The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) is continuing to treat for nuisance mosquitoes in the Scotch Creek and Lee Creek areas to fight the bites endured by residents and visitors during the spring and summer months.
The CSRD is only permitted to conduct mosquito larvicide treatments on lands within the service area of Electoral Area F, as well as areas authorized by the Skw'lax te Secwepemcúl̓ecw (Little Shuswap Lake Band) and BC Parks.
Provincial BC Parks has permitted mosquito control programs in Shuswap Lake Park, however authority to treat within Tsútswecw Provincial Park was denied. Tsútswecw Provincial Park has a significant area of mosquito-breeding habitat and without region-wide treatment, mosquito control programs become less effective.
All CSRD mosquito control programs use a product called Aquabac (BTI), which is a soil-borne bacterial product that specifically targets mosquitoes in their larval growth stage before they hatch.
In 2022, the CSRD and Skw'lax te Secwepemcúl̓ecw partnered to cover the cost of an independent study conducted by Simon Fraser University to affirm the safety of BTI. The study concluded there were no adverse impacts of BTI on fish.
Treatments in 2023 started in May, with the most recent treatments being in mid-June to target the developing mosquitos. Numerous sites are treated, including multiple locations in the 2000-block of Squilax-Anglemont Road in Lee Creek.
“Our program has proven effective in reducing nuisance mosquitos in the areas where we treat,” says Ben Van Nostrand, Team Leader of Environmental Health Services. “But when you can’t treat in the Provincial parks, it leaves a significant amount of habitat that is ideal for mosquitoes to multiply.”
Those with concerns about the lack of mosquito control treatment in Tsútswecw Provincial Park can contact BC Parks at [email protected] or call 1-800-689-9025.
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