Teamsters in the Southwestern U.S.

[Gabe Ayers]

We have had an inquiry from the USFS about doing some earth moving work with animal power in a wilderness area of Utah. It involves working on some old dams and restoring the stream beds to a natural course and animal power is being investigated to meet the restrictions of a roadless wilderness area.

I don’t really know anyone out in that area and our participation has been to document the “cost” of modern animal powered applications. We have sent them the recommendation that they pay at least $40.00 per hour per team and handler to get this work done. it will probably be a bid deal, but this small community of interest should be able to work together to get a good deal for whoever wants to take it on, if there is anyone….

Please let me know if anyone knows someone in that area or someone that would be willing to relocate for the summer to take on such a contract. I am still unsure if a plow and scoop or a fresno will be required to be provided by the contractor.

We will do anything we can to help anyone capable and willing to take this on as a valid application of modern animal powered techniques.

You may contact me by email for further details and I will simply forward you what information I have on the project at this point.

It is definitely to far for a bunch of Appalachian Mountain horse loggers to do.

Thanks,

[Robert MoonShadow]

FYI: We work in the wildernesses alot building trails, so from our experience; equipment is allowed, but no types of machnes are. No wheels or gears… technically, a come-along is a machine. However, it’s up to the intrepretation of the local CO (Contracting Officer) & their representatives. No way can you use chainsaws. {We once got in trouble for using a cordless grinder to sharpen our pick-mattocks = it “ruined our wilderness experience” – they’re now called “Dewalt Warblers” :rolleyes:}. Trail Aces are useful for “plowing” up a strip, can loosen up the topsoil and expose the rocks. Go to http://www.trailbuilders.org for contacts that might be able to help with logistics & details on what to expect… but be aware, they’re a hungry bunch. My boss will be back up from arizona in April some time, and I can put you in contact with him for more advice, if wanted… he’s been in this wilderness game w/ mules since ’94. Oh, and during high fire danger season, expect to have to use a campstove – no fires.
BTW, if contracting with the gov’t., it’s usually ‘prevailing wage’ = us general laborers get $28.50-35.00/hr. This is all based on my/our experience and I hope this info helps someone here to land this job, without any bad surprises.

[Gabe Ayers]

Sorry for bumping Moonshadow’s last good post on the articles in SFJ, but as you can read here this needs a response by today. I am going to forward it to the folks on the list you recommended too Robert, thanks.

Jason

Hello Teamsters,

I appreciate the interest in this project (Dam Stabilization in the High Uintas Wilderness – Animal Power Information Request (Production Rates & Price)). However, I don’t have all the information needed to send to the decision maker and time is running out. The time has come to get the information to the decision maker so the US Forest Service knows whether or not to develop a solicitation.

The last call for information is this Tuesday, 3-17-09 at 4:30 PM Mountain Standard.

I need specific and realistic production rates on dam stabilization tasks and volumes that I sent out . I also need a cost breakdown on for tasks and items (keep in mind animal and people feed, animal packer support for the project and any other miscellaneous items related to doing work up to 13 miles into wilderness from a trailhead parking area).

I can’t make a complete assessment for what you teamsters can do or make recommendation without this info

I hope you are all still interested and I hope we can at least do one of the lakes with horses.

Thank you all for you time to date and I hope I hear from you.

Please feel free to cal me at my office or cell phone number listed below.

R. Brian Paul, High Lakes Dam Stabilization Coordinator

USDA Forest Service – Ashley National Forest
Duchesne Ranger District
85 W. Main, PO Box 981
Duchesne, UT 84021

Cell#: (435) 790-0273
Office #: (435) 781-5217
Fax #: (435) 781-5215

email: Robert Paul rpaul@fs.fed.us

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