Mosquito nuisance and West Nile Virus risk are present in this region. Several dead crows have been found and disposed of in the Lake Barcroft community. One Northern Virginia man has been hospitalized and health officials expect other cases before cold weather terminates mosquito reproduction.

EPA's Mosquitoes: How to Control Them memo says:
The type of standing water in which the mosquito chooses to lay her eggs depends on the species. The presence of beneficial predators such as fish and dragonfly nymphs in permanent pools, lakes and streams usually keep these bodies of water relatively free of mosquito larvae. In addition, Lake Barcroft's aeration system circulates lake water night and day and the predominant waterfront has a seawall which eliminates usual lakeside muddy banks.

WID respects current interest in mosquito control by a special inspection of public drainage facilities to eliminate stagnant water which was recently completed. Homeowners should inspect their properties to eliminate stagnant water. One prolific mosquito breeding area is a roof gutter system which perpetually ponds water. Regular gutter cleaning, checking that downspouts are un-blocked, or re-sloping your gutters to assure that they drain properly, are all important features of sound gutter maintenance and mosquito mitigation.

If you wish a WID staff person to inspect your property, call (703)820-1300 and leave a message with your name and address.

Meantime, the EPA mosquito control web address is http://epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/mosquito.htm and the CDC's West Nile site is http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/overview.htm.