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City natural-resources coordinator outlines pest control, mosquito strategy after West Nile uptick
Summary
The city's natural-resources coordinator described integrated pest management, invasive‑species work and mosquito-control tactics, noting an increase in state West Nile virus cases this year (cited as 14 human cases and two deaths statewide) and higher Japanese‑beetle trap counts locally.
The city’s natural-resources coordinator briefed the council on forestry, invasive-species control and mosquito management and explained why the division uses an integrated pest-management approach that limits chemical use and emphasizes targeted treatment and public education.
He said the Weed & Pest Division focuses on turf management, broadleaf weed suppression, maintenance of sports fields and targeted invasive-species programs directed at Canada thistle, leafy spurge and purple loosestrife. The coordinator described pheromone trapping for Japanese beetle and said traps in some areas were collecting on the order of 800–850 insects per week, a sign of growing local presence.
On mosquitoes, the coordinator explained the city uses larvicides (BTI and an insect‑growth regulator) in standing water and an ultra‑low‑volume fogger for adult mosquito control on a three‑night schedule. He emphasized resident options (no‑spray zones and a mosquito hotline) and said the main rationale for the program is disease prevention: “This year, we have 14, which is pretty significant. And we did have 2 human deaths as well,” he said, noting those fatalities were in the southern half of the state.
In Q&A he said the larvicide is target-specific and safe for troughs and livestock when used as directed, and described a management (not eradication) approach to Russian-olive trees, removing shoots and trees where removal is appropriate but leaving large specimen trees and avoiding slope destabilization.
The council thanked the coordinator; no policy changes were made at the meeting.
