in-kind services as determined by the Refuge and outlined in an annualwork plan prior to the beginning of each season. Types of in-kind services and their determinedvalues are defined in the Supplemental Instructions for Form 3-1383-C of the applicationpackage.

Habitat Maintenance Work Values for In-kind Services:

Animal Unit Calculations:

Class of Animal Factor (AU) Mature Cow 1.0 Cow-Calf Pair 1.2 Yearling (9-18 months) 0.7 Weaned Calf 0.5 Bull 1.5 Horse or mule 1.2

• Haying, silage cuttings, and mowing operations will not be permitted during fawning season(June 1 - July 5) at the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge on the Mainland and Tenasillahe Island Units.

• Stocking rates may be altered during the season should pasture conditions warrant (e.g.excessively wet conditions or prescribed grass conditions met), dependent upon judgment ofthe Complex’s Project Leader (or designee).

• Animals will be contained in assigned units. Fences must be maintained by the Cooperator, andshall be inspected and repaired before cattle are moved onto the Refuge. The refuge willprovide materials for maintaining fences and any permanent fence constructed on NationalWildlife Refuge System lands will become property of the Service. All fencing must meet refugecriteria as “wildlife friendly”, as defined in annual work plans.

Service Value Mowing/Weed Control (including Spot and Broadcast Spray with tractor)

$25.00 / acre

Repair Fence, Build New Fence, Install Electric Fence, Fix Gates, Weed control with backpack/ATV

$21.77 / hour

Other General Labor (approved by Project Leader) $21.77 / hour

• The Cooperator shall comply with livestock health and sanitation regulations of the state ofWashington or Oregon, where applicable.

• All liability relating to livestock and livestock management to include all persons working for theCooperator, whether related, hired, or as a partner is strictly that of the Cooperator as listed onthe CAA.

• The Cooperator must have or acquire liability insurance that covers the livestock being grazedon Refuge lands. A copy of the liability insurance must be provided to the Project Leader (ordesignee) prior to cattle being released onto Refuge lands.

• Cooperators are responsible for ensuring fences are sufficient to keep cattle within permittedfields. Cattle allowed to escape from grazing areas onto other Refuge lands will be consideredtrespass cattle. Cattle not returned to appropriate fields within 24 hours will be subject toimpoundment. Three incidences of cattle escaping during a grazing season may result intermination of a CAA.

• Cooperator is responsible for removing dead livestock carcasses from the Refuge and mustnotify Project Leader (or designee). All carcasses must be removed within 24 hours, unless otherarrangements have been made with the Project Leader (or designee).

• All equipment used in pasture management, including ATVs and UTVs, must be clean and free ofinvasive species plant material including seeds before entering Refuge land. The Project Leader(or designee) reserves the right to inspect and deny the use of any equipment/vehicle/horse etc.that appears to contain invasive species plant material or seeds.

• Equipment must meet all safety regulations and must be in good working condition.

• Supplemental feeding is not allowed.

• Dogs are not permitted on the Refuge, except under special circumstances approved by theProject Leader.

• Haying and grazing privileges may not be sold, transferred, or sublet, except by transfer to heirsin the event of the death of the Cooperator.

• Non-use of grazing or haying privileges, in whole or in part, shall be cause for cancellation of aCooperator's privileges at the discretion of the Project Leader unless non-use has previouslybeen approved.

• All farming equipment, materials, and livestock are to be removed from the Refuge by October15th of each year, unless specifically authorized by the Project Leader.

• An annual work plan outlining in-kind service projects will be developed by the Project Leaderand the Cooperator prior to the period of operations.

• The Cooperator will be responsible for maintaining boundary and internal fencing, gates,associated access points, ditches, and trails required to produce site specific grazingmanagement, allow access to infrastructure, and provide wildlife census routes.

• All herbicides and pesticides must be pre-approved under a Pesticide Use Permit (PUP) for theRefuge. The Cooperator is required to provide the Project Leader a pesticide use report byNovember 1st of each year documenting any herbicide applications made on the Refuge.Proposed herbicides approved for use and supplied at Refuge expense are:

To apply: complete FWS Form 3-1383-C and supplemental application questions. The application must indicate which allotment of pastures are being applied for and how the applicant meets the objective criteria that will be used in the selection process. The FWS Form 3-1383-C, supplemental application questions and instructions, maps of the proposed Cooperative Agriculture area, and examples of a Cooperative Agricultural Agreement can be downloaded at: www.fws.gov/refuge/willapa and www.fws.gov/refuge/Julia_Butler_Hansen. Hard copies can be requested by calling Chris Kane, Assistant Refuge Manager at 360-795-3915 or email at Christopher_Kane@fws.gov.

Applications are to be submitted to the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge Headquarters in a sealed envelope marked:

Cooperative Agricultural Agreement Application U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Julia Butler Hansen Refuge Post Office Box 566 Cathlamet, WA 98612

The sealed envelopes may be submitted either by mail or hand delivered to the refuge office at: 46 Steamboat Slough Road, Cathlamet, WA 98612. Applications will only be accepted between February 22 and March 11, 2019. Sealed envelopes must be received in the refuge office by March 11, 2019 at 4:00 pm. Review of proposals will begin on March 12, 2019. Selected Cooperators will be notified approximately 1 week after the application deadline.

Site Visits

A site visit to tour the refuge complex’s managed pastures (Appendix 1) can be arranged by contacting Chris Kane by phone at: 360-795-3915 or email at: Christopher_Kane@fws.gov.

Trade Name Chemical Polaris AQ, Alligare 4 SL Imazapyr Alligare 2,4-D LV6 2, 4-D Ranger Pro, Razor Pro Glyphosate (terrestrial) Garlon 3A, Element 3A Triclopyr triethylamine

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/willapamailto:Christopher_Kane@fws.govmailto:Christopher_Kane@fws.gov

Literature Cited

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2010. Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge and Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2011. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2015. Grazing and Haying Management Plan for Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Table 1. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex: Grazing and Haying Units (2019 – 2021 CAA)

Refuge Unit Fields Use Acres Ratio AU:Acres

Max AUMs / season

Minimum Bid 2019

Access Dates*

In-kind Service (Example) Cost at Min Bid / Max AUM

WLP Riekkola 1 2 3

graze 78.7 9.0 23.7

1:1 613 $8.50 4/15 – 9/30 Construct barb wire and/or electric fence, repair and maintain fencing, spray weeds, mow after grazing vegetation to 4-6 inch height

$5,210.50

WLP Tarlatt 1 2 3

graze 12.5 8.4 3.3

1:1 145 $8.50 4/15 – 10/15 Construct barb wire and/or electric fence, repair and maintain fencing, spray weeds, mow after grazing vegetation to 4-6 inch height

$1,232.50

JBH Mainland 3.2 3.3 7.1 7.2

graze 16.8 9.1 8.7 11.2

1:2 102 $8.50 4/15 – 10/1 4/15 – 8/1 8/1 – 10/1 4/15 – 10/1

Construct barb wire and/or electric fence, repair and maintain fencing to wildlife friendly standards, spray weeds, mow after grazing vegetation to 4-6 inch height

$867.00

JBH Mainland 6.2 16.1 16.2

graze 22.0 12.5 21.0

1:2 110 $8.50 4/15 – 10/1 8/1 – 10/1 4/15 – 8/1

Construct barb wire and/or electric fence, repair and maintain fencing to wildlife friendly standards, spray weeds, mow after grazing vegetation to 4-6 inch height

$935.00

JBH Mainland 8.2 16.3 16.4

graze 39.2 22.7 26.0

1:2 174 $8.50 4/15 – 10/1 4/15 – 8/1 8/1 – 10/1

Construct barb wire and/or electric fence, repair and maintain fencing to wildlife friendly standards, spray weeds, mow after grazing vegetation to 4-6 inch height

$1,479.00

JBH Mainland 19.1 20.1 21.2

graze 29.6 22.4 26.1

1:2 140 $8.50 4/15 – 8/1 8/1 – 10/1 4/15 – 10/1

Construct barb wire and/or electric fence, repair and maintain fencing to wildlife friendly standards, spray weeds, mow after grazing vegetation to 4-6 inch height

$1,190.00

JBH Mainland 22.1 24.2a 24.2b

graze 49.7 19.4 27.6

1:2 204 $8.50 4/15 – 10/1 8/1 – 10/1 4/15 – 8/1

Construct barb wire and/or electric fence, repair and maintain fencing to wildlife friendly standards, spray weeds, mow after grazing vegetation to 4-6 inch height

$1,734.00

JBH Mainland 5 9.1 13

hay 21.5 14.7 13.3

N/A N/A $26.50/acre 7/15 – 10/15 Mow weeds several times by Sept 1, aerate, spot spray weeds

N/A

JBH Tenasillahe Island**

2 5 6 7 8 10 11 12

graze 57.9 17.8 15.6 66.3 36.5 33.9 105.7 22.8

1:1.5 1307 $6.50 5/1 – 10/15 Construct barb wire and/or electric fence, repair and maintain fencing to wildlife friendly standards, spray weeds, mow after grazing vegetation to 4-6 inch height

** Cooperators grazing cattle on Tenasillahe Island will be subject to an additional charge for barge transport of cattle to/from island (~ $7,500 / season)

$8,495.50

LAC Brownsmead 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4

graze 4.8 8.3 8.6 13.0

1:1.5 139 $8.50 4/15 – 10/15 Construct barb wire and/or electric fence, repair and maintain fencing, spray weeds, mow after grazing vegetation to 4-6 inch height

$1,181.50

* Use dates may vary due to weather, field restoration, Refuge activities, or other unforeseen events.

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Location MapWillapa National Wildlife Refuge ComplexWashington and Oregon U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Produced by: Willapa NWRCProjection: UTM Zone 10NDatum: NAD 83 0 10 205 Kilometers0 10 205 Miles

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AreaEnlargedOregon

Washington

Copyright:© 2014 Esri

Willapa NWR ComplexHeadquarters/Visitor CenterWillapaNational Wildlife RefugeLewis and ClarkNational Wildife RefugeJulia Butler Hansen Refugefor the Columbian White-tailed Deer

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Appendix 1. Maps

1

1

1

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Field 3

Field 178.7 acres

23.7 acres

Field 29.0 acres

67th Pla

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Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID,IGN, and the GIS User Community

Produced by Willapa NWRCProjection: UTM Zone 10NDatum: NAD 83Map date: 02/11/2019 FRefuge boundaryGrazing field

1 Gate 0 0.35 0.70.175Kilometers

0 0.25 0.50.125 Miles

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceWillapa National Wildlife RefugePacific County, Washington Riekkola Unit Grazing Fields

11

1

Field 3(3.3 acres)

Field 2(8.4 acres)

95th Place

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Pioneer Road

Field 1(12.5 acres)

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID,IGN, and the GIS User Community

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceWillapa National Wildlife RefugePacific County, Washington Tarlatt Unit Grazing Fields

F0 0.2 0.40.1 Kilometer0 0.15 0.30.075 MileRefuge boundary

Grazing field1 Gate

Produced by Willapa NWRCProjection: UTM Zone 10NDatum: NAD 83Map date: 02/11/2019

U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceJulia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed DeerWahkiakum County, Washington

Mainland Unit2019 Grazing Program

UTM Zone 10NNAD 83

Produced by Willapa NWRCCathlamet, WashingtonCurrent to: 01/2015Map Date: 02/04/2019File: G:\PROJECTS\Refuge Maps\Grazing Maps

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

0 0.5 10.25Kilometers

0 0.5 10.25Miles

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceJulia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed DeerClatsop County, Oregon

Tenasillahe Island Unit2019 Grazing Program

UTM Zone 10NNAD 83

0 0.5 10.25Miles

0 0.5 10.25Kilometers

Produced by Willapa NWRCCathlamet, WashingtonCurrent to: 01/2015Map Date: 02/04/2019File: G:\PROJECTS\Refuge Maps\Grazing Maps

Boat Dock

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceLewis and Clark National Wildlife RefugeWahkiakum County, Washington

Brownsmead Unit2019 Grazing Program

UTM Zone 10NNAD 83

Produced by Willapa NWRCCathlamet, WashingtonCurrent to: 01/2015Map Date: 02/04/2019File: G:\PROJECTS\Refuge Maps\Grazing Maps 0 0.1 0.20.05

Kilometers

0 0.1 0.20.05Miles