Paonia Mosquito Control District
Mission Statement
"The purposes of this District are to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants within the District by providing for the effective control of mosquitoes and similar winged insects threatening disease or nuisance in the area of the District by the means of spraying and such other methods as may be reasonable and practical in the discretion of the Board governing the District."
Bylaws of Paonia Mosquito Control District - Article II, Section 1
The Paonia Mosquito Control District was formed in 1980 to help control the mosquito population of the North Fork area of Delta County, Colorado. Originally, the District followed the same boundaries as the Delta County Fire Protection District No. 3, but now has been expanded to include the area from Bowie to just west of Hotchkiss. A map of the district is available at the County Clerk's office and is posted online here. The District is funded by a property tax levy and is managed by a five-member Board, who are elected by the voters in the District every two years for staggered four-year terms (two or three members coming up for election at a time).
This web site is an experiment in streamlining the governing process while at the same time making it completely transparent and open to public input. Feel free to explore the site (which will be continually expanding) and contribute your comments and suggestions by clicking the "comment" button at the bottom of the page. If you are interested in becoming more actively involved, join a committee to help with various tasks and to contribute your knowledge and talents. The public is always invited to the Board Meetings, which are held from April to October on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in either Hotchkiss or Paonia Town Halls. Check those places or the Announcements page for meeting location and agenda. Or, you may "eavesdrop" on Board members' work sessions on the Shop Talk page.
Mosquito control is always a community effort. The more breeding sites we can identify and eliminate or treat, the fewer mosquitoes we will have to contend with. Many communities have been able to eliminate spraying almost completely because they are so vigilant about prevention. There are many things you can do to help reduce the nuisance and health threat of mosquitoes. Please report any potential breeding sites you know about to make sure they're mapped and attended to. If you are getting a lot of mosquitoes in your area, please call the "hot line" at 527-6681 or report it on this web site. If a link is still inactive, just add your comment or question to the bottom of this page.
Thank you for helping our community be healthy and safe.
Comments
I like Ooogie's comment and your weekly update section is very good. Perhaps a weekly map update online with red dots to indicate complaints areas and blue dots to indicate hi trap counts....so everyone can see the math (if you have the computer expertise )
Furthermore, I would think all this documentation will be valuable when applying for grant money---shows the effort, organization and commitment that is going into the mosquito control effort this year, which I think is impressive.
Can you provide a map of where traps are and the trap data on-line?
Similarly can you provide a map on-line of the hot spots and known breeding sites?
I have a comment regarding posting comments on this website. I think it would be easier to get a conversation going if there was one place to post comments, rather than doing it in all the subcategories on the menu. I have missed a lot because I didn't have time to poke around in all the places where comments could be posted. Just a suggestion.
Everyone acknowledges the hard work and many challenges this new board is facing but the recent blanket spraying approach already in place is indicative that they might be succumbing to the pressures of the "other side" which ultimately seeks a mosquito free environment in a valley where flooding irrigation rules. Is there a way to publish the trapping data that is now supporting this blanket approach?. As for thresholds why is PMCD relying solely on data provided by Delta County Health?, for many this is not the best place to go to start looking for "most objective guidance", thresholds vary tremendously based on tolerance levels, geographic conditions, climate, species distribution, etc. and should be decided by each community. I believe that those of us that voted for the present board are willing to tolerate a higher number of mosquitoes in our environment in exchange for less toxic chemicals (such as Biomist) in our surroundings. I am aware that all new things require time for adjustment, i hope that this time this new board stays objective, scientific and free of emotional influences, don't forget the mandate given to you by the majority. Last but not least it would be good that you give a public explanation of why this program has not been handled over to those that do this for a living such as CMC Inc.? Finally, if additional traps are necessary i believe we could all pitch in and purchase a few more for better statistical analysis. My sincere thanks to the new Board for their willingness to serve.
Larvicide for home use (Bti in donut-shaped pellets, granules, or liquid form) can be found in most local hardware and home and garden stores. See the What Can I Do? link for more details.
Tara Budinger
You should put on the web site where people can get larvacide. I have some standing water at my place that needs it. Thanks