More water also means more mosquitoes

Citrus County Chronicle, October 12, 2001
By TERRY WITT

Lake levels are rising in eastern Citrus County, and so is the mosquito population.

County Mosquito Control Assistant Director Jim Harmon said mosquitoes are plaguing both sides of the county.

“The flood water mosquitoes are hatching out in hordes,” he said.

Strong easterly winds have helped to distribute the pesky, blood-sucking insects throughout the county.

Harmon said the Floral City pool of the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes has filled to near capacity from Withlacoochee River flood waters.

The river rose rapidly after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Gabrielle fell on the river’s headwaters, the Green Swamp.

Southwest Florida Water Management District spokesman Michael Molligan said the district has opened water control structures on the Orange State Canal and Leslie Hefner Canal to recharge the lakes.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Floral City pool had reached 40.87 feet, or about 12 inches below the normal levels expected at this time of year.

Flood waters are currently flowing from the Floral City pool into the Inverness pool, which remains 6 feet below normal levels for this time of year.

The Hernando pool is about 5 feet below normal levels.

The sudden rush of water into previously dry lakes has resulted in a flood of complaints about mosquitoes, but Harmon said his workers are fogging seven days a week, as well as spraying the water to kill mosquito larvae.

“We’ve been working hard since we were put on medical alert,” Harmon said.

The county was placed on alert after a wild bird that was found dead in Lecanto tested positive for the West Nile virus.

He said mosquito control is planning other control measures, but he could not discuss them.

“Hopefully we’ll have a handle on the mosquitoes soon,” he said.

See October 12, 2001 issue of Citrus County Chronicle for original article.