South Walton Mosquito Control

[talkinghappy]

the topic is why we may or may not need additional commissioners.
personally, i believe we do... because i would like more research and alternative methods.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I'm not fighting against healthier alternatives. The ONLY reason why the Mosquito Control has considered healthier alternatives is because about 30 of us filled their meeting space and started asking questions and asking for changes. None of us were paid to do that. It doesn't take a chemist to understand the cycle of life, and adding more commissioners to that board won't necessarily add any more expertise in the way of "greener poisons" (I had trouble typing that oxymoron.) How about if we are going to add any commissioners, it be some who are against the mass spraying of poisons designed to kill. We don't have to "eliminate" a species for the benefit of another species.

 

[talkinghappy]

once again, you are making up propaganda...
nobody said anything about "greener poisons"... alternatives to spaying would involve not spraying! or maybe we can go with your idea and spray some white vinegar all over the streets! lets see if you get some complaints then?

let me get this straight, you do not want to eliminate mosquitos in Walton County for the benefit of the people?

 

[graytonbeachguy]

Control of the mosquito population locally is accomplished by two methods: application of pesticides and destruction of breeding habitat.

Curiously, Joe, it is the construction of the drainage ditches which has changed this area much more than the application of pesticides. Previously, the water in Choctawhatchee Bay was much different. The slow, steady drainage of rainwater through grass, ferns and other plants filtered the water. Were this habitat still in place, much of the poisons from lawn fertilizers, oil and exhaust residue on roadways and other "poisons" would not make it to the bay, resulting in a more natural, historic body of water. I have not seen any scientific studies, but large oyster bed were once common in the bay, with some commercial fishermen harvesting them for sale. Some still remain and they are delicious. ** Ditches were dug to drain the land and eliminate the standing water where mosquitoes breed. I suppose it was considered a tradeoff between water quality and quality of life.

My understanding of the push for a larger board is that a new commissioner came aboard and was unable to agree with the more tenured one. When the esteemed Mr. Burke was arrested for election fraud, the governor suspended him. Until he was convicted, however, the governor was unable to actually remove him. This left the remaining two board members in a constant 1-1 standoff on virtually every issue from the executive director to the commission's attorney. The idea was that a larger board would prevent this gridlock. I personally think the standoff was a "one-off" and is unlikely to re-occcur. What is needed is simply an odd number of commissioners.

That being said, how can we drive the yellow fly into extinction? I'm a true nature-lover, but can't we live without this one little pesky species?


** To understand other changes in the bay, you might look at the effect of saltwater intrusion caused by the "opening" of East Pass in Destin in the 1920s. Previous to that, the bay was very much a freshwater body of water. In my opinion, the bay east of Hwy 331 more accurately represents the original bay because the causeway prevents some of the tidal action which brings salt water to the east end of the bay. Interestingly, Senator Robert Harden insisted the Mid-Bay Bridge not have causeways because he thought it would be "more natural" and preserve the environmental status quo. Actually, the use of causeways on the bridge would have slowed saltwater intrusion and resulted in fresher water to the east. Saltwater intrusion destroys native species of plants, further preventing the filtering action.

 

[Andy A]

the topic is why we may or may not need additional commissioners.
personally, i believe we do... because i would like more research and alternative methods.

Please post some justification for your position that two more Commissioners will create more research and alternative methods.
On second thought, forget that request. As Kurt says, it has nothing to do with the subject at hand. The question is why should we spend more TAXPAYER MONEY for a solution that really isn't needed.

 

[Smiling JOe]

...
let me get this straight, you do not want to eliminate mosquitos in Walton County for the benefit of the people?

You are correct. With the mentality of eliminating a species based on it being a potential to carry disease and kill people or be a nuisance, we wouldn't drive automobiles, cigarette smoking would be banned and tobacco wouldn't be allowed to be grown, we wouldn't have sawmills, so no lumber for you, etc. On top of that, when the mosquitoes were close to extinction, you would be slapped with huge fines when you killed the remaining few, for killing endangered species. Other animals rely on mosquitoes for their food source. I suggest you find a third grade science book and read up on the cycle of life, and its importance in our own existance.

By the way, I am extremely weary of a government department, such as the South Walton Mosquito Control, which stated once featured on their website, one of the top ten benefits of spraying poisons into our air was to give people jobs!

Curiously, Joe, it is the construction of the drainage ditches which has changed this area much more than the application of pesticides. Previously, the water in Choctawhatchee Bay was much different. The slow, steady drainage of rainwater through grass, ferns and other plants filtered the water. Were this habitat still in place, much of the poisons from lawn fertilizers, oil and exhaust residue on roadways and other "poisons" would not make it to the bay, resulting in a more natural, historic body of water. I have not seen any scientific studies, but large oyster bed were once common in the bay, with some commercial fishermen harvesting them for sale. Some still remain and they are delicious. ** Ditches were dug to drain the land and eliminate the standing water where mosquitoes breed. I suppose it was considered a tradeoff between water quality and quality of life.

I've heard that the Bay was once filled with marine life, much like the Apalachicola Bay is today. Lobsters, oysters, sturgeon, etc. My question has always been, what happened to cause the HUGE change? Now, we have very limited marine life in the Bay compared to the stories I've heard and read. My only guess is that ditches which were dug to eliminate the mosquito beds drained much of the wetlands. If you study the nature of wetlands, they are terrific at filtering toxins from the water through the land, before it enters our precious bodies of water which were once directly used for sources of clean water and food sources. So, I hope you aren't suggesting that we need additional commissioners to help mess things up even more. IMO, this agency has already messed up enough.

This left the remaining two board members in a constant 1-1 standoff on virtually every issue from the executive director to the commission's attorney. The idea was that a larger board would prevent this gridlock. I personally think the standoff was a "one-off" and is unlikely to re-occcur. What is needed is simply an odd number of commissioners.

gridlock could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the status quo. As you note so accurately, a larger board won't prevent gridlock if the number of voters is even. Boards should always have an odd number, to eliminate gridlock.

YellowFlies? You must not have collected your free, one per household black ball from the SW Mosquito Control Center. I'm sure people think we can live without other species. Some could find reasons why we could live without dogs, bears, coyotes, cats, mosquitos, gnats, black flies, yellow flies, horse flies (probably most flies), chiggars, ticks, birds (they poop on people's lawns and cars), snakes, sharks, fish (the kind that nibble you when you go into the Gulf), rats, mice, lizards (all "slimey" animals), kids (yes, some people don't like kids), snow birds (they don't like the way they drive, or the tips they leave), etc. I really could make a list of every living thing, and guarantee you that somewhere, someone doesn't want something to exist, even the ever-beautiful rose, with all its thorns. However, if we did, all that would be left is dirt, water, and air. Just because we don't understand the benefits of something in the big picture (outside our egos), doesn't mean that something isn't worth saving and appreciating.

 

[graytonbeachguy]

Thank you for your reply, Joe. I trust you understood the irony in my suggestion of the extinction of the yellow fly following my discussion of the real culprits in habitat degradation of the bay. My more subtle suggestion is that there has been and will always be tension between man and his environment. I believe we are rapidly reaching the conclusion that even small alterations to our environment can have enormous, often unforseeable, consequences.

Six generations of my family have lived along the Choctawhatchee River and the bay. My grandfather told me stories of catching sturgeon in the river. Unfortunately, people in that time did not understand the impact they were having on fish stocks and the habitat. Over-fishing resulted in the Gulf Sturgeon being placed on the endangered list. Take heart, Joseph; I have seen sturgeon breaching twice on the river in the last 4 years.

I disagree that gridlock is a useful public policy tool. Maintaining the status quo should be a conscious decision based upon study and analysis. Gridlock represents a failure of leadership.

I've never heard about lobster in the bay, but I would be very interested to learn more. Hyperlink?

 

[florida girl]

This is an old arguement, SJ, one that no matter how it's argued, will lead to the same conclusion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I have a right to disagree with who or whatever. The difference is when facts are required to make policy. I don't think we need 2 more commissioners, I haven't seen the progress I'd like to see from any of them. The problem on JD Miller Rd is still there, they just pass the buck from one official to another. I think the best way to control the mosquito problem is at the source. They have had to spray a lot more because I think, of the problem on JD Miller. Get the ditches fixed! I'd really like to see just one of the commissioners really get involved and do something constructive!

 

[Matt J]

SJ, with all due respect this line:

With the mentality of eliminating a species based on it being a potential to carry disease and kill people

is actually the mosquitoes purpose in the food chain. Google it, it's simply natures way of spreading disease. There is no animal that is entirely dependent on the mosquito as a food source. Eliminate them!

 

[Smiling JOe]

I don't believe ANY animal is solely dependent on one species of plant or animal for its food source. As I said, just because you and I (and Google) doesn't understand the role of a plant or animal in the big picture, doesn't mean that it doesn't have an important one.