County To Conduct Mosquito Control Along Martinez Waterfront

MARTINEZ, CA — Citing a high number of mosquitoes in the area, the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District will use truck-mounted, ultra-low volume sprayers Friday morning to control adult mosquitoes at the Martinez Waterfront.

The spraying is scheduled, weather permitting, between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. Friday and will also take place in Bay Point.

Martinez Waterfront

The area to be treated is bordered on the north by the Carquinez Strait; on the south by Rail Road Tracks/Waterfront Road; on the east by Pacheco Slough, and on the west by Rail Road Tracks/Embarcadero Street.

Bay Point

The area to be treated is bordered on the north by the Carquinez Strait; on the south by Port Chicago Highway; on the east by North Broadway Avenue, and on the west by Nichols Road. The area to be treated also includes Busto Place Park, Caskey Street Park, Ibrahim Park, Lynbrook Park, and Tradewinds Court Park.

Materials Used

The insecticide to be used is Zenivex E4 RTU applied at a rate of 1.5 ounces per acre by truck-mounted ultra-low volume sprayers.

What Triggers Adult Mosquito Control?

According to the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District, if West Nile virus is detected in the community or there are high numbers of mosquitoes in an area, the District's initial response is to intensify its efforts to reduce mosquito breeding sites and increase its levels of larviciding (conducting control for mosquitoes in the water) in those areas in which West Nile virus has been found. Reducing the adult mosquito population with pesticides (adulticides) registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is done if necessary to prevent human illness or to suppress a heavy infestation of mosquitoes.

The decision to control adult mosquitoes, either by truck-mounted sprayers or by aircraft, is based on surveillance information or the documentation of West Nile virus activity at a level that indicates a threat to human health. Spraying is concentrated in areas most at risk for disease occurrence and is conducted by certified and licensed applicators. The District's aggressive campaign against mosquito larvae is intended to minimize the need to use adulticides.

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