Long Term Management of ILF Wetland Mitigation Sites

The purpose of this RFB is to select a contractor to provide Long-Term Management (LTM) services at Wisconsin In-Lieu Fee (ILF) Wetland Mitigation sites. The overall goal of this LTM work is to maintain and improve ILF mitigation sites that have met final performance standards and have been released from performance monitoring. To maintain these sites at current conditions, work will primarily center on annual invasive species control, mowings, and occasional but recurring prescribed burning. The Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust (WWCT) is Wisconsin’s ILF wetland mitigation program. To date, the WWCT has restored 14 sites totaling 850 acres. ILF mitigation sites must meet vegetative performance standards, typically for five years. After the final performance standards has been met (at least 80% relative cover by native noninvasive species across the entire site), the site will enter the ‘long-term management’ (LTM) phase. During this LTM phase, the sites will be managed, usually annually, to maintain native species cover and wetland function. Typical LTM tasks will consist of invasive species control through herbicide treatments and mowing, prescribed burning, and potentially occasional reseeding. The WWCT created a nonwasting endowment with the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin to provide funding for LTM activities. Once a site is in the LTM phase, it stays in the LTM phase in perpetuity.