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Remove Vegetation
Habitat Improvement | 53
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Definition
Removal, either mechanical, biological, or chemical, of one or more plant species or a number of individuals of a plant species. Often are exotic or non-native plants, naturalized plants, or undesirable native plants, all of which may be considered to be noxious, invasive or "weeds". Includes the removal of both aquatic and terrestrial plants. Includes tree stand manipulation in order to create forage openings. If you are re-treating an area or using a different technique in a previously treated area, use WE# 22: Maintain Vegetation. WE# 53: Remove Vegetation, should only be used if you have a new objective or are treating a new area.
Deliverables (recommended)
Rules and Examples (work element scenarios and associated rules)
Rule 1: Any ESA, NEPA, permitting, or other environmental compliance
work should be split out under WE# 165, Produce Environmental
Compliance Documentation. Also, operations and maintenance (O&M) costs should
be split out under WE# 22, Maintain Vegetation.
Example:
WE: Remove Vegetation
WE Title: Remove exotic vegetation along Cohen Creek on Miller Property
WE: Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation
WE Title: Obtain local permits and ESA compliance for removal of exotic
plants along Cohen Creek
WE: Maintain Vegetation
WE Title: Maintain previous year's effort to remove exotic vegetation
along Cohen Creek.
Rule 2: If you are removing plants at various locations, a work element must be created for each location to document metric requirements. This does not require multiple work elements for WE# 165, Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation.
Example:
WE: Remove Vegetation
WE Title: Remove exotic vegetation in riparian buffer along Cohen Creek on Miller Property to improve the natural function of the riparian area.
WE: Remove Vegetation
WE Title: Remove exotic vegetation in riparian buffer along Cooper Creek on Miller Property to improve the natural function of the riparian area.
WE: Remove Vegetation
WE Title: Establish forage openings for wildlife on Anderson Acquisition.
WE: Remove Vegetation
WE Title: Remove encroaching juniper in South Pasture to restore grassland
function.
Milestones (may include)
- Environmental compliance requirements complete
On-the-ground work associated with this work element cannot proceed until this milestone is complete. Milestone is complete when final documentation is received from BPA environmental compliance staff (completion can be based on pre-existing environmental documentation from BPA).
- Develop agreements with landowners
- Establish locations at which vegetation will be removed
- Develop vegetation maintenance protocol (incl. method, herbicide type/rate, frequency)
- Obtain equipment and supplies
- Complete site preparation
- Remove vegetation
- Complete follow-up inspection/sign off on work
Metrics
| Metric |
Metric Type |
Metric Guidance |
Metric
Required |
Metric
Type |
Metric
Precision |
| 1406 |
# of riparian miles treated |
Add length treated on both sides when both sides are treated. Add one side when one side is treated. Normally, riparian habitat protection is intended for the benefit of fish. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1515 |
# of acres of upland non-wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Upland Habitat Non-Wetland: Habitat uphill of the riparian and instream habitat zone with non-hydrophilic plants. This habitat zone excludes wetland habitat. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1516 |
# of acres of upland wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Upland Wetlands: Wetlands within the upland habitat zone are habitat that is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic where the water table is usually at or near the land surface or land that is covered by shallow water. Wetlands have one or more of the following characteristics: at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytic plants; the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and the substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at sometime during the yearly growing season. These wetlands are typically considered isolated wetlands which do notinteract with the hyporheic zone, which is a region beneath and lateral to a stream bed. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1517 |
# of acres of riparian non-wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Riparian/Floodplain: A riparian zone is the transition zone between aquatic and upland habitat. These habitats are related to and influenced by surface or subsurface waters, especially the margins of streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, seeps, and ditches between land and a stream; and above the average high watermark, or bankfull height. Plant communities along the river margins are called riparian vegetation, characterized by hydrophilic plants. This habitat zone excludes wetland habitat. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1518 |
# of acres of riparian wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Riparian Wetland: Wetlands within the Riparian habitat zone are habitat that is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic where the water table is usually at or near the land surface or land that is covered by shallow water. Wetlands have one or more of the following characteristics: at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytic plants; the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and the substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at sometime during the yearly growing season. These wetlands are typically considered connected wetlands that interact with the hyporheic zone, which is a region beneath and lateral to a stream bed. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1519 |
# of acres of freshwater non-wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Freshwater Non-Tidal: Habitat with freshwater flowing in a channel or watercourse, including lakes, ponds, and adjacent areas below the high water mark. This habitat zone excludes wetland habitat. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1520 |
# of acres of freshwater wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Freshwater Wetland Non-Tidal: Wetlands within the instream habitat zone typically on the stream bank are habitat that is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic where the water table is usually at or near the land surface or land that is covered by shallow water. Wetlands have one or more of the following characteristics: at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytic plants; the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and the substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at sometime during the yearly growing season |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1521 |
# of acres of estuarine wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Estuarine Tidal Wetland: Wetlands within the tidal estuarine zone are habitat that is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic where the water table is usually at or near the land surface or land that is covered by shallow water. Wetlands have one or more of the following characteristics: at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytic plants; the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and the substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at sometime during the yearly growing season. Tidal marshes may be classified as marine source tidal, freshwater tidal, or tidal forested wetlands. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
| 1522 |
# of acres of estuarine non-wetland habitat treated |
Identify the total acres of habitat treated in this habitat zone. Estuarine Tidal Non-Wetland: Habitat that is part of a semi-enclosed coastal body of water that is subject to the ebb and flow of tides, with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the nearshore marine zone. Estuaries are environments whose pH, salinity, and water levels are subject to the ebb and flow of tides, and the physical and chemical properties of the river that feeds the estuary and the ocean from which it derives its salinity. This habitat zone excludes wetland habitat. |
Required |
number |
0.01 |
Location Guidance
Identify point at approximate center of area where vegetation was removed.
Environmental Compliance
Applicability and status of the following environmental compliance requirements can be found on the Environmental Compliance tab for that work element in your SOW for all 2007 contracts forward. BPA's Environmental staff will update and maintain this information in Pisces in real time, so that you can check the status of environmental compliance on your project at any time. Note: Many of the fields are set to auto-load in Pisces, but the settings will be reviewed by BPA's Environmental staff prior to the contract being finalized, and may be revised depending on the specific circumstances. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA coverage for this work element will be identified by BPA's Environmental Compliance Lead. Endangered Species Act (ESA)
ESA consultation is typically required for this work element. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
NHPA Section 106 consultation is typically required for this work element which often includes a cultural/historic resource survey by a qualified archaeologist. Public Involvement
Public involvement is typically required for this work element. The contractor should work with BPA Environmental staff to document previous or ongoing outreach efforts associated with this work or to develop a public involvement plan.
Associated Work Elements
- The establishment of locations at which plants will be removed and the development
of a protocol can be milestones under this work element, or they can be covered
under a separate work element if you are developing a habitat management plan
to guide your efforts. In this latter scenario, use WE
# 174, Produce Plan to cover the development of the habitat management
plan.
- WE# 22, Maintain Vegetation should be used if you
are maintaining a previous effort. For example, last year, you applied herbicide
in order to remove blackberry from 3 acres. If this year, you are planning
to apply additional herbicide for the same purpose to the same 3 acres, you
should use WE# 22, Maintain Vegetation. If, instead,
you are planning to apply herbicide to remove blackberry on a different piece
of land or you are planning to remove another species on the aforementioned
3 acres, you should use WE# 53, Remove Vegetation.
- If vegetation removal is one of the steps in an alternative agricultural
practice (e.g., disking or tilling), use WE# 48, Practice
No-till and Conservation Tillage Systems.
- If you are planting or seeding an area, use WE# 47,
Plant Vegetation.
- If you are removing vegetation through the use of fire, use WE#
31, Conduct Controlled Burn.
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