Vegetation Management

Vegetation Management controls invasive and nuisance weeds in our storm water, retention, mitigation ponds, lakes and ditches. Control methods are a combination of approved herbicide treatments and manual removal. These methods improve drainage in our ditches and canals and helps to reduce mosquito breeding. We also encourage native plants to grow and provide a better habitat for wildlife.

For the safety of the public we control the weeds that grow on the roads, curbs, bridges, guardrails, handrails and sidewalks.

How Vegetation Management Reduces Mosquito Populations:

By reducing potential nurseries: Juvenile mosquitoes attach to the roots of cattails, water hyacinth, and water lettuce, using the roots as breathing tubes. They avoid predation at the water’s surface and stay attached to the roots until they are ready to emerge as adults.
By maintaining flow: Mosquitoes don’t lay their eggs in flowing water. By controlling proliferations of aquatic vegetation that can severely impede water flow, mosquito-breeding sites are reduced or eliminated.
By providing predator access: Natural predators such as small fish, copepods, and damselfly nymphs have increased access and will reduce the need for chemical applications.
By encouraging native plant growth: Planting beneficial native vegetation prevents growth of exotics and requires less maintenance.
By preventing flooding and standing water: By keeping drainage ditches clear of undesirable vegetation, floodwaters can recede more quickly, preventing residential flooding and pockets of standing water.

Lake & Pond Management:

Vegetation Management also maintains county lakes and ponds according to permit guidelines that act as retention, mitigation or filtration systems and county waterways (ditches, canals) for unobstructed storm water drainage for watershed management.

Maintenance includes the spraying or removal of undesirable vegetation and/or debris, and trimming trees that interfere with waterways. All work is done following permit rules and mitigation requirements.

(727) 464-7503 -- E-mail

Mosquito Control Request Form

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