2011 Annual Report - Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control ...

Physical Controlopen for mosquito control operations around dairies and other water sources. All projectsimproved cooperative relationships and site conditions that resulted in mutually acceptablecourses of action while upholding the District’s responsibilities to protect public health.Planning Review ProgramIn 2011, the Ecological Management Department replied to thirty three development planssent for review from cites, counties, federal and state agencies, requesting the District to offercomments relating to mosquito production. The Department evaluated each plan for areasof concerns, and sent detailed comments back to the appropriate agencies for review. Thisprogram allows the Department to identify and request correction of many potential mosquitobreeding sites or site access restrictions before they become an issue.The Department also responded to six California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) orNational Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents available for public review. In additionto these six documents staff also provided detailed comments on policy related documents suchas the US EPA’s Draft Waters of the US Guidance Document and the California State WaterResources Control Board’s Wetland Area Protection Policy and Dredge and Fill RegulationsDepartment staff attended public forums and stakeholder workshops and workgroups in aneffort to promote BMP implementation on projects of all types within the District. In 2011 staffactively participated in the planning process of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) andis a member of the Yolo Bypass Fish Enhancement Planning Team. Mosquito Reducing BMPlanguage has been added to the language for adoption within the greater BDCP as part of theCalifornia Natural Resources Agency restoration plan for the California Delta.Stormwater ProgramDepartment staff responded to multiple West Nile virus hot spots near stormwater conveyanceor treatment systems in 2011. Staff also held multiple site meetings with various city andcounty agencies responsible for stream channel maintenance in and around areas of highmosquito abundance collections. Staff represented the District and presented on the topic ofStormwater Mosquito BMPs at the annual California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA)conference to educate engineers, planners, and regulatory personnel on mosquito reducingBMP implementation within stormwater systems.Need CaptionAssociated with stormwater and creek maintenance, flooding due to beaver dams has been anon-going problem for several years. Beaver activity causes significant mosquito developmentsites to form in flooded pastures or other fallow land. While direct population reductionmethods (e.g. depredation) are the standard for beaver control in many areas, the EcologicalManagement Department utilizes an integrated approach to reducing the mosquitoesassociated with beaver activity.Ecological Management staff cleaning out a ditch.In 2011, The Ecological Management Department encountered significant beaver relatedproject activity. Regular removal of beaver dams by hand or with equipment is typically thefirst approach. Some fall brushing project activities were designed to remove the loose anddead debris surrounding problematic beaver sites. This approach was designed to removethe material typically used by the beavers to construct their dams, which may impact or causenormal water flows to stagnate, and cause subsequent mosquito breeding. The District workedwith landowners to remove dams on a routine basis and when applicable, installed a ClemsonPond Leveler (CPL) that allowed the beavers to live harmoniously with their environment withoutcausing additional mosquito breeding.Ecological Management staff cleaning out a ditch.2011 Annual Report19