Rotary Wing Aircraft Services for Aerial Herbicide Spraying for the Management of Phragmites at Long Point

Background

Phragmites australis (Phragmites) is an invasive, non-native perennial grass that is causing damage to coastal wetlands and beaches in Ontario. It grows to heights exceeding 5m, spreads rapidly and creates monoculture stands, which reduce biodiversity and destroy habitat for other species, including species at risk (SAR).

Environment and Climate Change Canada-Canadian Wildlife Service (ECCC-CWS) is responsible for the protection of SAR and their Critical Habitat on federally owned lands under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Under the authority of the Canada Wildlife Act, ECCC-CWS establishes National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) for the purposes of conservation, research, and interpretation. Big Creek National Wildlife Area (BCNWA) and Long Point National Wildlife Area (LPNWA) are located within ECCC-CWS-Ontario Region’s (CWS-ON) Long Point Walsingham Forest (LPWF) Priority Place, where the Phragmites is a primary threat.

CWS-ON plans to manage Phragmites at the BCNWA and LPNWA using a herbicide and follow best management practices. The majority of Phragmites will be treated with herbicide aerially by helicopter, to manage the largest area, while minimizing landscape impacts to SAR and other non-target attributes. “Large” stands are defined as those exceeding the width of the helicopter boom plus spray drift buffer, approximately 7m by 17m.

The desired application period, weather permitting, is the first three weeks of September in 2021 and 2022. The preferred start date is the Tuesday following Labour Day. All spraying should be completed before waterfowl hunting season commences (typically the last Saturday of September) (see Table 2 of Annex A). Spraying cannot occur within the Big Creek Unit or Thoroughfare Unit on Waterfowl Heritage Day (September 18, 2021 and September 17, 2022). Spraying activities will not be permitted beyond October 15, 2021/2022.

The scope of this contract includes the following;

• Ground/Air transportation of herbicide from the storage facility at Tillsonburg, Ontario
• Aerial Spray Services by Light or Intermediate Helicopter;
• Air Crew (Pilots) who meet or exceed the minimum requirements detailed in the Label (Appendix A1 to Annex A, Appendix A2 to Annex A);
• Ground crew and support staff who have demonstrated experience in handling Herbicide Products and surfactant and have relevant experience in aerial application services as described in Section 3, Project Specifications;
• Mix load equipment;
• Safe location for the storage of Pesticide while not in use;
• Safety and security of the operations base(s), including the security of the pesticide and all equipment associated with the herbicide treatment operation and ensuring that it is secured when unattended. 

The Contractor must obtain any permits, licenses and certificates required for the performance of the Work that are in force, specifically the Aerial Extermination license and Permit to Perform an Aerial Extermination from the MECP, and the Bayer Cropscience Roundup® Custom herbicide aerial application training course. The Contractor is responsible for complying with all permit conditions, including public notification in coordination with CWS-ON.

The Contractor must comply with any applicable legal requirements, including the provisions of the Pest Control Products Act, the Pesticides Act,R.S.O. 1990, c. P.11 (Pesticides Act) and any regulations made thereunder.

Objective

CWS-ON requires one (1) contractor to provide the aerial spraying of herbicide (Roundup Custom®, a.i. glyphosate) in 2021 and 2022 for the treatment of up to 500 ha of non-native Phragmites at the Big Creek Unit of the Big Creek National Wildlife Area, and Thoroughfare Unit and Long Point Unit of the Long Point National Wildlife Area.