Natural Resources Support Nellis AFB

Description

This funding opportunity is only available for the Colorado Plateau CESU region. Project Title: Natural Resources Support, Nellis AFB (NAFB), NV See attachments for additional information Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for a project to be funded by the US Air Force, which provides professional and technical support for its Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) in order to facilitate successful implementation of the 16 USC 670c-1 Sikes Act. Approximately $1,800,000.00 is expected to be available for the base year to support this project. Background:The objectives of the work to be performed under this cooperative agreement are to conduct natural resource tasks on the federal lands belonging to Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), and to prepare reports detailing the results of this work for submission to the USACE Omaha Project Manager (PM), AFCEC Nellis Installation Support Section (ISS) POC, and Nellis Natural Resource POC. Type of Award:In accordance with the Sikes Act (Sec. 103A [16 USC 670c-1]) “the Secretary of a military department may enter into cooperative agreements with States, local governments, Indian Tribes, non-governmental organizations, and individuals” This project is in support of the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan, as directed in the Sikes Act, and as a result, it is anticipated that a cooperative agreement through the CESU program will be awarded. Such awards may be administered through a CESU only upon mutual agreement and official authorization by both parties of the acceptance of the application of the CESU Network IDC rate (17.5%). Note: Must be a non-federal partner in the CESU Unit to be qualified to be considered. Brief Description of Anticipated Work:This project focuses on the following objectives: 1) MGT, INVASIVE SPECIES, MULITPLE The purpose of this task is for the NFE to conduct required Invasive Weed Surveys and Eradication on Nellis AFB and the NTTR. This work will concentrate first on invasive populations close to both the main base and range boundaries. The goal is to prevent invasive plants from moving throughout Air Force property. While this work is ongoing an invasive plant inventory of areas on Nellis AFB and the NTTR will continue. The survey will concentrate on areas most likely to contain invasive plants based on review of maps, photographic imagery and ground surveys. Based on the survey results efforts will continue to concentrate on the largest populations or areas where the potential for population expansion is high. Re-vegetation efforts will begin and continue if required and as soon as practical based on the type of treatment used. Re- seeding disturbed areas where invasive plants would pose additional wildland fire risk will be the primary focus of the re-vegetation efforts. All planted species will be native and drought tolerant. When possible the plants will help prevent erosion and be suitable for wildlife. 2) MGT, SPECIES, MULTIPLE a) REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS The overall purpose of this project is to continue to document reptile and amphibian populations and seasonal habitat use on the Nellis AFB, Creech AFB, and NTTR and provide best management practices to sustain military air training operations and readiness. The project’s product will be the continuation of mapping and updating Nellis AFB, Creech AFB, and NTTR reptile and amphibian populations, habitat use, and seasonal distribution. GIS data such as species occurrence, seasonal habitat use, and estimated population densities will be collected and entered into the Natural Resources GIS data base. Areas for wildlife surveys will be determined based on scheduled activities and range access. Survey types may include but are not limited to diurnal reptile surveys, nocturnal amphibian surveys, night driving/spotlighting surveys, live trapping, call recordings, pit fall trapping, etc. b) WILDHORSE & LARGE MAMMALS The overall purpose of this project is to conduct large mammal surveys and inventories for the purpose of collecting species composition, distribution, population health and trends, and ecosystem degradation and rangeland utilization. Wild horse monitoring will be conducted to assist in determining wild horse herd impacts to over utilization of natural resources, potential safety issues to NTTR personnel and equipment, and impacts to continuation of the military mission. The NFE will coordinate with BLM for wild horse and burro data. The project’s product will be the evaluation of large mammal and wild horse populations, habitat use, range impacts, and seasonal distribution. GIS data such as species, size or age, sex, and habitat occurrence of large mammals and wild horses will be collected and entered into the Natural Resources GIS data base. c) GOLDEN EAGLE The overall purpose of this project is to implement the required golden eagle surveys, inventories, and monitoring to document golden eagle populations that occur on the NTTR and provide best management practices to sustain military air training operations, readiness and reduce potential BASH issues. These best management practices will provide guidance for eagle conservation while sustaining the military mission. The project’s product will be the continuation of mapping and updating the NTTR golden eagle populations, productivity, foraging and nesting habitat, and prey population trends. Appropriate GIS data, as determined by the Nellis-Natural Resources Program Manager, will be collected and entered into the Natural Resources GIS data base. d) DESERT TORTOISE The overall purpose of this project is to survey and document the desert tortoise population density habitat on Nellis AFB and the NTTR and provide best management practices to sustain military air training operations and readiness. These best management practices will provide guidance on proper management of desert tortoise habitat on Nellis AFB and NTTR in order to support mission activities. The project’s product will be the continuation of surveying and mapping desert tortoise population density, habitat use, and distribution as well as the continued development of the desert tortoise management recommendations. GIS data such desert tortoise occurrence, habitat use, and estimated population densities will be collected and entered into the Natural Resources GIS data base. The NFE will conduct compliance surveys and clearances as necessary in order to support mission activities that occur in desert tortoise habitat. Surveys must be conducted by qualified biologists that are approved by the Nellis-Natural Resources Program Manager. e) BATS The overall purpose of this project is to continue to inventory bat species presently inhabiting caves, mines, seeps, springs, crevices, and other potential habitats on Nellis AFB, Creech AFB, and NTTR and provide best management practices to sustain military air training operations and readiness. These best management practices will provide awareness of habitat use of bat species, and sensitive areas that may impact bat health and overall populations, in order to prevent mission delays. The project’s product will be the continuation of mapping and updating Nellis AFB, Creech AFB, and NTTR bat species populations, habitat use, and seasonal distribution. GIS data such as bat species occurrence, seasonal habitat use, population densities, and known roosting areas will be collected and entered into the Natural Resources GIS data base. The NFE will conduct night mist netting surveys at open water or the entrances of caves/mines on the Nellis AFB, Creech AFB, and NTTR during the spring/summer season. Bat handling protocols and equipment cleaning techniques to prevent white nose syndrome will be followed at all times. All protocols used will also ensure compliance with Range access/restrictions. Adjustments to the protocols will be documented and submitted with data sheets. The NFE will conduct passive bat call collection at night using Anabat bat detectors for analysis of bat calls /population composition at open water or caves/mines. f) SPECIES AT RISK The overall purpose of this project is to continue to document species at risk populations and seasonal habitat use on the Nellis AFB, Creech AFB, and NTTR and provide best management practices to sustain military air training operations and readiness. The project’s product will be the continuation of mapping and updating the Nellis AFB, Creech AFB, and NTTR species at risk and populations, habitat use, and seasonal distribution. Survey types may include but are not limited to avian point counts, diurnal field surveys, night driving/spotlighting surveys, live trapping, call recordings, mist netting, etc. GIS data such as species occurrence, seasonal habitat use, and estimated population densities will be collected and entered into the Natural Resources GIS data base. The NFE will conduct live mammal trapping. Each trapping session will be coordinated with the Nellis-Natural Resources Program Manager. Trapping sessions on the NTTR will be scheduled based on range availability and weather to minimize mortality of trapped animals. Trapping protocols and locations will be coordinated and approved by the Nellis-Natural Resources Program Manager prior to initial trapping session. g) MIGRATORY & NEOTROPICAL BIRDS The overall purpose of this project is to continue to document the migratory bird and raptor populations and seasonal habitat use on the Nellis AFB, Creech AFB, and NTTR and provide best management practices to sustain military air training operations, readiness and reduce potential BASH issues. These best management practices will provide awareness of habitat use for nesting and major migration activities to increase mission training safety. The project’s product will be the continuation of mapping and updating the Nellis AFB, Creech AFB, and NTTR

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