Abstract
When developing a plan to restore or modify a wetland within the Pacific Northwest of the United States (PNW), land managers must consider all of the potential ecological impacts, including the unintended production of mosquitoes which can adversely impact the health of people and wildlife in the area. Case studies in this article highlight mitigation activities conducted in cooperation with local mosquito control professionals for water conveyances in the states of Washington and Oregon that effectively minimize production of mosquitoes in managed wetlands. Communicating with mosquito control professionals early in the wetland restoration planning process can save valuable time and resources if the restored wetland becomes an ideal breeding site for pestiferous mosquitoes. By preventing unintentional mosquito production, resources that would be spent controlling mosquitoes and responding to public health concerns post restoration could be redirected towards achieving the overall mission of the wetland restoration. The authors will demonstrate how mosquito control professionals and wetland managers worked cooperatively to achieve mutually-beneficial results, while complying with all local, state, and federal regulations. The following broad steps for a wetland restoration project are recommended: (1) Create a long-term vision for the project; (2) Build a team of collaborators and gather stakeholders; (3) Outline the regulatory guidelines; (4) Prepare required planning documents/acquire permits; (5) Conduct project, while monitoring (target and non-target) impacts including mosquitoes; and (6) Periodically review environmental impacts.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (2018) Analysis of express legal authorities for mosquito control in the United States, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (2019) Public health confronts the mosquito: developing sustainable state and local mosquito control programs (2nd ed)
Barker C, Collins C, Conlon J, Rutledge R C, Debboun M, Dormuth E, Faraji A, Fujioka K, Lesser C, Michaels S, Schankel B, Smith K, Unlu I, White G (2017) Best practices for integrated mosquito management: a focused update
Bourn WS, Cottam C (1950) Some biological effects of ditching tidewater marshes. Research Report 19. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C
Bridgeland WT, Brophy L., van de Wetering S, So KJ, van Hoy R, Lowe RW, Ledig DB (2017) Ni-les'tun Tidal Wetlands Restoration Project: Planning, Implementation, and Lessons Learned. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Biological Technical Publication FWS/ BTP-R1015–2017, Washington, D.C
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2020) National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans. Atlanta, GA
Clarke JA, Harrington BA, Hruby T, Wasserman FE (1984) The effect of ditching for mosquito control on salt marsh use by birds in Rowley, Massachusetts. J Field Ornithol 55(2):160–180
Connelly CR, Gerding JA, Jennings SM et al (2020) Continuation of mosquito surveillance and control during public health emergencies and natural disasters. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep (MMWR) 69:938–940
Crain CM, Gedan KB, Dionne M (2009) Tidal restrictions and mosquito ditching in New England Marshes. In: Silliman BR, Bertness MD, Grosholz ED (eds) Human impacts on salt marshes: a global perspective. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 149–169
Dale PE, Knight JM (2008) Wetlands and mosquitoes: a review. Wetl Ecol Manag 16(4):255–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-008-9098-2
Environmental Law Institute (ELI) (2008) State wetland protection: status, trends & model approaches. Environmental Law Institute, Washington, D.C.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2017) Bulletins Live! Two -- View the Bulletins. https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species/bulletins-live-two-view-bulletins. Accessed 14 Oct 2020
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2018) Basic Information about Wetland Restoration and Protection. https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/basic-information-about-wetland-restoration-and-protection. Accessed 14 Oct 2020
Ferrigno F, Jobbins DM (1968) Open marsh water management. Proc N J Mosq Exterm Assoc 55:104–115
Gridley-Smith CL (2017) Examining mosquito surveillance and control capacity in the top 10 areas at risk for zika virus exposure in the United States. J Public Health Manag Pract 23(5):515–517. https://doi.org/10.1097/phh.0000000000000646
James-Pirri MJ, Ginsberg HS, Erwin RM, Taylor J (2009) Effects of open marsh water management on numbers of larval salt marsh mosquitoes. J Med Entomol 46(6):1392–1399
Leisnham PT, Sandoval-Mohapatra S (2011) Mosquitoes associated with ditch-plugged and control tidal salt marshes on the Delmarva Peninsula. Int J Environ Res Public Health 8(8):3099–3113
Meredith WH, Saveikis DE, Stachecki CJ (1985) Guidelines for “open marsh water management” in Delaware’s salt marshes - objectives, system designs, and installation procedures. Wetlands 5:119–133
Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex Staff (2011) “A Marsh Reborn!” Ni-Les'tun Tidal Marsh Restoration Project. https://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/bandonmarsh/restoration/index.cfm. Accessed 15 Sept 2020
Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) (2015) Wetlands in Oregon Fact Sheet. https://www.oregon.gov/dsl/WW/Documents/DSL_wetlands_fact_march_2015_web.pdf. Accessed 21 Oct 2020
Pratt HD, Moore CG (1993) Mosquitoes of public health importance and their control. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Self-study Course 3013-G: Vector-Borne Disease Control
Ramos J (2018) 5 things you should know about wetlands. https://www.conservation.org/blog/5-things-you-should-know-about-wetlands. Accessed 6 Mar 2021
Rochlin I, Iwanejko T, Dempsey ME, Ninivaggi D (2009) Geostatistical evaluation of integrated marsh management impact on mosquito vectors using before-after-control-impact (BACI) design. Int J Health Geograph 8:35
Rozsa R (1995) Human impacts on tidal wetlands: history and regulations, p. 42Ð50. In: GD Dreyer and WA Niering (eds) Tidal marshes of Long Island Sound: ecology, history, and restoration. Bulletin 34, The Connecticut Arboretum Press, New London
Sebold K (1992) From marsh to farm: the landscape trans- formation of coastal New Jersey. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record, New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail, Washington, D.C
Stearns LA, MacCreary D (1936) Mosquito work in Delaware during 1933. Proc N J Mosq Exterm Comm 22:128–136
Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) (2020) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge 1 2020 Surveillance Report
United States Fish and Wildlife and the Federal Highway Administration (USFWS) (2009) Environmental assessment for the Ni-les'tun Unit of Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge wetland restoration and North Bank Lane Improvement Project
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2013) Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan
United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2014a) Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Ni-les’tun Unit of the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Restoration Project
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2014b) Draft plan and environmental assessment for mosquito control for Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Bandon, OR
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2014c) Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Ni-les’tun Unit of the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Restoration Project. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Bandon, OR, p 59
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2014d) Compatibility Determination: Mosquito management, to include monitoring of mosquitoes and application of a specific larvicide to reduce mosquito production on the Ni-les’tun Unit of Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2018) Handbook for Mosquito Management on National Wildlife Refuges
United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex (USFWS) (2017) Ni’les-tun Unit Annual Mosquito Action Plan
United State Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2021a) Updated January 14, 2021. Mosquito Management at Ni-les'tun Marsh - Bandon Marsh - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=6442466847
United State Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2021b) Updated March 8, 2021. National Wetlands Inventory. https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=6442466847 Accessed 5 Apr 2020
United States., United States. Congress. House. Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries (1988–1989) Endangered Species Act of 1973: as amended through the 100th Congress. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office
Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) (2004) Best management practices for mosquito control
Wolfe RJ (1996) Effects of open marsh water management on selected tidal marsh resources: a review. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 12:701–712
Acknowledgements
The authors recognize Tina Blewett, Greg Green, and Steve Liske of Ducks Unlimited® for their collaboration and extensive knowledge of wetland project planning which will help guide future projects. Thank you to Stephen Ingalls, Clive LePage, and Kevin Shoemaker for providing historical knowledge, editorial expertise, and data analysis respectively. This work would not be possible without the inspiration and support of William Walton, Ph.D.; thank you, Bill, for masterfully merging the worlds of wetland management and mosquito control.
Funding
The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.
Informed consent
All authors consent to participate. All authors consent for publication.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beehler, A., Markowski, D., Crowder, M. et al. Controlling mosquitoes through innovative and collaborative wetland management practices in the Pacific Northwest. Wetlands Ecol Manage 30, 975–985 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-021-09807-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-021-09807-7