Protocol for Mosquito Sampling for Mosquito Best Management Practices on State of California-managed Wildlife Areas

Assembly Bill 1982 provides funding to implement mosquito best management practices (BMPs) at wildlife areas managed by the California Department of Fish and Game. The first year of the program is 2005-2006. A protocol for sampling immature mosquitoes (larvae and pupae) is outlined in this document. The document is intended to focus on three wildlife areas, but is likely applicable to other wildlife areas to be included in the Mosquito BMP Program. The primary BMP modifications to existing wetlands in Wildlife Areas are (1) source reduction through vegetation removal/reduction; (2) improved water conveyance through several approaches including changes in the size and orientation of water conveyance channels, repair or replacement of water control structures, enhancement of pumping, and removal of structures/fea-Gray Lodge Wildlife Area 1) improve water conveyance in upland pasture habitat by modifications to drains, intakes and swale improvements (i) reduce mosquito production (ii) increase quality of habitat for wildlife 2) source reduction by mowing: improve water flow by reducing vegetation on the side slopes and bottom of ditches (i) reduce mosquito production (ii) improve (increase) water flow (iii) reduce vegetation favorable for mosquito production 3) replace water control structures (10/yr) (i) reduce mosquito production (ii) increase water flow Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (focus on BMP #1; 2-4 funded previously) 1) source reduction of jointgrass (Paspalum distichum) in 1000 acres (~ 55% of the surface area of 12 fields): 2005 i) disc 800 acres ii) herbicide 200 acres iii) replace 6 water control structures (i) reduce mosquito production (ii) reduce coverage by jointgrass 2) reconfigure irrigation system: swale addition 3) replace or repair leaky water control structures 4) removal of contour berms in an irrigated pasture on Tule Ranch (summer 2006) Grizzly Island Wildlife Area 1) add mosquitofish holding areas and improve water conveyance by creating channels for fish movement and changing pump locations (i) reduce mosquito production (ii) increase larvivorous fish abundance (iii) reduce chemical treatments against mosquitoes 2) discing problematic areas Reduce mosquito production 3) improve pump efficiency Improve water flow 3 tures in wetland basins that inhibit movement of water; and (3) enhancement of populations of biological control agents (mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis) for immature mosquitoes (Table 1). In addition to decreasing the time required for flooding and for draining of wetlands, (4) altering the timing of flooding to reduce overlap with peak annual activity of mosquitoes is another mosquito BMP. To evaluate fully the success of …