Water Management Renovations at Pocotaligo Preserve

Beaufort County’s Land Preservation Department is seeking qualified contractors to renovate several water management features located within and associated with historic rice fields on Pocotaligo Preserve. The property is located in Yemassee, South Carolina, and has entrances off of US Hwy 17 and on Cotton Hall Rd. This is phase 1 of a multi-staged design/build renovation process of these former inland rice fields. The fields have reverted to a natural state due to dated water control structures and dikes, which are now tidally influenced. The goal of phase 1 renovations is to improve water exchange and to promote drainage in canals associated with the system. Another goal is to renovate a historic dike and install a water control structure to create a drainage impoundment to improve water circulation in the fields. Proposers should utilize the project information provided as the basis to clarify their proposals. The County has already obtained a Managed Tidal Impoundment General Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the proposed water management structure renovations. Any additional permitting will be completed by the County and their management consultant.

Contractor will provide all necessary equipment (excavators, trucks etc.), materials, manpower and transportation required for timely completion of project.

Contractor will utilize designated ingress and egress route (s) and construction and staging area for project. All refueling and routine equipment maintenance shall be done at the staging area. Staging area and construction site will be protected by appropriate safety fencing (standard orange mesh) along with appropriate signage. Equipment travel corridors shall be adequately marked for safety.

Trees and shrubs identified for removal (by flagging or painting) shall be removed and transported to a disposal area. Stumps, root balls, large roots and other woody debris (including chips and mulch) shall be removed from the project area during the process. Stump holes and other disturbed areas shall be filled and packed with offsite soil prior to final re-contouring. Organic material such as roots and stumps shall not be placed on the dike.

All unnatural material removed during the construction process will be loaded and taken to an offsite disposal area. Example of this material is asphalt, concrete, creosote lumber, metal debris, plastic debris, and old WCS.

At completion all fill on dikes and roadways to be sufficiently compacted to allow for immediate travel by vehicles and equipment.

All work shall be done during dry conditions to prevent rutting and ground disturbance. This includes movement of heavy equipment, storage of materials, and other activities that could cause ground disturbance. Rutting and ground disturbance shall not be tolerated.

Upon completion, disturbed soils will be seeded with an approved ground cover planting. Silt fencing will be placed along disturbed areas of the dike to reduce erosion of bare earth during ground cover establishment.

If any archaeological resources or remains found, then work will be stopped and assessed by a professional archaeologist.

Contractor will provide the names of 3 references for recent work of similar style.

All work shall be guaranteed for one year after the completion of the project.