INC VILLAGE OF SALTAIRE

2005 MOSQUITO CONTROL PLAN

 

 

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

 

To decrease mosquito activity within Saltaire, thereby minimizing the adverse health risks that can be associated with mosquitoes. Adverse health impact of mosquito activity includes: mosquito bites to which some people may have a highly allergic response, mosquito bites which get secondary infection, and mosquito borne diseases that can infect animals and humans.

 

 

 

#1 - CONTROL OF MOSQUITO BREEDING WITHIN SALTAIRE

 

The control of breeding in Saltaire is the first line of defense in limiting the effects of adult mosquitoes within the Village.  The actions planned for this purpose are as follows:

 

GOAL #1

Ø      Promote drainage flow within the village to prevent stagnation of water, which is the environment necessary for mosquitoes to breed. 

Actions Planned

Ø      Periodic Clearing and Maintenance of existing mosquito ditches in Clam Pond Cove

Ø      Periodic Clearing and Maintenance of existing mosquito ditches along Harbor Prom

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Work Complete by May 15, 2005

 

 

GOAL #2

Ø      Promote natural reduction of mosquito larvae in standing water

Actions Planned

Ø      Reinforce population of dragonflies, which are voracious consumers of mosquito larvae

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Has not been funded since 2002

 

 

GOAL #3

Ø      Prevent mosquito larvae from reaching adulthood

Action Plan#1

Ø      Treatment of mosquito larvae in standing freshwater throughout the Village with Vectolex. Vectolex is an organic substance (similar to BTI) which has DEC approval for use in freshwater wetlands. Vectolex will alter the life cycle of the mosquito larvae and prevent it from reaching adulthood.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Village to coordinate with Suffolk County Vector Control to apply the larvaecide. Vector Control personnel and resources are stretched thin during the summer and Village certified employees allows for the Village to monitor larvae conditions daily and to report to Vector Control and assist when the application is made.

Ø      Notify Village residents of Village's planned activity to apply Vectolex, and seek to gain permission to apply material in and around private property.  The need to apply on private property is crucial since much of the standing water is under private homes.

 

Action Plan#2

Ø      Distribute BTI Rings to Village residents. The will promote wider coverage of larvaecide in freshwater areas.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Written authorization obtained from DEC that it is permissible to distribute BTI Rings.

Ø      Fund and purchase Bti.

 

Action Plan#3

Ø      Treatment of Mosquito larvae in saltwater marshes with Altacid. Altacid acts exactly like Vectolex, but is specifically designed for use in saltwater conditions.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Need to monitor larvae conditions in Clam Pond Cove and coordinate with Vector Control to have Altacid applied via helicopter. Vector Control runs the helicopter every Tuesday in the summer and has been very receptive to the village's request to drop the material.

 

 

 

#2 - CONTROL OF BREEDING OUTSIDE OF SALTAIRE

 

GOAL #1

Ø      Influence FINS to treat lands under their jurisdiction with the larvaecide Vectolex, and to clear drainage ditches that flow over FINS lands.

Actions Planned

Ø      Requests made to FINS to cooperate.

Ø      Cooperate with FINS to coordinate with Suffolk County Legislature’s EIS for Vector Control so that it covers FINS’ obligation under NEPA and allows for larvaeciding on FINS property.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Ongoing and thus far not successful.

 

 

GOAL #2

Ø      Influence surrounding communities, i.e. Fair Harbor and Kismet, to take steps to control mosquitoes in their communities to minimize migration into Saltaire.

Actions Planned

Ø      Contact with Civic Associations in those communities to coordinate efforts. Encourage Vector Control to apply Vectolex in surrounding communities.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Ongoing & Successful.

 

 

#3 - CONTROL AND MONITORING OF ADULT MOSQUITOES

It is a certainty that despite even the best results of the efforts to control breeding within Saltaire and in surrounding communities, we will have some degree of mosquito activity. Mosquitoes migrate, some species up to as much as 20 miles; therefore we will have to deal with them. The amount of activity will be dependent on a variety of environmental factors: amount of rainfall, prevailing wind direction, heat conditions, etc.

 

 

 

GOAL #1

Ø      Elimination of adult mosquitoes in the ball field. This is the primary site for the Camp Program, with an average 125 children in the field each weekday, plus a major gathering site during the weekend.  The Village needs to do all it can to mitigate the effects of mosquitoes in this area

Actions Planned

Ø      Proper Lawn Maintenance of the field to prevent it from becoming a nesting site. 

Ø      Use of Non-pesticide technology to eliminate mosquito activity in the ball field.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Cut grass low and often to discourage nesting.

Ø      Apply natural Garlic Barrier to prevent nesting in the ball field

Ø      Acquire latest mosquito trapping technology to "collapse" the population in the field during the evening. Investigate latest technology and seek Board approval to act as warranted.

 

GOAL #2

Ø      Monitor mosquito activity and potential diseases they can carry

Actions Planned

Ø      Saltaire will be established as testing site for Vector Control to determine mosquito counts, species type and whether they carry West Nile Virus. Vector Control will coordinate necessary testing on a weekly basis.  

Ø      Saltaire will be established as a testing site for Vector Control to determine if West Nile Virus is present. Alternate sites will be tested in early spring to determine one optimal site.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Weekly testing in Saltaire beginning in the spring through the end of the mosquito season in the fall.

 

 

 

 #4 - PUBLIC AWARENESS & EDUCATION

 

GOAL #1

Ø      Inform Public of the Mosquito Control Plan that is described herein.

Actions Planned

Ø      Possible direct mailing of some version of this document. 

Ø      Placement of document on website.

Ø      Plan a public information meeting in June if necessary

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Ongoing

 

 

GOAL #2

Ø      Gain universal consent to apply Vectolex on private property.

Actions Planned

Ø      Direct mailing outlining the need for universal application of the product, sent along with the Material Data Sheet (MDS) for product.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      A Non-Treatment Form has already been created to allow residents to notify the Village if they wish to opt out of Vectolex treatment

Ø      Direct mailing by the end of April the latest, included with the mailing outlined in Goal #1.

 

 

GOAL #3

Ø      Educate public on ways to avoid contact with mosquitoes and how to treat mosquito bites, and distribute medical information on the West Nile virus.

Actions Planned

Ø      Distribution of information compiled to residents through direct mailing, bulletin boards, and website. 

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Compile necessary information and create information notice.

Ø      Establish hyper-links to Department of Health, relevant governmental agencies, and relevant medical agencies from the village's web-site.

Ø      Direct mailing and placement on bulletin boards & website of information complied, including the MDS of accepted pesticide.

 

 

GOAL #4 - Contingency based upon Board Decision

Ø      Notify public as soon as possible if decision is made that spraying is required for adult mosquitoes.

Actions Planned

Ø      Direct notification of all residents of the need to spray.

Ø      Hold Public Information meeting if time allows to address residents concerns. 

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Investigate available pesticides and determine which is the most effective while being least toxic to the environment.  Notify Vector Control of the Village's preferred pesticide.

Ø      Develop notice of spraying including MDS for pesticide to be sprayed in advance so that it can be quickly reproduce and disseminated to residents if necessary.

 

 

 #5- VILLAGE ACTION PLAN TO IDENTIFIED HEALTH RISK

 

Scenario #1

Ø      Mosquito activity is low to moderate and no evidence of virus in either mosquitoes or birds.

Actions Planned

Ø      Continue with actions in Categories 1, 2, 3 & 4 above.

Action Taken/Necessary

None.

 

 

Scenario #2

Ø      Mosquito activity is high but still no evidence of virus in either mosquitoes or birds.

Actions Planned

Ø      Continue with actions in Categories 1, 2, 3 & 4 above.

Action Taken/Necessary

None.

 

 

Scenario #3

Ø      Mosquitoes trapped in Saltaire tested positive for carrying West Nile Virus.

Actions Planned

Ø      Continue with actions in Categories 1, 2, 3 & 4 above.

Ø      Notify public of test results.

Ø      Notify FINS of results and that a potential health risk exists and that should be prepared to spray on lands under their jurisdiction.

Ø      Board convenes, by telephone conference if necessary, to determine if spraying is required.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Prearrange with Vector Control regarding the form, style and type of notification that Vector Control will require if the Village wants to request spraying in order that the spraying is effected as quickly as possible. Prearrange with Vector Control regarding the pesticide that will be used in Saltaire in case of an emergency.

Ø      Inform Vector Control that the Board is considering a request to have Vector Control spray in Saltaire.

Ø      If Boards decides to spray, conduct direct notification of public as outlined in Goal #4 under Public Education and Awareness.

 

 Scenario #4

Ø      Vector Control or Department of Health determines independently of Village that Fire Island should be sprayed..

Actions Planned

Ø      Continue with actions in Categories 1, 2, 3 & 4 above.

Ø      Notify public through posting on website and bulletin boards of the following:

v  What triggered the necessity to spray

v  The material to be used with information about it

v  The time(s) and method(s) of spraying

v  A statement that says “If you have any questions about the health impact, contact your personal physician.”

Ø      Notify Board of Trustees

Ø      Notify FINS of the proven health emergency and request that they spray on lands under their jurisdiction.

Ø      Board convenes, by telephone conference if necessary, to decide if they wish to oppose Vector Control spraying in Saltaire.

Action Taken/Necessary

Ø      Direct notification of public as outlined in Goal #4 under Public Education and Awareness.