### MASSACHUSETTS MOSQUITO CONTROL

ANNUAL OPERATIONS REPORT



## 2008 Year of Report Date of Report: 3/30/2009

Project/District Name: East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project

Address: 11 Sun St.

City/Town: Waltham Zip: 02453-4101

Phone: 781-899-5730 Fax: 781-647-4988

E-mail: emmcp.ma@verizon.net

Report prepared by: David Henley

If you have a mission statement, please include it here: The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Commission (the Commission) represent s the interests of the participating communities and their residents in providi ng guidance and oversi ght to the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project (the Pr oject). The Commission strives to ensure

that the member communities receive services that are consistent with applicable laws and justified by the tenets of public health, vector contro l, environmental safety and fiscal responsibility. Integrated mosquito management services provided by the Project and approved by the Commission will be based on the State's Generic Environmental Impact Report on Mosquito Control in Massa chusetts, the Massachusetts Arbovirus Surveillance and Response Plan and the pol icies of the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board.

The Project's integrated mosquito managem ent program will consist of mosquito surveillance, larval mosquito control of wetlands and catchbasins, adult mosquito control, wetlands management/ ditc h maintenance and public education.

ORGANIZATION SETUP:

Please list your Commissioner's names:

Executive Committee: Lenny Izzo, Chair, Wellesley; Ethan Mascoop, Framingham; Gerard Cody, Lexington; Arnold Weinberg , M.D., Lincoln; and Jennifer Murphy,

Winchester. Other members: Christine Connolly, Arlington; John Zupkus, Bedford; Donna Moultrup, Belmont; Patrick Maloney, Brookline; Heidi Porter , Burlington; Wendy Robinson, Cambridge; Anthony Kiszewski, Ph.D., Concord, Christorpher Webb, Malden; Gerald Collins, Maynard; Karen Rose, Medford; Ruth Clay, Melrose; John McNally, Newton; Martin Fair, North Readi ng; Larry Ramdin, Reading; Robert Leupold, Sudbury; Peter Gray, Wakefield; Thomas Creonte, Waltham; Stev en Ward, Watertown;Steven Calichman, Wayland; and Ric hard Sullivan, Weston.

Please list the Supt./Director's name: David Henley Please list the Supt./Director' s contact phone number: 781-899-5730 Please list your Asst. Supt./Asst. Director's name: Michael Bryant

Do you have a website? Yes

If yes, please list the web address here: http://www.town.sudbury.ma. us/services/health/emmcp

Please list your staffing levels for the year of this report:

Full time: 5

Part time: 1

Seasonal: 6 Other: (please describe)

Please break these down into the following areas:

Administrative staff: Superintendent and part-time Administrative Assistant Field staff: Assistant Superintendent, Entomo logist, Skilled Equipment Operator - Grade 1, Skilled Equipment Operat or - Grade 2, and 6 seasonal catchbasin applicators.

Please check off all that apply, and list employee name(s) next to each category: Public relations David Henley Information technology Entomologist Douglas Bidlack, Ph.D.

Wetland Scientist Biologist

Education Laboratory Operations Full time: Michael Bryant, Christopher Gagnon and Michael Sweder. Seasonal: Eric Cronin, Thom as Guanci, Charles King, Ma thew McKillop, Benjamin Soltoff, Corey Stenquist and Anthony Viola. Facilities David Henley and Michael Bryant Other (please list) Administrative: Lorna Rabbitt

For the year of this report, we maintained:

7 vehicles 1 modified wetland equipment (list type) Link Belt 75 track mounted excavator 4 ULV sprayers (list type) 1 Clarke Cougar Smartflow with radar and datamaster 11, 1 Clarke Grizzly and 2 Leco ULVs with CVs.Larval control equipment (list type) Other (please be specific):

Comments:

How many cities & towns in your service area? 25 Please list: Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Br ookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Ma ynard, Medford, Melrose, Newton, North Reading, Reading, Sudbury, Wakefield, Wa ltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley,

Weston and Winchester.

*Please attach a link to a map of your service area if possible.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM):

DEFINITION: a comprehensive strategy of pest control whose major objective is to achieve desired levels of pest control in an environmentally responsible manner by combining multiple pest control measures to reduce the need for reliance on chemical pesticides; more speci fically, a combination of pest controls which addresses conditions that support pests and may include, but is not limited to, the use of monitoring tec hniques to determine immediate and ongoing need for pest control, increased sanitation, physical barrier methods, the use of natural pest enemies and a judicious use of lowest risk pesticides when

necessary.

Please check off all of the serv ices that you currently provid e to your member cities and towns as part of your IPM program; details of these services are in the next sections.

Larval mosquito control Adult mosquito control

Source reduction

Ditch maintenance Open Marsh Water Management Adult mosquito surveillance Education, Outreach & Public education

Research Other (please list): Review of plans for stormwater runoff structures

Comments: On occasion the Project receives reques ts to review plan s for stormwater runoff at developments planned adjacent to wetlands or for underground stormwater

retention areas.

LARVAL MOSQUI TO CONTROL:

Do you have a larval mosqui to suppression program? YesIf yes, please describe the purpose of this program: Culex larvae are controlled to

reduce the number of West Nile virus (WNv) vector mo squitoes. Spring and summmer floodwater mosquitoes are controlled to reduce the number of mammal biting mosquitoes and to reduce populations of potential human vectors for EEE.

Please give the time frame for this program: The time frame for Culex larval control is June through mid- September. The time frame for control of spring floodwater mosquito larvae is April and May. The time frame for control of summer floodwater mosquito larvae is June through September.

Describe the areas that this program is used: catchbasins and intermittently flooded

wetlands.

Do you use: Ground applied (includes hand, portable and/or backpack) Helicopter applications Other (please list):

Comments:

What products do you use in – (please use product name and EPA#)

Wetlands: Vectobac G - EPA #73049-10, Vectobac 12AS - EPA #275-102

Catch basins: Vectolex WSP - EPA #73049-20, Altosid WSP - EPA #2724-448 and Altosid Ingot XR Briquets - EPA #2724-421.

Containers: Vectolex WSP - EPA #73049-20, Altosid WSP - EPA #2724-448 and

Vectobac 12AS -EPA #275-102.

Other (please list) :

Please list the rates of applicat ion for the areas listed above:

Wetlands: Vectobac G was applied by helicopter at a rate of 5 lbs. per acre. Vectobac 12AS was applied by portable spra yer at rates of 8 oz. of Bt i per acre and 12 oz. of Bti

per acre. Catch basins: Vectolex WSP and Altosid WSP were applied to catchbasins at the rate of 1 packet per catchbasin. Altosid Ingot XR Briquets were applied at the rate of 1 XR Briquet per catchbasin.

Containers: Vectolex WSP was applied to neglect ed swimming pools at the rate of 1 pouch per 50 square feet of surface area. Altosid WSP is applied at 1 packet per 135 sq. ft. of surface area. Vect obac 12 AS at 8 oz. per acre is used in rimless tires holding

water.

Other:

What is your trigger for larvicid ing operations? (check all that apply)

Larval dip counts – please list trigger fo r application: one larvae per ten dips.Historical records Best professional judgment

Comments: Larval control in wetlands is funded by 24 communities that participate in the Project. Larval control to catchbasins is funded by 18 communities. Larval control in neglected swimming pools is done in cooper ation with municipal health departments. Altosid WSP and Altosid Ingot XR Briquets ar e applied to catchbasins during the month of June as a pre- emergence treatment.

*Please attach a link to maps of treat ment areas if possible.

ADULT MOSQUITO CONTROL:

Do you have an adult mosquito suppression program? Yes

If yes, please describe the purpose of this program: To reduce the number of mammal

biting, EEE vector mosquitoes o r secondary human vectors for WN V.

Please give the time frame for this program: Late May through September.

Describe the areas that this program is used: suburban residential ne ighborhoods with a

relatively dense network of streets.

Do you use: Truck applications Portable applications Aerial applications Other (please list):

Comments: The adult mosquito control program using Anvil 10+10 is funded by 9 of the communities that participat e in the Project. Suspend SC was used in the Town of Reading as a residual spray t hat was applied as a perimeter spray to vegetated areas surrounding athletic fields during a WNv risk period in September.

Please list the names of the products used with EPA #: 1). Anvil 10 + 10 ULV, EPA # 1021-1688-8329 2). Suspend SC, EPA #432-763 3). 4). 5). 6).

Please list your application rates for each product: 1). Anvil 10 + 10 ULV is applie d at .0024 lbs. per acre.2). Suspend SC is applied in a di lution rate of 1 fl. oz. per gal. 3). 4). 5). 6).

Please describe the maximum amounts or frequency used in a particular time frame

such as season and areas

In 2008 the maximum number of times that adult mosquito control occurred in any neighborhood was six applicat ions. In 2008, applications were scheduled with a minimum of two weeks between applications.

What is your trigger for adulticidi ng operations? (check all that apply)

Landing rates - please list trigger for application Light trap data - please list trigger for application A minimum of 100 - 200 mammal biting mosquitoes in a light trap depending on the average for that site. Complaint calls - please list trigger for application

Arbovirus data Best professional judgment

Comments: Scheduling adult mosquito control applications is based on mosq uito

population data. Complaints ar e regarded as supplemental data that may influence the

shape of the area around the ligh t trap site that is sprayed.

*Please attach a link to maps of tr eatment areas if possible.

SOURCE REDUCTION

Do you perform source reduction methods such as tire/container removal? No

If yes, please describe your program:

What time frame during the year is this method employed?

Comments:

DITCH MAINTENANCE

Do you have a ditch maintenance program? Yes

Please check all that apply:Inland/freshwater

Saltmarsh

If yes, please describe: Ditch maintenance is done using either a LinkBelt 75 track

mounted excavator or with hand tools. T he Project has been usi ng the draft Best Management Practices when planning excava tor work in freshwater wetlands.

Please check off all that appl y INLAND DITCH MAINTENANCE:

Hand tools Mechanized equipment Other (please list):

Comments:

Please check off all that apply SALTMARSH DITCH MAINTENANCE:

Hand cleaning Mechanized cleaning

Other (please list):

Comments:

Please give an estimate of cumulative length of ditches maintained from the list above

INLAND :

Hand cleaning 3,560 linear feet Mechanized cleaning 1,573 linear feet Other (please list) :

Comments:

Please give an estimate of cumulative length of ditches maintained from the list above

SALTMARSH :

Hand cleaning

Mechanized cleaning

Other (please list):

What time frame during the year is this method employed?

Comments:

*Please attach a link to maps of ditch maintenance areas if possible.OPEN MARSH WATER MANAGEMENT

Do you have an OMWM program? No

If yes, please describe:

Please give an estimate of total s quare feet or acreage:

What time frame during the year is this method employed?

Comments:

*Please attach a link to maps of OMWM areas if possible.

ADULT MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE

Do you have an adult mosquito surveillance program? Yes

Please list the number (not location) of MDPH traps in your service area: DPH has been routinely setting traps at 3 locations in the district to monitor for WNv.

Please check off all the types of surv eillance that apply to your program:

Gravid traps Resting boxes CDC light traps Canopy CDC light traps w/CO 2 Canopy ABC light traps Canopy ABC light traps w/CO 2 Canopy NJ light traps Canopy NJ light traps w/CO 2 Canopy

Other (please describe):

Please describe the purpose of this program: The purpose of the program is to measure

mammal biting populations and EEE and West Nile virus vector po pulations. The data

is used to evaluate the need for control. Some collections are submitted to MDPH to be

tested for EEE and WNv

Do you maintain long-term trap sites in any of your areas? Yes

If yes, please describe how you chose these long-term sites. In most municipalities

there are 3 - 5 sites. In m unicipalities with significant wetland acreage, light trap sitesare located in yards that are in close proxim ity to major mosquito habitats for spring and summer floodwater mosquitoes, Cq. pertu rbans and Cs. melanura. In densely populated areas without significa nt wetland acreage, gravid trap sites are located in yards or municipal properties with the goal of providing geographic spacing within the community. Light traps and gravid traps ar e also located near pr operties of residents

who contracted EEE or WNV.

Please check off the species of concern in your service area:

Ae. albopictus

Ae. cinereus

Ae. vexans An. punctipennis An. quadrimaculatus Cq. perturbans Cx. pipiens

Cx. restuans

Cx. salinarius

Cs. melanura

Cs. morsitans

Oc. abserratus

Oc. canadensis Oc. cantator

Oc. excrucians

Oc. fitchii Oc. j. japonicus Oc. punctor

Oc. sollicitans

Oc. stimulans Oc. taeniorhynchus

Oc. triseriatus

Oc. trivittatus

Ps. ferox Ur. sapphirina

Other (please list):

Do you participate in the MDPH Ar boviral Surveillance program? Yes

How many pools do you submit weekly on average? 25

Please check off the arboviruses found in your area in the past 5 years:

West Nile Virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Other Please list:

Did the above listed diseases ca use human or horse illnesses? Yes

Please explain: In the past 5 years, there have been 8 human WNv cases and 1 EEE horse case. The following prov ides the breakdown of cases by year and by community. 2008 - 1 WNv case in Cambridge. 2007 - 2 WNv cases in Arlington and Medford. 2006 - 1 WNv case in Arlington. 2005 - 4 WNv cases including 1 in Cambridge, 2 in Newton and 1 in Watertown. One

EEE horse case in Concord.

2004 - No human or horse cases.At what arbovirus risk level did the year begin in your area? (If more than one please list)

WNV: Arlington began the year with mode rate risk. The low risk areas included Bedford, Belmont, Brookline, Cambridge, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newton, North Reading, Reading, Wakef ield, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley,

Weston and Winchester. The remote ri sk areas included Burlington, Concord, Framingham, Lincoln, Maynar d, Sudbury and Wayland. EEE: The entire Project area began the year at a re mote risk level.

At what arbovirus risk level did the year end in your area? (If more than one please list)

WNV: The high risk areas were Arlin gton, Belmont, Bro okline, Cambrid ge, Lexington,

Malden, Medford, Melro se, Newton, Wakefield , Waltham, Watertown , Wayland,

Wellesley, Weston and Wincheste r. The moderate risk areas incl uded Bedford,

Burlington, Concord, Framingham, L incoln, Maynard, North Readin g, Reading and

Sudbury.

EEE: The entire Project a rea finished the year at a remote risk leve l.

What time frame during the year is this method employed? The Project began submitting mosquito pools to the State Lab on 6/25/08 and ended on 9/30/08.

Comments:

*Please attach a link to maps of sur veillance areas if possible.

EDUCATION, OUTREACH & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Do you have an education/public outreach program program? Yes

If yes, please describe: The Project's public education program is designed to develop

awareness within the public and the private sectors as to their roles in mosquito control.

The Project serves as a resource to residents, municipal offici als and the local media on

controlling mosquitoes, larval mo squito habitats and mosquito b orne diseases.

Please check off all that apply:

School based program

Website

PR brochures/handouts Community eventsScience fairs Meeting presentations Other (please describe): The Proect sends out press releases to community and regional newspapers related to aerial Bti applications, ground based adult mosquito control applications, personal pr otection from mosquitoes and preventative actions that homeowners can take to reduce mosquito development on their property. Notices on the pesticide exclusion process and not ices on ground based adult mosquito control are regularly posted on munci pal websites. Memos and reports on mosquito control activities, local disease risk and other items of interest are sent to municipal officials of each participating community. The Superinte ndent attends municipal Board of Health meetings, Finance Committee and Conserva tion Committee meetings upon request. Project representatives are periodically interviewed by newspaper and television reporters. An episode of the PBS program Curious G eorge that includes Project representatives describing mosquito biol ogy to Newton elementary school students was

aired several times in 2008.

Please give an estimate of attendance/participants in this program:

Please list some events you participated in for the year of this report: The Superintendent participated in the WNV Larvici ding Training program held at the Boston

Public Works Commission and the annual meeti ng for Brookline municipal workers who participate in catchbasin larviciding. Present ations were made to Boards of Health in Carlisle, Lincoln and Wakefield. The Super intendent made a present ation at a meeting that was intended to introduce mosquito contro l to the new Commissioner of Agricultural Resources. The EMMCP staff appeared in a televised report on mosquito control in Newton that was done by the Newton local access channel, New TV.

What time frame during the year is this method employed?

Have you performed any research projects, effi cacy, bottle assays, etc. ? Not at this time

If yes, please elaborate on your research projects:

Are you involved in any collaborations wit h academia, industry, environmental groups,

etc.? Yes

If yes, please elaborate on your collaborations this past y ear: Several staff members attended a meeting of mosquito control water management specialists. The staff collaborated with SRB, DEP and other MC P staff to develop BMPs for ditch

maintenance in freshwater wetlands. The Superintendent began a collaborative effort

with other MCP staff and member s of the Aquatic Habitat Re storation Partnership to identify common objectives.

Please provide a list of technical reports, wh ite/grey papers, publication in journal or trade magazines, etc.Does your staff participate in educational opportunities? Yes

If yes, please list the training and education your staff received this year: Five employees attended the Northeastern Mosquito Control Association meeting. The Assistant Superintendent attended a 4 day wo rkshop on streambank restoration. The Superintendent and the Assistant Superinte ndent attended a training session on mosquito control compliance with the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.

Please list the certifications and degrees held by your staff: David Henley, Mike Bryant, Chris Gagnon and Mike Sweder are Certified Pe sticide Applicators. Chris Gagnon and Mike Sweder have Hoist Operators Licenses. David Henley has a BBA in Management. Mike Bryant has an A.B. in Turf M anagement . Doug Bidlack has a Ph.D in Entomology, an M.S. in Entomology and Pl ant Pathology and a B.S in biological sciences. Chris Gagnon has a Bachelor of Science for Wildlife Biology. Mike Sweder has an M.S. in Environmental Health and Safety and a B.S. in Entomology.

Comments: The Project acquired a Panasonic PowerPoint Projector to be use d for

future educational presentations.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL EFFORTS

Do you have a biological control program? Yes

If yes, please describe: Bacillus sphaericus used to control Culex mosquitoes in

catchbasins and neglected swimming pools is a live bacteria tha t recycles in the water

that supports Culex larvae.

Is this program the introduction of mosquito predators or the enhance ment of habitat for native predators? no

Please check off all that apply:

Predatory fish Predatory invertebrates Other (please describe): Bacillus sphaericus

What time frame during the year is th is method employed? July, August and early September.

Comments:INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Does your program use (check all that apply):

Computers GIS mapping GPS equipment Computer databases Aerial Photography Other (please describe):

Please describe your capabilities in these areas: Databases are maintained on adult

mosquito populations, mosquito habitats, larval mosquito survey s, pesticide usage and

ditch maintenance.

Please describe your current GIS abilities: Intermediate

Give details if possible on your GIS abilities: Our aerial contractor uses shape files and AgNav swath guidance software during aerial larv al control applications. Data Master was used in a Clarke Cougar aerosol sprayer to record adult mosquito control treatment areas and produce maps of coverage areas. Ae rial photography of our district from

Mass GIS that includes wetland delineation is the primary mapping layer in our ArcView program. Larval control site s are identified on the ArcVie w maps. Planning for ditch

maintenance also uses the wetlands delineation that is included in the ArcView maps.

Please describe any changes/enhancements in th is area from the previous year: The Project acquired a Cougar Smar t Flow aerosol sprayer equipped with radar that uses Datamaster that provides GIS maps of treat ment areas. The Projec t hired a contractor to add our laptop computer into the computer network in the office and to network all three computers to a new network printer/ copier. In Januar y 2008 Verizon FiOS became the Project's inter net service provider repl acing an RCN dialup service.

Comments:

REVENUES & EXPENDITURES

Please give a concise statement of revenues & expenditures for the prior fiscal year ending June 30.

FY 2008 regular and supplemental appropriations received: $569,751 FY 2008 expenditures: $588,718.35Comments: The Project received fundi ng totaling $52,405 from the State Reclamation & Mosquito Control Board that was used to purchase larvicides, an aerosol sprayer equipped with data r ecording technology a nd a pickup truck.

PESTICIDE USAGE

Please total your pesticide usage with information from your Mass. Pesticide Use Report, WNV Larvicide Use records and contract ed pesticide applications. Applications methods include; hand/backpack, aerial, UL V, mistblower, other (please explain)

Product Name: Vectobac G EPA Reg. #: 73049-10 Application method: aerial Targeted life stage: Larvae

Total amount of concentr ate applied: 12,955 lbs.

Comments:

Product Name: Vectobac 12AS EPA Reg. #: 275-102 Application method: portable hand held sprayer Targeted life stage: Larvae

Total amount of concen trate applied: 31 gals.

Comments:

Product Name: Vectolex WSP EPA Reg. #: 2724-448 Application method: hand applied Targeted life stage: Larvae

Total amount of concen trate applied: 490 lbs.

Comments:

Product Name: Altosid WSP EPA Reg. #: 2724-448 Application method: hand applied Targeted life stage: Larvae

Total amount of concen trate applied: 501 lbs.

Comments:

Product Name: Altosid Ingot XR Briquets EPA Reg. #: 2724-421 Application method: hand applied Targeted life stage: Larvae

Total amount of concen trate applied: 464 lbs.

Comments:Product Name: Anvil 10 + 10 EPA Reg. #: 1021-1688-8329 Application method: tru ck mounted aerosol sprayer Targeted life stage: Adult

Total amount of concentr ate applied: 135 gallons

Comments:

Product Name: Suspend SC EPA Reg. #: 432-763 Application method: tru ck mounted mist sprayer Targeted life stage: Adult Total amount of concentrate applied: 10 fl. oz.

Comments:

Product Name: EPA Reg. #: Application method: Targeted life stage: Choose one Total amount of concentrate applied:

Comments:

Product Name: EPA Reg. #: Application method: Targeted life stage: Choose one Total amount of concentrate applied:

Comments:

LARGE AREA EXCLUSIONS

Do you have large areas of pesticide exclusi on, such as estimated or priority habitats?

Yes

If yes, please explain, and attach maps or a weblink if possi ble. Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and the Assabet Riv er National Wildlife Refuge manage large tracts of wetland acreage in Bedford, Concor d, Lincoln, Maynard, Sudbury and Wayland that is excluded from larval and adult mosqui to control pesticide applications except when a permit is issued during periods of im minent risk from mosquito borne diseases. The Sudbury Valley Trustees, a private land trust that owns wetlands in Concord, Framingham, Sudbury and Wayland has excl uded their property, which includes significant wetland acreage, fr om pesticide applications.

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge map: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/ass abetriver/pdf/may07maphandout.pdf

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge map: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/g reatmeadows/greatmeadows.pdfSudbury Valley Trustees trail maps: http://www.sudburyvalleytrustees.org/maps

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Do you perform any inspectional services such as inspections at sewage treatment facilities or review sub division plans? Yes

If yes, please elaborate Subdivision plans are occasionally sent by m unicipal officials for

review and comment. Reviews have been requested for stormwater systems,

stormwater runoff into wetlands and detention ponds.

Do you work with DPW departm ents or other local or state officials to address stormwater systems, clogged culv erts or other areas that y ou have identified as manmade mosquito problem areas? Yes

If yes, please elaborate: Municipal official s have requested that we remove excessive

sedimentation that is obstru cting ditches and culverts.

Have you worked with these departments on long term solutions? No

If yes, please elaborate:

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PROTECTION ACT

Is your program impacted by the Child ren and Families Protection Act? Yes

If yes, please explain: Per the provisions of the Act, the Project excludes schools, day care centers and school age child care pr ograms from mosquito control pesticide applications unless the prerequisi tes for spraying are fulfilled

If you have data on compliance with this Act and your program, please list here: In September 2008 Austin Prep and Reading Hi gh School fulfilled the requirements of the Act and a perimeter spray of Suspend SC was done at their athletic fields.

If you had difficulties with implementation of your program due to this law, please

elaborate here:

Comments:

GENERAL COMMENTS

Please list any comments not covered in this report: