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Program Elements

 

Source Reduction

The program is designed to detect, prioritize and reduce the sources that are the primary mosquito problems in the District. A computer program searches all source records and lists sources on the basis of mosquito control costs. Land owners of sources at the top of the list are contacted and requested to make changes to reduce the sources or manage them properly. The District may contract to use District heavy equipment to ditch, drain, disk or accomplish other permitted control. The source reduction activities are coordinated with other environmental agencies through a general permit overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

 


 

  Source Prevention
Local planning documents and activities are monitored to determine if the proposed developments have potential to eliminate existing or create new mosquito sources. Recommendations are designed to utilize local planning efforts to reduce mosquito problems. A number of standard recommendations have been developed in conjunction with other mosquito and vector control districts in the region to provide to planners.

 Larviciding Program
A program of routine surveillance and larvicidal control, supported by automated data processing, is applied over the known mosquito sources in the District. Pretreatment and post-treatment inspections are conducted. The control is provided by biorational larvicides. A District-wide treatment threshold (number of larvae per dip) is established by the entomologist for each species. The thresholds for each species are adjusted to accommodate established program goals (measured in levels of complaints) and available District resources.

 

Fish Program
 
The District maintains a record of fishponds in the District and provides mosquitofish to homeowners. These fish are also delivered on request.

 

 Mosquito Monitoring
A separate monitoring program is conducted to measure environmental parameters important in the life history of mosquitoes as well as to detect mosquito activity. The data include ambient and aquatic temperatures, tidal activity, light trap and oviposition counts and service request evaluation. Periodic collections of mosquitoes are accomplished by using Fay traps, biting counts, daquatic light traps and CDC traps (CO2 baited). The data are used to determine the rate at which larvae will pass through their life cycle, when control activities for species shall begin, and the effectiveness of control efforts.

 

 

  Vectorborne Disease Monitoring
The District reviews state Arbovirus Disease Surveillance Bulletins to determine if arboviruses are active locally. The District currently operates an active surveillance program for WNV (West Nile Virus), WEE (Western Equine Encephalitis), SLE (St Louis Encephalitis), as well as other viral diseases. Local Confidential Morbidity Reports are also reviewed to complete Malaria Case Surveillance Reports. Larval and adult mosquito control activities are implemented as necessary to protect public health.
 Safety
The District has developed a "high profile" safety program. The program emphasizes that the safety of the employees and the public comes before any activity. The employees meet bi-weekly to evaluate and upgrade the program. As an incentive, the employees share in 10% of the savings that is accrued in the self-insured workers compensation program.

 

 

  Public Education
The District has an expanded public education program. The cornerstone of the program has been provided through public contact afforded by service requests. The District also attempts to educate the public through requests for presentations on such topics as West Nile Virus.  Additionally, we design, print and distribute our own brochures, handouts, etc.
 Insect Identification
Insect identification and referral services are also provided by the District as a by-product of mosquito control activities.