Mosquito Control Spraying Slated Along Martinez Waterfront

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

The mosquito control spraying will take place between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., Aug. 4, weather permitting, according to a public notice from the vector control district.

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.

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.

"The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District utilizes an integrated vector management program which means we use a variety of protocols for controlling mosquitoes," said Paula Macedo, general manager. "These protocols include public education, physical control such as managing vector habitat, biological control such as mosquitofish, and chemical control such as pesticides."

According to Macedo, the majority of the District's mosquito control is completed when mosquitoes are still in their aquatic form, in their water source. Once mosquitoes emerge from the water as adults, the only effective method to control them is by adult mosquito control.

"We use only those products registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the use of mosquito control and protecting public health. They are applied by our trained and certified technicians."