MINISTER OF AGTICULTUPE

VICTORIA

January 6, 1972

a. W. Luers, Chairazn,

Fraser Valley Moscuito Contro} Board,
P. 3. Box 20,

MISSION, B.C.

Senr Mr. .Lu-rs:-

The British Columbia Denartnent of Agriculture has
through its Entosolopgy Branch for many years assisted various
cormunities and groups interested in mosquito control, both
technically and financially. In the case of the Fraser Valley

Mosauito Control Board, we have assisted in 2 mmber of ways,
nanely

(a) acted as technical advisors

(b) exployed full tine Summer students for three years to
Survey and rap breeding areas

(c) co-operated with the Canada Department of Agriculture in
raking a survey of species

(4) conducted annual training courses for Persons acting as
“spotters” during the contro} seasons

ec) conducted experiment work with various chemicals:

(f) provided annual Rrants of monies ef from $2500.00 -
£3700.00 to assist in control

Puring the years over which the Fraser Valley Mosquito
Control Board has operated, it has done much to provide mosquite
control for the Fraser Valley, thereby waking it nore ploasant
for man and his animals. Your Board has also progressed over

the years in its approach to mosquito control. A few of these
advances are:

(a) omploynent of a Scnerel manager on a full time basis for
& portion of the year.
®) established food liaison with other agencies such as
Canada Department of Fisheries, B.C. Nepartment of ©
Pecreation and Conservation (Fish & Cane Pranch) beckeepers
association, ctc.
(ce) conducted a educational program via file and the news wedia, etc,
(dq) increased to apprcxinately 50% the effort Spent of larviciding.
(c) rade rinor provision far the usc of ground equipment.

Tt seems to us that the tine is appropriate that your
Board now give consideration to the following items.

J. WM. Luors -2- Jamary 5, 1972

1. The extension of the term of office of the general
manager,

2. More extensive use of ground equipment in both larvaciding
and adulticiding.

Iten 1 - General Kanacor

The genera manager {s the man with the technical
ability on whom much of the success Of any mosquite control
depends. With the increased concern re ecolegy and the enviren-
nent, the need for a full tine manager has greatly increased.

Jt has been shown in oll Majer mosquito contre} operations,
beth in Canada and the u, S. A. that a full time anacer is needed
te make the control progran function At peak efficiency. There
are Bany off scason things that should and could be donc. These
include such things as long range planning re non chenical
control such as arranging for drainage on dyking of certain
arcas, preparation of access tr=d1s to treeding ponls so that
they may be both monitered and preperly treated, publicity and
communication with ether froups and/er arencies which could
add to the success ef the pregre™, preparation of operational
plans, map§ and alse reports, etc.

Item 2 - “ore extensive use of ground enuipnent

This is a second Print which this Pepartnent has Tong
reccmnended, but one which has had only token applicaticn over
the years. ith the increase in populetion density in many areas
of the Valley, the: increase in the nunber of “ayoid't sreas and
the public concern re Spraying, particularly aerial Spraying in
populated erens, pround equigrert must be used nore extensively.
By the use of truck mounted mis? blowers auneented by hond or
back pack equipnent, nmany of the smaller arcas can be ¢ cated,
thereby reducine aerial Application and problems associated with
such treatment. It pay Well be that the “local Spotters’ as
presently known nay be required te take a rore active role in
future ground Operations, but under direction of the general
manager.

As stated earlier in my letter, ¥ believe the “ascuite
Control Loard has accomplished much to this date, but T now
belicve it essential that forther action be taken on the above’
two points by your foard,

Yours very truly,
"Cyril MN. Shel ford”

CYRIL “. SHELEApN,
“INISTE® OF acRICULTUR,