DEP Treating French Creek In Phoenixville To Fight Black Flies

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — State officials are treating French Creek in the Phoenixville area to fight off the black fly population.

Treatment of the creek, between Pughtown and Phoenixville, began on July 17, the Department of Environmental Protection said.

Crews will use a formulation called Vectobac 12AS to kill off the larval form of the black fly, which will feed off of it in the creek.

According to officials, the fomulation, which contains a naturally coccuring bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, poses no threat to fish or other acquatic macroinvertebrates in French Creek.

The formulation will be applied from the tops of bridges over the creek, as well as by crews wading in the waterway.