Here is the latest news from the MMCA as we find ourselves in the midst of a busy mosquito season. Heavy rains have been creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes state-wide and mosquito numbers are on the rise. Mosquito districts in the state have been proactive in their larviciding work, but there are still high adult mosquito populations. We have all found ourselves responding to high trap counts and phone calls from residents requesting relief. It’s shaping up to be a demanding year, no doubt.

I think you will see that several of our officers and leaders have been quite active with allied organizations. Dr. Tom Wilmot who chairs the MMCA’s NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) Committee was joined by Randy Knepper to represent the MMCA at the State of Michigan NPDES June 11 stakeholder meeting. According to Dr. Wilmot, the meeting was devoted primarily to a review of the EPA’s proposed draft policy that will serve as a template from which to develop the Michigan permit. A few main points that need further clarification include: “What does “near water” mean?” and “Who needs to apply for the permit – land owner or applicator?” The MDNRE is considering making four separate permits, one for each type of pesticide application, so each permit can be more detailed. The plan, according to Dr. Wilmot, is to develop the mosquito control permit first. More meetings are planned for July, August, and September.

Some of you may have tuned in to the EPA’s webinar broadcast on June 24 discussing the NPDES permit process, but for those who did not get a chance, a copy of the webinar as well as other NPDES info is available at the EPA website: www.epa.gov/npdes/pesticides. Please remember that the NPDES Draft General Permit has a 45-day public comment time frame that will remain open through July 19, so take the time to read through the permit (also available on the EPA’s website) and submit your comments directly. This is our time to speak up to help shape the future of mosquito control in Michigan.

In the past year and a half, the Board has attempted to forge new relationships with associations such as the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) and Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) as a means for educational outreach. The Board was recently contacted by MAC to attend their 2010 Annual Conference in August at the Amway Grand in Grand Rapids. On August 16th there will be a series of educational workshops and mosquito control professionals from among our membership will host a panel discussion on mosquito control. The Board felt that this would be a wonderful opportunity to discuss “Why control mosquitoes?”, “How to control mosquitoes.”, “Funding”, and other pertinent topics with audience members who have the power to act.

The next 6 months will surely bring some changes to the way we do mosquito control in Michigan and I hope the next newsletter will bear good news as we work toward an NPDES permit that is workable for us all.