Other Sources of Information About West Nile Virus and Detention Ponds

• "A bug besetting birds, horses and humans alike" [exit DNR],
  by Sumner W. Matteson and Emi Saito, Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine, August 2003
• How can I reduce or eliminate mosquitoes in and around the waterbodies on or near my property?, DNR Fishing Wisconsin
  
  Due to concerns regarding West Nile Virus, Wisconsin residents are looking for ways to reduce mosquito populations on or near their property. Although the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection is not responsible for developing state policy on combatting West Nile Virus, our program is responsible for regulating many of the activities which may first come to mind when attempting to reduce or eliminate mosquito populations, including controlling wetlands, stocking fish or applying pesticides to waterbodies (e.g., lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.).
  
  This page answers questions such as:
  • I have a wetland on or near my property. Will draining the wetland help reduce mosquitoes?
  • Can I stock mosquito fish in my pond to help control mosquito populations?
  • Can I apply chemicals on my lake/pond/river to control mosquitoes?
  • What measures can I take to prevent mosquitoes on my property?
• "West Nile Virus" [exit DNR], Wisconsin Division of Public Health

  West Nile virus (WNV), which has been widespread in Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East and western Asia, first appeared in the New York City area of the United States in 1999. The disease spread west quickly and was found in Wisconsin for the first time in 2001 in infected wild birds. ...

  This site includes maps of cases of West Nile Virus in Wisconsin, fact sheets and numerous links to other sources of information.

• "Little Fly, West Nile Virus ... A Concern for Lake Users?" [PDF 117KB], U.W. Extension Lakes Program
  3 pages extracted from "Lake Tides Newsletter", Volume 28, Issue 2 | Full newsletter [PDF 271KB]
  
  Those of us that like watery places have learned to love or live with most of the denizens that reside there, but one drives us buggy ... the mosquito. ...
• "Do Stormwater Retention Ponds Contribute to Mosquito Problems?" [exit DNR]
  EPA Nonpoint Source News-Notes, Issue Number: 71, Chapter Name: Technical Notes, May-2003
  
  

  Stormwater retention ponds have received much press of late regarding their potential as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Concerned parties are raising questions about whether the benefits of these ponds are worth the potential risks associated with mosquitoes that rely on water for hatching grounds. The answer usually depends on the type of pond and how well it is managed.

  Mosquito proliferation in stormwater ponds is a concern, especially when so many wet and dry ponds are in place and continue to be installed across the country. Many ponds are not properly maintained, particularly in cases where they are installed in subdivisions and other developments where the entity responsible for long-term maintenance is not clearly defined once the construction is complete. However, if inspected regularly and maintained properly, ponds can effectively reduce flooding and remove pollutants without allowing proliferation of large mosquito populations.

• "Wet Detention Ponds" [PDF 80KB]
  EPA Storm Water Technology Fact Sheet, includes a diagram of a wet detention pond
  
  

  Wet detention ponds are storm water control structures providing both retention and treatment of contaminated storm water runoff. A typical wet detention pond design is shown in Figure 1. The pond consists of a permanent pool of water into which storm water runoff is directed. Runoff from each rain event is detained and treated in the pond until it is displaced by runoff from the next storm.

  By capturing and retaining runoff during storm events, wet detention ponds control both storm water quantity and quality. The pond’s natural physical, biological, and chemical processes then work to remove pollutants. Sedimentation processes remove particulates, organic matter, and metals, while dissolved metals and nutrients are removed through biological uptake. In general, a higher level of nutrient removal and better storm water quantity control can be achieved in wet detention ponds than can be achieved with other Best Management Practices (BMPs), such as dry ponds, infiltration trenches, or sand filters.

Return to West Nile Virus and Storm Water Detention Ponds page.