West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito and not by person-to-person contact. In an effort to reduce the risk of human infection; the City has developed a response plan that includes adulticide and larvicide treatment. Treatment is conducted in accordance with the conditions of the Determination of Non-significance-Mitigated statement issued by the City’s Environmental Review Committee and Aquatic Mosquito Control General Permit.
Each year, the Surface Water Utility contracts with a state licensed pesticide applicator to treat the upland area located between the Talbot Hill neighborhood and the Panther Creek Wetlands. The wetlands stretch for over a mile and a half along the east side of SR-167 and are easily visible to motorists traveling northbound. The adulticide treatment program has been highly effective in reducing the number of mosquitoes that are a nuisance to the Talbot Hill area neighborhood.
Treatments consist of applying a low concentration of EPA approved insecticide using a battery or gasoline powered, backpack-mounted, portable fogger to control adult mosquitoes. Treatments usually continue until the end of August at which point the mosquito population begins to decline. Treatment is limited to the upland areas only and is conducted in strict accordance with the conditions of the Determination of Non-significance-Mitigated statement issued by the City’s Environmental Review Committee and the Aquatic Mosquito Control General Permit.
Beginning May each year, water treatment applications of an Environmental Protection Agency registered larvicide may be applied to City-owned stormwater/irrigation impoundment facilities and catch basins using hand applied briquettes or granules. Treatment will be applied in accordance with the product label, the Aquatic Mosquito Control General Permit, and other federal and state regulations. The larvicide product to be used is Bacillus Sphaericus (BS) and is sold under the trade name VectoLex.
Pesticides Used
- Larvicide Treatment Pesticides (planned for use and active ingredients) MSDS / Label
- Adulticide Treatment Pesticides (planned for use and active ingredients) MSDS / Label
More information on the Mosquito Abatement Program, can be obtained by calling Kristina Lowthian, Surface Water Utility Engineer, at 425-430-7249, or by email.
For more information on the Aquatic Mosquito Control General Permit, please contact the City of Renton or Shawn Ultican, Water Quality Program, Department of Ecology, by phone at 360-807-3492, or by email.