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Franklin Regional Council of Governments Proposal:
Public Outreach and Forest Stewardship Plans for the Towns of Conway and Rowe in Franklin County, Massachusetts
RFQ #20200326
Pelham Lake
Rowe, Massachusetts (Photo: M. Wigmore)
Maynard Cemetery, Town Farm Property Conway, Massachusetts
(Photo: M. Wigmore)
Prepared by: Alex Barrett, Forestry Division Manager, Long View Forest, and
Mary Wigmore, MLF #250, Principal, Wigmore Forest Resource Management
Thursday, March 26, 2020
I. Narrative
I.1 Summary of the Contractors, the Contractors’ relevant knowledge and experience, and Designation of Lead Persons
Long View Forest will be the lead contractor and Wigmore Forest Resource Management (WFRM) will be the Subcontractor for this comprehensive public outreach and Forest Stewardship Planning effort. WFRM and Long View Forest have a well-established working relationship that is currently being leveraged to prepare 3 Forest Stewardship Plans for the City of Westfield, MA. Alex Barrett will be the project lead responsible for coordinating and leading fieldwork, Plan preparation, public outreach, stakeholder assessments, and analysis. He will be supported by Long View’s Forestry staff and mapping specialist. Long View Forest has a 4 person forestry staff that manages ~40,000 acres of mostly private forestland in Vermont and New Hampshire. We have expertise in municipal forestry and most importantly, in working closely with communities, municipal agencies, Conservation Commissions, and other stakeholders that we identify and invite into forest management decision processes and discussions. Mary Wigmore, principal of Wigmore Forest Resource Management (WFRM) and MLF# 250, will be the subcontractor. WFRM is a qualified M/WBE with over 39 years working in West Franklin County. Through this time, Mary amassed a wealth of forest management experience and community engagement. Mary’s primary responsibilities will include leading the public outreach and stakeholder assessment component of the project as well as co-leading the Plan preparation and fieldwork.
I.2 Understanding of the Project The Long View Forestry and Wigmore Forest Resource Management collaboration would present a unified forest stewardship philosophy based in the integration of owner advocacy, ecological forest management principals, and wise resource conservation. Ecological forestry is philosophy that perpetuates forest ecosystem integrity at a landscape spatial scale while continuing to provide wood products, timber income, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, recreational opportunities, and water quality protection. Ecological Forestry depends upon the continuity of the forest structure, function, and biotic communities before and after disturbances to the ecosystem. We are confident that our team can provide quality management plans that respect each community’s unique vision and love for their forested treasures. We view the community outreach component as interwoven with the contractor’s evaluation and discovery of each forest property as they prepare the management plan. Walking the hills, witnessing the unique eco-niches and refugia sites, and experiencing
the depth of nature within these resources informs one’s ability to articulate to the community a deeper sense of the ecological wealth on these lands. Experiencing the trail systems, and watching the songbirds return and the bloom of the flora allows us to understand the true value of your lands. Listening at the community forums to your constituents’ needs from the land and their vision for these forests will broaden our ability to capture the essence of these lands and augment our willingness and capacity to help each Town protect and conserve them in their own way. Although it is a two-phase project, we ask that you allow us to teach your community about these forest treasures, articulate your future vision, and guide you along a community-based road map for their enhancement.
I.3 Understanding of the Project - Piloting the Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership
As one of the first steps in the incipient Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership, a successful integration of the outreach and resource assessment projects is necessary for the Towns to understand and fulfill their role in the creation of a sustainable model for the MTWP. Good data and wise planning provide each town with an ability to capitalize on the eco-tourism, recreational opportunities, and wood products income of their forests. Our inventory will provide a rudimentary basis for the assessment of the carbon stocks on the lands and the forests’ ability to store more CO2 in the future.
II. Business Information
Long View Forest is an integrated forest management company with expertise in forestry, forest contracting, woodland services and invasive plant control. Long View has been in business for 21 years. Currently, we have a forestry staff of 4 with licenses in Vermont and New Hampshire and Certification in Connecticut. Our Contracting staff of 15 works for private, municipal, State, and Federal clients in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Contracting Staff is Logger Certified in New Hampshire and Vermont and holds harvester licenses in Massachusetts. Our Woodland Services Team focuses on Timber Stand Improvement, Trail Building and Maintenance, and Invasive Plant Control work and is licensed in Vermont and New Hampshire. Long View Forest’s Forestry Division has annual revenues of ~$230,000. Mary Wigmore is the owner Forest Resource Management (WFRM), which she started in 1994 after 15 years as a regional forester with the New England Forestry Foundation. Mary has competency in the full range of forest resource stewardship inclusive of management plan preparation, timber harvest administration and supervision, community outreach, with a special interest in municipal forest and watershed
management. In her Watershed Forest Manager role she has inventoried and drafted management plans on over 20,000 acres of municipal lands. Mary was privileged to participate in the Tri-City Carbon Program with the City’s of Westfield, West Springfield, and Holyoke, Massachusetts. She was the liaison between the three cities with the task of the communication of the forest’s role as a carbon sink and the development of a viable forest management strategy for maximum carbon accumulation. This work allowed her to research the most recent peer-reviewed literature on forests and their use in climate adaptation. Mary’s sole proprietor business mandates that she develop excellent collaboration skills in her work with numerous stakeholders and other foresters. One of her many strengths is the application and execution of municipal grant funding for a whole host of stewardship activities on public land inclusive of invasive species control, trail development and construction, and public field tours on active forestry sites. Wigmore Forest Resource Management had annual revenues in 2019 of $76,000.
III. Qualifications
Lo
ng
Vie
w F
ore
st
Role Forester Title Licensure Education Public Service
Project Lead Alex Barrett
Forestry Division Manager
VT, NH, Certification in CT
Master of Forestry, Yale School of Forestry
Elected Vice-chair, Forest Stewards Guild, Membership and Policy Council Elected Treasurer and Tax Collector, Village of Saxtons River, VT Board of Directors, Saxtons River Montessori School
Fieldwork and Plan Preparation Co-Lead
Andrew Sheere
Senior Forester VT and NH BS, Forest Utilization, University of Maine
Private Lands Advisory Council, Vermont Current Use Program Lieutenant, Chester Volunteer Fire Department
GIS Mapping and Fieldwork
Tyler Dallas
Forester and GIS Specialist
VT BS, Ecological Forest Management, Paul Smith’s College
None yet
Fieldwork Dan Healey
Forester VT University of Maine- Coursework
Board of Trustees, Windham Regional Woodlands Association
Fieldwork Long View Staff
Varied NA 2 and 4 year forestry degrees from University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, SUNY-ESF, and Paul Smith’s College -these are members of Long View’s contracting staff who have field experience and can provide surge capacity for fieldwork when needed
Wig
mo
re F
ore
st
Res
ou
rce
Man
agem
ent
Project Lead-Public Outreach Fieldwork and Plan Preparation Co-Lead
Mary Wigmore
Principal MA #250 BS Forest Management, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Past member Ashfield Conservation Commission Member Massachusetts Forest Alliance
IV. Work Plan and Schedule
Date Activity
April 20 Initial Meeting with Conway Selectboard -Identify overarching goals and forest stewardship philosophy -Clarify draft workplan and get input on Town-specific considerations -Present initial maps and solicit input on important features -Review past forest management and current forest recreation infrastructure
April 23 Initial Meeting with Rowe Selectboard -Identify overarching goals and forest stewardship philosophy -Clarify draft workplan and get input on Town-specific considerations -Present initial maps and solicit input on important features -Review past forest management and current forest recreation infrastructure
April 24 Draft forest resource maps Draft community resource map Draft potential stakeholder mindmaps and begin stakeholder analysis
April 27 Begin Fieldwork -Gather forest, natural community, wildlife, and plant information via a systematized, scale- and Town values- appropriate sampling protocol
April 29 Initial Public Outreach and Community Listening for Rowe -Based on Selectboard input, make available online and Town Hall-posted materials with 2 week input solicitation period -develop distribution list and input channels for stakeholders via email, social media, newspapers, and mail -Develop working relationships with important Stakeholder groups including Conservation Commission, Park Commission, Planning Board and MTWP Board.
April 30 Initial Public Outreach and Community Listening for Conway -Based on Selectboard input, make available online and Town Hall-posted materials with 2 week input solicitation period -develop distribution list and input channels for stakeholders via email, social media, newspapers, and mail
-Develop working relationships with important Stakeholder groups including Conservation Commission, Open Space Committee, Planning Board, Conway Grammar School, and MTWP Board.
April 4-8 Provide written content and/or Zoom-based meetings to Selectboards at their regular bi-weekly meetings or in an ad hoc fashion Goal: Update on 1st Public Outreach and Fieldwork Progress
May 12 Initial Town Hall Meeting or webinar: Rowe -Based on community input and survey results, begin to synthesize and prioritize stakeholder goals as we develop a Town-wide vision for a coherent and actionable forest stewardship philosophy and plan -Begin to identify areas of alignment between community goals and the biophysical realities and possibilities that the Town Forests present
May 13 Initial Town Hall Meeting or webinar: Conway -Based on community input and survey results, begin to synthesize and prioritize stakeholder goals as we develop a Town-wide vision for a coherent and actionable forest stewardship philosophy and plan -Begin to identify areas of alignment between community goals and the biophysical realities and possibilities that the Town Forests present
May 14 Second Public Outreach Period: Rowe -Use distribution list to build stakeholder input, catalog and refine management goals -Based on Town Hall Meeting, begin to get input on increasingly refined stewardship goals
May 15 Second Public Outreach: Conway -Use distribution list to build stakeholder input, catalog and refine management goals -Based on Town Hall Meeting, begin to get input on increasingly refined stewardship goals
May 19 Meeting with Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership
May 20-22 Potential meetings with additional stakeholder groups or special interest groups that are identified during the Outreach Periods
May 22 Finalize field work
May 26 First Draft of Forest Stewardship Plans emailed to Selectboards -paper copies available as well
June 1 Second Meeting with Conway Selectboard -Synthesize results of public outreach efforts and present draft stewardship recommendations
June 4 Second Meeting with Rowe Selectboard -Synthesize results of public outreach efforts and present draft stewardship recommendations
June 11 Second Town Hall Meeting or Webinar: Rowe -Present draft Forest Stewardship Plans and solicit stakeholder inputs -Continue to shape and refine community’s philosophy and approach to forest stewardship
June 12 Second Town Hall Meeting or Webinar: Conway -Present draft Forest Stewardship Plans and solicit stakeholder inputs -Continue to shape and refine community’s philosophy and approach to forest stewardship
June 15-19 Finalize Forest Stewardship Plans and incorporate community input
June 26 Forest Stewardship Plans, Data, and key documents Delivered to Towns
Introduction to Project, Contractors, and
Select Vision. Derive Town Elders' goals, concerns,
Persons and expectations for the stewardship of these
Meeting
Pre-Community Forum: Distribution of #1
awareness of the resource, and vision
for their forested treasures.
Articles in local newspapers and newsletters
and Project Page on Towns' Websites
Public
Forum
#1
feedback, sharing community-wide of survey results, and drafting of initial management plan with Town's
Presentation of inventory analysis, site mappings,
Select first draft forest management plan, and delivery
Persons
Meeting
#2
Public
Forum
#2
Deliver Forest Stewardship Plans, Maps, and all
underlying mapping and inventory data to Towns for
ongoing use and development. Deliver survey results and
analyses. Facilitate community forest relationship
transitons if and as needed.
Submit
Projects
TIME AND TASK FLOW FOR THE OUTREACH DELIVERABLES FOR THE CONWAY AND ROWE PROJECT
potential, and feasibility of original survey results
& stewarship visions. Opportunity to give a voice
First Community wide effort.
to the Towns' vision for their ecological and
Initial survey data analysis and commence assessment of the lands with community guidance
Public forum with presentation of resource
study, sampling data, images of property
attributes, potential refugia, climate adaptation
stewardship priorities, current
Concurrent with work with BOS
a community survey with questions about
lands. Define joint resources for community-wide
for the lands. Question and answer window for the
BOS before final draft preparation.
Collaboration with BOS on the stewardship activities
continual community engagement/communication to further develop the Towns' vision.
of Contractors' awareness of the communities' desires
outreach and methods for efficient communication.
Key Contractor Persons present at meeting.
vision for the stewardship of the resource. All survey data shared with BOS as ongoing process. Allowance for
cultural treasures
Contractor completion of inventory and mapping work, analysis and summary of community surveys, public forum
vision before the final draft completion.
on the lands based on the vision.
Public forum with presentation of main ideas of
the Stewardship Management Plan to the
community through a short synopsis replete with
images, texts, and maps. Opportunity to account
for the Contractors' encapsulation of the Towns'
V. Relevant Work Experience and References Long View Forest: Relevant work experience
• Forester, Town of Walpole, NH Conservation Commission
• Watershed Forester for Brattleboro, VT, Department of Public Works
• Forester, Retreat Farm, Brattleboro, VT https://www.retreatfarm.org/
• Multiple Vermont Town Forest Management Plans
• Alex Barrett, Forest Manager for 11,000 acres of the FSC-Certified Yale School Forests, 2012-2014
Long View Forest: References Steve Barrett*, Director of Public Works, Town of Brattleboro, VT Phone: 802-254-4255 Email: [email protected] *NB- not a relation of Alex Barrett
Alicia Flammia, Chair, Conservation Commission, Town of Walpole, NH Phone: 802-345-7879 Email: [email protected] Robert Bruce, Trustee, Pine Park Association, Hanover, NH Phone: 603-203-1354 Email: [email protected] Charlie Thompson, Forestland owner and client in Andover, VT and Pelham, MA Phone: 413-256-0336 Email: [email protected] Julie Messervy, Forestland owner and client in Westminster, VT Phone: 802-242-8200 Email: [email protected]
Wigmore Forest Resource Management: Relevant Work Experience
• Forest Products Silvilculture Project on the Conway Town Farm Property in 2009-2010.
• Tri-City Carbon Program developer and City Liaison for Carbon Credit registration and sale (2016-2020).
• Organizer for the City of West Springfield Department of Conservation and Recreation 2020 (Postponed to 2021).
• Municipal Watershed Inventory, Planning, and Outreach on over 20,000 acres.
• Currently delivering a public outreach campaign on the 1,500 acres Bearhole watershed in West Springfield, Massachusetts with the goals of the education of the community about the forest, its structure, its condition, and the City’s philosophy for its improvement.
Wigmore Forest Resource Management: References City of West Springfield Jeff Auer Water Systems Manager 26 Central Street West Springfield, MA 01089 [email protected] 413-262-3230 office 413-204-3181 cell
City of Westfield Water Resources Division Heather Stayton 28 Sackett Street Westfield, MA 01085 [email protected] 413-572-6209
Town of South Deerfield Board of Water Commissioners 65 Sunderland Road South Deerfield, MA 01373 [email protected] 413-665-3540
John Lochhead P.O. Box 539 Conway, MA 01341 [email protected] 413-369-4001
City of Holyoke Water Works Manager David Conti 20 Commercial Street Holyoke, MA 01040 [email protected] 413-535-6048
VI. Attachments VI.1a Long View Forest – Tax Compliance and Non-Collusion Statements
VI.1b WFRM – Tax Compliance and Non-Collusion Statements
VI.2a Long View Forest – Certificate of Non-Collusion
VI.2b WFRM – Certificate of Non-Collusion
VI.3a Long View Forest – W-9
VI.3b WFRM – W-9
VI.4a Long View Forest – Debarment and Suspension Statement
VI.4b WFRM – Debarment and Suspension Statement
VI.5a Long View Forest – Insurance Certificate
VII. Price Quote
The Office of the Attorney General, Washington, DC, requires the following information on all bid proposals
amounting to $1,000.00 or more:
03-0364189 Federal Tax ID Number (this number is regularly used by companies when filing their
“EMPLOYER’S FEDERAL TAX RETURN, U.S.” Treasury Department Form 941
*IF A CORPORATION, INCLUDE WITH YOUR BID A CORPORATE RESOLUTION LISTING ALL DULY AUTHORIZED
SIGNERS ON BEHALF OF THE CORPORATION AND CHECK HERE *IF A PARTNERSHIP, INCLUDE A LIST OF NAMES/ADDRESSES OF ALL PARTNERS AND CHECK HERE □
*IF A PROPRIETORSHIP, COMPLETELY FILL OUT INFORMATION ABOVE ONLY AND CHECK HERE □
VIII Long View Forest- Corporate Resolution Authorizing Signers