David Brown and Demetri Dokos of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District have been invaluable resources for the Conservancy. Early on, we engaged Brown in the design and construction of the Conservancy’s marsh complexes. The idea was to design them in such a manner that they minimized the chances they’d be sources of mosquito populations. We’ve had tremendous successes with this.
Now, after the Conservancy has completed its channel maintenance operations on the BKS South Course, the District has re-stocked the marsh with mosquito fish. This happened on Thursday, August 6, 2009. These fish eat mosquito larvae as it may develop on the site. If we can keep the mosquito populations at bay, there is no reason for the District to resort to other control measures, including the use of chemical controls. All this results in a healthier ecosystem, lowers management costs for both the District and the Conservancy and reduces disease vectors. The Conservancy wins, the District wins, and most importantly, the NBHCP’s Covered Species win.