Clark Bay Conservation Area; Clark Bay Longleaf Thinning Timber Sale

The St. Johns River Water Management District is soliciting sealed bids for a logger-select thinning timber sale of approximately 173.3 acres of mature longleaf pine within the Clark Bay Conservation Area in Volusia County. The project requires the removal of every third row for access and a selective thinning of remaining rows to reach a target density of 150 trees per acre or a basal area of 50 to 60 square feet per acre. Harvesting priority is given to diseased, defective, and suppressed trees, followed by intermediate and co-dominant trees, while dominant trees must remain. The District estimates a volume of 3,518 tons of pine pulpwood and 208 tons of chip-n-saw, though these amounts are not guaranteed. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the highest per ton price for pine pulpwood and better. Bids are due by 2:00 P.M. on September 28, 2026, and must be submitted via approved procurement portals or as sealed physical copies. Key requirements for the successful bidder include a 20 percent advance payment, a 5,000 dollar security deposit, and a logging crew supervisor certified by a Sustainable Forestry Initiative approved program. Additionally, the purchaser must adhere to strict operational standards, including maximum stump heights of 6 inches, compliance with Silviculture Best Management Practices, and the maintenance of roads to their original condition. Final release of the security deposit is contingent upon a final acceptance inspection by the District Sale Manager.