HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 6/16/2020 - Memorandum From Matt Parker And Mike Calhoon Re: Summary Of West Nile Virus Technical Advisory Committee (Tac) Work/Preview Of 2020 SeasonNatural Areas Department
1745 Hoffman Mill Road
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2815
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fcgov.com/naturalareas
MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 9, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
FM: Matt Parker, Sr. Supervisor, Natural Areas
Mike Calhoon, Director, Parks
TH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kelly DiMartino, Deputy City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy Director, IES
John Stokes, Interim Director, Community Services
RE: Summary of West Nile Virus Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Work / Preview of
2020 Season
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Bottom Line:
The West Nile Virus Program has completed a truncated off-season review process and is currently
beginning its operational season. Budget impacts are expected to decrease general WNV outreach and
awareness efforts, however if an adult mosquito application is scheduled, application specific outreach
will proceed as in past years. This memo will also cover lessons learned from last year’s weather-
impacted adult mosquito application.
TAC Off-Season Review Summary:
The 2019-2020 WNV off-season review process focused on identifying and vetting alternative
insecticides for adult mosquito treatments. The WNV program currently uses Aqua-Kontrol 30-30, which
is a permethrin-based product with a piperonyl butoxide (PBO) synergist. Synergist compounds are not
typically insecticidal themselves, but are frequently added to pesticides to improve efficacy, in this case
PBO reduces the ability of the target’s enzymes to break permethrin down. Permethrin is a synthesized
derivative of a compound found naturally in the chrysanthemum plant. It is generally considered the
best practice insecticide; however, alternatives do exist. Malathion compounds and various
neonicotinoids, although registered and labeled for public health mosquito control, were not considered
as improvements to current practices and were therefore disregarded.
Permethrin can also be sourced exclusively from plant material, i.e., not synthetically created in a lab.
The naturally derived material, commercially labeled and sold as Merus 3.0 (released in June 2018), is
approved for use on organic crops, however Merus 3.0 is not currently registered for use in Colorado.
Staff is seeking information as to the status of future Colorado registration. If available for use in the
future, staff anticipates a cost increase of roughly 5x the current application cost. An example
application of 150 spray miles currently costing $12,750 (application labor and chemical) would increase
to an estimated $63,900. Staff will continue to seek new information and cost reduction opportunities.
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Although the warning labels of the two products are not significantly different, Merus does not include
the PBO synergist. Many studies show PBO to be harmless, however one 2010 study indicated PBO may
impact neurological development when expecting mothers were exposed in an indoor setting.
Regarding pollinators, Merus would pose the same potential risk, however it is important to understand
that the driving force behind the actual impact to bees is application timing and application methods.
With evening applications, risk to pollinators is diminished, but not eliminated.
Current Conditions:
Vector Disease Control International (WNV Program contractor) has hired staff and initiated their early
season process of training staff, identifying mosquito breeding areas, and treating larval populations as
necessary. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) drought prediction model
indicates drought conditions to the immediate south of Fort Collins between now and the end of August
2020. With this prediction, NOAA indicates a slight probability that the northern Front Range will
experience both higher than average temperatures and lower than average precipitation during the
summer months. These dry conditions often coincide with steady mosquito production driven by
agricultural, commercial, and residential irrigation. Drought also generally elevates WNV presence
within a bird community concentrated on fewer water resources. Trapping and testing for WNV will
begin the week of June 8.
Lessons from 2019 Adult Mosquito Application:
Last year’s adult mosquito application on the evening of September 8 presented issues as a series of rain
bands came off the foothills from SW to NE. These bands of rain led to a confusing situation wherein
trucks in the NE area of the application continued the application under dry skies, while trucks in SW
were paused until the rain passed.
Three specific improvements were identified as a result of this experience:
- Consult as least three different, independent weather forecasting services
- If conditions require the pause or cessation of application in one area, all application
vehicles should stop
- Social media postings should be ready to deploy immediately to announce a change in the
application process
Budget Impacts Due to Covid:
Anticipated reductions in the WNV Program budget will focus on general WNV awareness outreach such
as bus bench ads, rack card printing, etc., while limiting impacts to larvicide, trapping, and testing
efforts. Low cost, highly visible (street banners) or targeted outreach (utility bill inserts, door hangers)
will continue. If severe budget reductions of 20% - 30% are required, all uncommitted outreach will be
eliminated. Some program savings will be realized due to the stable contract costs between 2019 and
2020. As an increase in contract costs was anticipated, approximately 4% of the program budget will be
reduced without impact to services.
Additionally, the WNV Efficacy Study, a funded enhancement offer (89.2: KFCG West Nile Virus – Adult
Mosquito Treatment Efficacy Study) was intended to carry over into the 2020 budget cycle, however
due to Covid budget impacts, this provision was eliminated. Staff will continue to work with the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention – Division of Vector-Borne Diseases to identify opportunities to
improve the understanding of application efficacy.
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