Spada Lake Wildlife Habitat Thinning

The Snohomish County Public Utility District is soliciting bids for a commercial timber thinning operation at Spada Lake, identified under solicitation number 26-1676-SR, with proposals due by May 26, 2026. The contract involves the removal of approximately 16,250 tons of sawlogs at a minimum bid rate of $0.10 per ton, with an optional 1,132 tons of pulp available at $0.00 per ton, resulting in a minimum estimated contract value of $1,625. All timber must be harvested in accordance with strict operational protocols, including a prohibited cutting window from April 1 to July 1 due to bark slippage, and additional restrictions from April 1 to September 22 to protect the marbled murrelet, limiting daily operations to 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset. Timber removal must be completed within four weeks of felling, and all work, including road maintenance, erosion control, and site restoration, must be finished by December 1, 2027. Harvesting is governed by an approved Road Plan dated March 3, 2026, and must comply with specific technical standards for materials, including 3-inch minus ballast rock with no more than 5% organic debris, and adherence to WAC and AASHTO standards for culvert and subgrade construction. Contractual obligations include mandatory environmental protections such as retaining snags and non-merchantable trees, capping stump heights at 12 inches or 2 inches above the root collar—whichever is lower—and requiring water bars on all skid trails while strictly prohibiting slash piles. Skid trails are limited to 17 feet in width, with ground-based equipment restricted to slopes of 30% or less, unless written approval is obtained. All fallers and yarder operators must be certified, and deviations from the approved cutting plan require 30 days of advance notice and prior authorization from the Contract Administrator. Timber must be uniquely identified through a State of Washington registered log brand and durable blue paint, with at least three logs branded per load and ten painted logs required for any export-restricted pulp. Payment for forest products is based on tonnage verified through approved scales and reporting via the Log and Load Reporting Service, with invoicing tied to load tickets. Title to the timber transfers upon contract execution, and the purchaser is responsible for all