Vector Control informed SROA that a giant hatch of mosquitoes occurred over the last couple of days. They sprayed in Sunriver July 27th and will start spraying again July 28th once it cools down to the temperatures where the spray is most effective. They try to avoid spraying on the weekends due to number of people using all the facilities and the number of “complaints” we get about spraying when people are trying to enjoy evening time on their decks, bike paths, etc.
We have received more calls today (July 28th), 30+, than in any other year in the last 15 years. It's not just one area in Sunriver, but everywhere that is affected.
Ariel spraying of the entire property is not an option; however they do helicopter spraying along the river bank. This was done last week.
The DEQ and EPA dictate what can and can't be sprayed so using something "stronger" is not an option.
The number of mosquitoes increases every time more water is released out of Wickiup into the Deschutes as it creates more standing water in marshy areas etc.
The Bulletin has run 3 different articles about how our wet start to the summer that actually broke some rainfall records, has in turn produced the little buggers in record numbers and thus we are going to have an above-average mosquito season. It's all related to water and hot weather and the fact that we live in prime mosquito habitat and July is typically the worst month for mosquitoes.
If you live by the river, have a pond or live near the golf course ponds it is no doubt going to be worse.
We could spray 24/7 and not get rid of them all. Remember that directly across the river are many acres of Forest Service land that receive no spraying at all.
Vector control is doing everything they can and will continue to do so, but we are going to have issues this summer. Please encourage people you talk with to make sure they don't have standing water anywhere, change water in bird baths daily and I suggest getting a big bottle of deet before the stores all run out!!
Written by SROA.
