The District is aware of the mosquito concerns in East County, and we are doing everything we can to address those concerns as quickly as possible.

We are checking the area to determine the source of the mosquitoes and setting mosquito traps to determine whether they are nuisance mosquitoes being produced on adjacent fields that may have been flooded, or if they are mosquitoes that pose a risk of disease.

The potential sources District employees are checking for mosquito production include:

* Pastures
* Rice Fields
* Construction areas with water accumulation
* Other potential sources that may be the problem

District employees are working hard to control any mosquitoes we find, but our approach may be different based on the risk to local residents.

There are 23 mosquito species just in Contra Costa County. Some mosquitoes take only 3-5 days to develop from egg to adult mosquitoes in high temperatures, so the recent high temperatures contributed to a quick increase in the East County mosquitoes.

You can help the District by reporting any standing water in public areas to the District online or by phone: (925) 685-9301, and by dumping out any amount of standing water on your own property.   

To reduce the number of mosquito bites, residents should wear an EPA-approved mosquito repellent that contains the active ingredient of DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus repellent. And always follow the label directions.

Thank you for your patience while we evaluate the situation and work to decrease the mosquito population in the impacted area.