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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
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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.
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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
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• 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.
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• 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 [email protected].
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: [email protected].
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:[email protected]:[email protected]
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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.
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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.
WNWRC CAA 2019
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Shoalwater
Leadbetter Point
ForterraUnit
Wheaton Uni t
Long Island Unit
TealSloughUnit
HeadquartersUnit
Por ter Point Unit
Tarla tt UnitNorth
RiekkolaUnitTarla tt UnitSouth
BearRiverUnitTexasUnit
Drew Unit
Tongue
EmeraldHeights LoisIsland
Unknown
MillerSandsSnagIsland
McGregor /Green Islands
MinakerIslandKar lsonIsland
MarshIsland
Russian/Seal Islands
WelchIsland
Main landUnit
PriceIsland
HuntingIslandTenasillaheIsland
Fi tzpatrickIslandWoodyIsland
Brush/HorseshoeIslands
GrassyIslandEast
QuinnsIslandGoose/TronsonIslands
BrownsmeadeUnit
Westport
WallaceIsland
AnundeIsland
CrimsIsland
GrassyIslandWest
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Ilwaco!(
Astoria!(
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Rainer!(
Cathlamet!(
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UV30
UV105
UV103
UV401
UV432
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UV433Copyright:© 2014 Esri
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
N
AreaEnlargedOregon
Washington
Copyright:© 2014 Esri
Willapa NWR ComplexHeadquarters/Visitor CenterWillapaNational
Wildlife RefugeLewis and ClarkNational Wildife RefugeJulia Butler
Hansen Refugefor the Columbian White-tailed Deer
!@
Appendix 1. Maps
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1
1
1
1
1
1
Field 3
Field 178.7 acres
23.7 acres
Field 29.0 acres
67th Pla
ce
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
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11
1
Field 3(3.3 acres)
Field 2(8.4 acres)
95th Place
ÞSandrid
ge Roa
d
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
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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
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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
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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