Project ID: 2003DE19B

Title: Surveillance of Stormwater Control and Wetlands Remediation Sites for Potential West Nile Virus Vector Breeding Activity

Project Type: Research

Focus Categories: Surface Water, Wetlands,

Keywords: stormwater, disease transmission, human health, West Nile Virus

Start Date: 06/01/2003

End Date: 02/28/2004

Federal Funds: $1500.00

Matching Funds: $3000.00

Congressional District: At Large

Principal Investigator: Gingrich, John

Abstract: Two years of studies on vectors of West Nile virus (WNV) in Delaware, and reports from state agencies suggested that many new water catchments are being created either as stormwater collection ponds, or as wetlands restoration sites. Specifically, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reports 1200 stormwater retention ponds just in New Castle County, with a large percent of these created in the last ten years. Such newly created ponds or wetlands are primarily built along highways or in housing areas, typically areas of high population density. Relatively little is known about the types of mosquitoes breeding in these sites or their abundance, especially in this region of the country. Delaware agencies have done comparatively little with respect to monitoring these sites for mosquitoes because of the overwhelming numbers of sites that are already the subject of ongoing mosquito surveillance operations.

Progress/Completion Report PDF