HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-07-2017-13-4 - Information Item - Memorandum - Mosquito Population Control INFORMATION ITEM
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&8EK8ORAN•UK8TO: Commissioner Barry Jacobs
Board of Orange County Commissioners
Bonnie B. Hammersley, Orange County Manager
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FROM: Jeff / '
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DATE: January 23, 2017
RE: Mosquito Population Control
In October, 2016, in response to your petition regarding potential mosquito spraying on Orange County
properties and its detrimental effects on other pollinating insects, staff confirmed that Orange County, Carrboro,
Chapel Hill and Hillsborough do not spray or fog for mosquito control. Avoiding these mosquito spraying
practices indeed prevents any unintended consequences or harm to bees and other pollinating insects.
According to the Orange County Health Department's "Fight the Bite" webpage, Orange County residents can
best protect themselves from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne illness by reducing their exposure mosquitos
and to reduce mosquito breeding grounds. More information can be found at:
www.orangecountync.gov/departments/health/fight the bite tkks and mosquitoes.php
Several County staff across Asset Management Services,the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks, and
Recreation (DEAPR), the Orange County Health Department's Environmental Health Division, Orange County
Planning & Engineering's Stormwater Division, Solid Waste Management,and the Risk Manager are working to
manage programs to help County residents protect themselves and to minimize mosquito breeding grounds on
County property. These staff are also working together to educate the public and promote available resources
to control mosquitos and limit harmful effects of these insects. Staff also continues to collaborate with other
Orange County jurisdictions (including OWASA, Orange County Schools, and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools)
toward this goal.
These control and education measures are as follows:
I. Orange County, Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough practice mosquito control through active site
management measures such as reducing standing water, removing inappropriate vegetation, and
circulating water that cannot be drained. Mosquito breeding is naturally limited in bodies of water that
have a depth of greater than one foot,that circulate, and are free of surface vegetation. Mosquitos can
breed in very small quantities of water, even in rainwater that temporarily collects in undergrowth, so
no management protocol will remove all potential mosquito breeding grounds. Mosquito management
efforts are focused on more permanent potential breeding grounds such as storm water management
ponds, rain barrels, bio-retention structures, parking and pedestrian area trench drains, and other wet
P.O. Box 818l * 131 West Margaret Lane, 3rd Floor* Hillsborough, North Carolina 27Z78
Telephone:919 245-2625
Fax:919-644-3001
E'mai|:jethompson@oenXecountync.gov
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areas. Staff has identified probable areas where mosquitos might breed on County property and
mosquito management procedures are in place to control mosquito larvae during breeding season
(March October).
2. Orange County and Chapel Hill also use mosquito dunks to assist in disrupting mosquito breeding
grounds. The Health Department provides mosquito dunks to County residents to treat pools of
standing water that cannot be emptied such as bird baths. The active ingredient in these dunks is a
naturally occurring biological larvicide called Bactimos or Bti.This treatment is non-toxic to humans,fish,
and other wildlife. Residents can pick up mosquito dunks for free at all three Health Department
locations.
3. The Health Department is also collaborating with DEAPR to provide and maintain "Spray and Play"
stations at 9 County park locations.These stations provide 3 types of insect repellent along with
guidance on ways to limit exposure to insect bites.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.