The Capital Regional District (CRD) is working on improving their mosquito abatement work at Island View Beach Regional Park this spring, due to noticeably increased mosquito populations in the area.

Photo credit: 123rfthe abatement program begins in February each year, lasting into the fall.A wetter than normal first half of 2022 has led to the breeding of above average numbers of mosquitos in the park.

The department is taking several steps to curb the excess number of mosquitoes, including  applying larvicide, clearing ditch obstructions with hand tools, improving access to ditches, and maintenance to the flapper gate, which controls water levels in and around the ditches in the park. Larger maintenance is also planned for later in the summer. 

The CRD has been running the mosquito abatement program at the park for the past 25 years, focusing on controlling nuisance populations in an environmentally safe and controlled manner. It is delivered annually under a provincially-approved Integrated Pest Management Plan.

You can visit the CRD website for more information on the abatement program.