Questions & Answers:
Basso La Grange Salmon Restoration Project

In the Bid Package folder there is a folder called EXPORT which has the CAD files for existing grade and design grade. Also in there are the wetland and project boundary shapefiles.

The contractor can not store equipment on TRC property.

No. Stockpile area #3 is for sand only. Unused boulders could be stockpiled on the CDFW gravel stockpile area adjacent to North Old La Grange Road, or potentially on designated staging areas.

No. The “Pit Run < 20% Fines (CY)” on drawing C-103 (3,973 + 5,080 CY = 9,023 CY) is the same as the Pit Run <20% fines (also 9,023 CY) in Table 6 in Section 3.6.1. Pit run material is for fill of areas outside the active river channel that will be vegetated. This is different than the fine spawning gravel mix (4,384 CY) to be placed in the active channel with the specifications shown in Table 7.

We are not providing an Engineer's Estimate to our bidders with this RFP, but a rough estimate discussed with the project planning team indicates the work can be done within a $1.5-2.5 million budget.

ITRT or a subcontractor hired by TRT will be responsible for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity monitoring. The contractor will be responsible for preparing and following the SWPPP.

Risk level 3 - Contractor should assume in their bid that they must develop and implement SWPPP and do BMP inspections.

No. However, the Regional Board requested that turbidity curtains be considered if in-channel work causes turbidity exceedances and curtains can control sediment releases.

4 inch diameter and greater. Take of oaks greater than this site will be mitigated at between 2 to 4 new oaks for each oak removed. This is still in negotiations for final permits.

The general background turbidity of the Tuolumne River is typically less than 5 NTU. The upstream turbidity monitoring station will be used as the background level for turbidity.

This material can be chipped or otherwise mechanically broken up from vegetation that is cleared and grubbed from the project site. Contractor should cover as much ground as possible with four inches of this material. TRT does not envision import of any materials from off the project site and this layer can be left out if insufficient material from the site is available to cover to four inch depth.

Contractor should minimize damage to county roads required for access to the site. Current permit requirements do not assign responsibility for county roads damaged by the equipment or work required for this project.

The contractor must monitor and maintain vegetation for 2 years. Contractor must maintain 80% survival across all species (not on an individual species basis). Contractor may propose contingency line items including temporary irrigation, deer cages, or other approaches to improve potential to meet survival requirements.

Yes. Figure 5 and Tables 4 and 5 from the Basis of Design included in the bid materials include a map of test pit locations and sediment sieve analysis data from each pit.

Additionally, added to the Bid Package folder is a folder entitled “Test Pit Additional Information”, which has Appendix D to the Upstream of Old La Grange Bridge project BOD report, which includes photos, test pit logs, and sieve analysis results for all 14 test pits, as well as a map with the locations of them. The folder also includes a link to the upstream project’s BOD report. Section 5 of this report includes tables summarizing the test pits, assessments of volumes available, that the contractors likely will also be interested in. Names of these files in the Test Pit folder are:

Tuolumne River Mainstem Restoration Upstream Of Old La Grange Bridge Project 90% Design Memorandum - Final

Appendix D to the Upstream of OLGB project BOD report

Please see the folder entitled “Drone Imagery of Debris Removal” added to the Bid Package folder, for some clips from the drone photo of the haul road debris, and then below the design sheet with the aerial background showing the different pieces (NOTE: please disregard concrete on the north bank north of the line showing the angular rock bank protection, those elements are not included in this design). Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lLyN6Hx5yo for more video footage of the sheet pile debris.

The parcel line shapefile has now been added to the Bid Package, in a folder entitled Parcel Layer Shapefile.

The contractor is responsible. The tech specs have a section on the Traffic Management Plan that specifies the construction contractor is responsible for developing and implementing the traffic management plan. In the Project Specifications document found in the Bid Package Documents, the 2.7.5 Public Safety and 4.1.4.5 Traffic Control Plan provide more information on this topic.

The existing and proposed grades are in the CAD folder, not the revegetation layer.

A folder named Revegetation Shapefiles for Phase 1 Work has now been added to the Bid Package folder, which includes the following:

• 230503_LaG90_AllSeedMulch_Phase1

• 230705_LaGrange90p_Phasing_clusters Phase1

• LaGrange90p_Phasing_Infill_dissolve Phase1

No

Stanislaus County and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

TRT purchased and will provide the plant materials for revegetation, but the contractor is responsible for providing the mulch.

Payment is currently subject to the repayment of the grantor. Contractor shall invoice Tuolumne River Trust not less than monthly. Tuolumne River Trust shall submit invoices to the Department of Water Resources and other funding sources, by the 30th of each month for release of funds. Contractor agrees to receive payment from Tuolumne River Trust after Tuolumne River Trust receives funds from funding sources. Tuolumne River Trust agrees to pay the Contractor within 14 days of receipt of said funds.

The grade will be checked with a level

In-channel features are intended to be dynamic, so there is some acceptable variation. The contractor should aim for the intended rise and fall for salmon but it doesn’t need to be mathematically perfect because the feature is meant to move over time. The key is to get the shape of the dunes as close to the design as possible.

We do not expect the design to change based on flows. We do expect as-built conditions per the design to adjust in response to high flows. We anticipate riffle and bar features to have material mobilized and transported downstream and we expect some deposition and vegetation changes in floodplain and filled pond areas.

TRT seeks references from agencies/NGOs/businesses that have contracted your business for relevant work.

Please see the Word document with the file name “Tuolumne_Basso_LaGrange_Phase1_SummaryofProjectPermitsStatuses_ForBidPackage” for a list of project permits and their status.

TRT is seeking a bid that covers all components of the project work.

Unsorted, excavated sediment that is used to fill an area and create a feature in another part of the project.

Tons of narrative is not required, can keep it simple (think 2 pages).

Remnant bridge material demolition must occur from the south bank. We anticipate that bridge debris to be removed will be accessible either from the south bank or by constructing a temporary partial channel fill to allow equipment to get closer to the demolition material.

We have not devised a “best” method for removal of the large north bank angular rock / boulder bank protection material. This material must be removed from the south bank as access through TRC property will not be possible. We expect that during low flow conditions this material will be accessible from the south bank. In some locations, temporary partial channel fill may be required to allow equipment to get closer to the angular rock / boulder material to be removed.

Drone use following FAA regulations and requirements is allowable.

Contractors are responsible for checking on survey controls and survey verification is a part of the contract.

The downstream bar on the north bank can be constructed from the north bank. Contractors could cross the river downstream of the TRC property and access the bar location by traveling downstream along the north bank.

We can not accept electronic bids, in compliance with state grant requirements.

We haven’t measured this – contractor should revisit the site and measure to confirm bridge height will accommodate all needed equipment.

Parcel line for TRC property is generally where shown on parcel layer and will need to be marked and confirmed with TRC prior start of demolition. The note on C-101 that states “Salvage only from the TRC property line…” is intended to require that angular rock / boulders can not be removed from the TRC side.

A turbidity curtain could be installed with proper anchoring during low flow conditions (<300 cfs) expected during in-channel work. However, a turbidity curtain is not required by project permits. Permits only indicate a turbidity curtain should be available as an option to maintain acceptable turbidity levels if needed.

Yes, pond 1 and pond 2 get filled with pit run materials, which per the definition provided in the specifications is not screened or cleaned.

Contractor is responsible for the project SWPPP.

If desired, contractor can import clean/screened gravel (preferably from a Tuolumne River gravel quarry) as long as they still stockpile the floodplain excavation volume in appropriate areas. Imported gravel from outside the project watershed will not be from a source known to contain historic hydraulic gold mine tailings, dredger tailings, or mercury mine waste or tailings.

Yes, contractors can drop off a sealed bid at our office at 251 West Jackson Street, Sonora, CA 95370.

The missing CAD file, entitled “PROP-PHASE 1” has now been added to the Bid Package, in the Export folder. The existing ground CAD file has been uploaded to the Export folder and is called “FG-SURF – SE.dwg”. The EG-SURF-CLIPPED file has been adjusted so the areas that the grading is being done is no longer clipped out and shows existing grade. The EG-SURF file will be uploaded by the end of the day (3/4/24) in the Export folder - please see this file for the most recent update.

Unfortunately, we won’t have a clear picture of future flows until April 1st. However, because we’re currently at slightly below average precipitation for the year, the approved index would require 100 cfs in the summer. However, if this wet weather keeps up, we could move up to 300 cfs. So base flows right now are projected to be somewhere in the range of 100-300 cfs. There is a caveat. If we get significant rainfall, we may have to flood releases in the early summer from Don Pedro as directed by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Bird surveys are required and they will be completed by a biological consultant before the beginning of construction. According to the MMRP, if nesting birds are found, “No earth-moving activity or other restoration work shall occur within any established nest protection buffer prior to September 1 unless it is determined by a qualified ornithologist/biologist that the young have fledged (that is, left the nest) and have attained sufficient flight skills to avoid project construction zones, or that the nesting cycle is otherwise completed. In the region of the project site, most species complete nesting by mid-July. This date can be significantly earlier or later, and would have to be determined by the qualified biologist. At the end of the nesting cycle, and fledging from the nest by its occupants, as determined by a qualified biologist, temporary nesting buffers may be removed and construction may commence in established nesting buffers without further regard for the nest site.”

• Austin Stevenot, River Partners, astevenot@riverpartners.org

• Martin Reyes, m60xreyes@hotmail.com

• Brandon Ludwig, KW Emerson, brandon@kwemerson.com

• Michael Peterson, Triangle, mpeterson@teichert.com

• Terrie Hansen, Triangle, thansen@teichert.com

• Barry Baba, Triangle, bbaba@teichert.com

• Nathan Benjamin, Hanford ARC, n.Benjamin@hanfordarc.com

• Andy McGuirk, Hanford ARC, a.mcguirk@hanfordarc.com

• Ahmet Gulcu, Empire Landscaping, empirelandscapinginc@gmail.com

The contractor is responsible for tracking impacts to oaks.

The contractor is responsible for mitigating impacts to oaks by replanting oaks at the appropriate ratios.

Replacement plantings do not necessarily need to be the same species in-kind. We recognize that sometimes replacement by the same species is infeasible or inappropriate given the type of habitat being created. The contractor should strive to replace them with the same species, when appropriate. TRT will determine if a proposed planting is an “appropriate native tree species” for the design.

Funding is being pursued for Phase 2 currently, and Phase 3 will be pursued once Phase 2 is secured. TRT will be the managing organization for those Phases. The goal is to implement Phase 2 and 3 in 2025, 2026, and 2027 if needed.

Yes, our physical address is 251 West Jackson Street, Sonora, CA 95370.

In-channel sediment size gradations must be shown to be within +/- 10% of the proportions shown in the project specifications. Fill areas outside of the channel can be filled with pit run material, defined in section 1.3.10 of the specifications as unsorted, excavated sediment that is used to fill an area and create a feature in another part of the project. The design team has found that at least 20% of the substrate size distribution for the off-channel areas must be equal to or smaller than 2 mm to support plant growth.

There are elderberry plants onsite that will require special protections. They will be flagged for avoidance prior to construction and our biological consultant will provide a WEAP training lining out the required protection measures.

We are not making the planholders list available for this project.

Yes.

Contractor should meet the depths depicted in the design drawings for as much area as possible using on-site materials. Contractor should also ensure that disturbed areas not able to be treated with soil and macerated vegetation as shown in the project drawing have conditions conducive to vegetation survival.

Prior to initiating construction or grading activities, brightly colored fencing or flagging or other practical means will be erected to demarcate the limits of the project activities, including the boundaries of designated staging areas; ingress and egress corridors; stockpile areas for spoils disposal, soil, and materials; and equipment exclusion zones.

Stockpile area capacities are as shown on drawing G-003 and shall not be exceeded.

Per section 4.5.3 of the project specifications, “The Contractor shall create rock material mixes by processing and sieving excavated material on the Project site.” Also, “Sorted gravel shall be washed in the sedimentation / washing basins to remove remaining fine sediment.” The Owner or Owner’s agent will visually inspect gravels for cleanliness after washing has occurred. Additional washing may be required if placed spawning mix directly leads to exceedances of turbidity downstream.

Contractor can propose alternative haul routes on the Southwest County Property. Proposed routes will be subject to the approval of Owner or Owner’s Agent (and relevant permitting agencies) and will not be allowed through areas with significant vegetation that must be preserved. For the purposes of submitting a bid Contractor should assume use of haul routes as shown and if possible include estimated cost savings possible with alternative haul routes.

A more direct route between the floodplain grading area to pond fill 2 would likely require significant removal of existing oaks and potentially other vegetation.

Contractor shall meet the stockpiling requirements described in section 4.5.4 of the Project specifications. Temporary hydroseeding is not required on stockpiled material. A single stockpile can be used as long as safe side slopes and stockpile height is maintained. Contractor should review the description of Phase 1 sediment stockpiling on pages 73 and 74 of the basis of design. This section notes that all sediment required for riffles, gravel bars, and pond fill is expected to be available from excavation on site during Phase 1, with an excess of 18,200 cubic yards expected to be mostly sand to be stockpiled. Contractor should anticipate coordinating with Owner, Owner’s Agent, and/or the owner of the stockpile area on general placement of sediment expected to be stockpiled beyond the end of Phase 1 completion.