Indiana Bats (Myotis sodalis) are included on both the federal and state endangered species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers all counties south of Interstate 80, including those portions of Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, and Scott counties south of Interstate 80, as being within the potential range of the species in Iowa.

Projects south of Interstate 80 requiring tree removal are subject to review for Indiana bat habitat. No action is necessary for projects south of I-80 that do NOT involve tree removal. It is intended that during the project development process, project corridors located in these counties be assessed for possible Indiana bat habitat if clearing or grubbing is needed.

Refer to Appendix 6-1(a) for the Iowa DOT Indiana bat habitat documentation form and Appendix 6-1(b) for the procedure guide based on guidance from the Iowa DNR and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

If suitable Indiana bat habitat is present, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Iowa DNR must be contacted by the Office of Location and Environment. In addition, clearing of trees is not allowed between April 15 and September 15. The Office of Location and Environment should be contacted if suitable habitat is present and may be consulted if there is any question regarding the assessment for Indiana Bats.

A copy of the completed Iowa DOT documentation form, Appendix 6-1(a), is to be submitted to the Office of Location and Environment. Additionally, the District may request that Office of Location and Environment complete habitat surveys and data forms.

There may be considerable elapsed time between an estimate of clearing and grubbing and the actual work. If actual site conditions are different than those shown in the contract documents, the following suggested resolutions are provided:

• If additional trees are in the right-of-way, payment may be based on the number of logs and down timber.
• If the log has been removed, leaving branches and the stump, payment may be based on clearing and grubbing.
• If fence is partially removed or in poor condition but requires an identifiable removal operation, full price for fence removal may be made.
• Where brush and/or junk has been deposited within the right-of-way, a price agreeable to both the contractor and the project engineer may be negotiated or a force account change order may be used.

Area Clearing
This method of clearing and grubbing is intended for use in heavily timbered areas such as relocated alignments and borrow areas. Area clearing is not usually intended for use on reconstruction projects or where individual trees need to be cleared and/or grubbed.

The locations for area clearing and grubbing are to be specifically identified. Example of location identification may be "From Station 100 to Station 250, Right Side, Borrow A."

The unit of measurement for clearing by area is hectare (acre). If the identified area is right-of-way line to right-of-way line, this is the area to be measured for payment even though the actual clearing and grubbing may be less.

Selective Clearing
All desirable trees between the right-of-way line and the need line shall be preserved, provided they are not within the clear zone or cause restricted sight distance. Trees which have more than one-third of their root system removed will normally not survive, therefore, these trees should be cleared and grubbed.

Trees are important for erosion control and slope stabilization, as well as enhancing the appearance of the completed highway.

Desirable trees and shrubs include oak, hackberry, cherry, maple, hickory, ash, sycamore, linden, walnut, plum, all evergreens, as well as many other trees. In most cases cottonwood, willow, and box elder should not be preserved unless they serve to reduce soil erosion. If there are any questions concerning trees to be saved, the project

engineer should consult the Office of Design (Roadside Development Section) for guidance.

The method of measurement for selective clearing is units.  The quantity for payment is a calculation derived from measurements taken of the various sized trees and stumps, hedge rows, bushes, growing corn, and field fence.

Preliminary Estimate for Clearing Right of Way (Form 650014)
The project engineer shall arrange to have a preliminary estimate made of the clearing and grubbing required for a proposed construction project. The project engineer is to transmit this information to the "designer in charge" on the form entitled "Preliminary Estimate for Clearing Right of Way" (Form 650014). The "designer in charge" is usually from the Office of Design, but on selected projects may be from the Office of Bridges and Structures. Plan sheets detailing the proposed clearing "by area" should also be included. The Office of Design or the Office of Bridges and Structures must receive this information at least 12 weeks prior to the project letting.  Clearing and grubbing should be discussed on the design field exam.

A separate preliminary estimate for clearing shall be made for each project and broken down into divisions as shown on the plans. Use "Statement of Clearing and Grubbing" (Form 830312) or Computer Form 103 as "work sheets." Retain these "work sheets" in the project engineer's file. Do not forward copies of these work sheets to the Office of Design or the Office of Bridges and Structures.

Method of Payment
The method of payment for clearing and grubbing is based on the contract unit price multiplied by the measured quantity (hectares/acres or units).

For progress payments, the number to be entered on the progress vouchers will be that portion of the 2,149.50 which was completed.