Craney Island Mosquito Management

The Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area is a 2,500-acre confined dredged material disposal site located in Portsmouth, Virginia.

The geography and features of the site create a habitat for mosquitoes in which they can live and breed.

Norfolk District's Integrated Pest Management Plan is an adaptive approach to mosquito population management at Craney Island, as the  quality of life of the Portsmouth community is a top priority. 

These mosquito surveillance and control activities are in accord with the Department of Defense guidelines on reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases and have the added benefit of reducing nuisance mosquito populations at Craney Island and the adjacent areas of Portsmouth, Virginia. 

The Norfolk District uses a three-pronged approach to mosquito control at CIDMMA, incorporating habitat control, larvae & adult control and surveillance:

  • Source Reduction
    Land management activities to reduce mosquito habitat. This includes pumping dredge material into the cells to keep mosquito populations down, mowing, herbiciding and ditching (dewatering an area before mosquito emergence can occur).
  • Surveillance
    Information gathering and analysis, which includes weather forecasts, mosquito trap numbers from and citizen complaints to the City of Portsmouth, and larvae observed on Craney Island.
  • Larvae Control
    Aerial spraying of pesticides and biological control (bacteria) to target developing mosquitoes. Officials schedule larvicide spraying based on standing water amounts and the presence of larvae observed on Craney Island.
  • Adult Control
    Aerial spraying of pesticides/adulticides. Officials schedule adulticide spraying based on mosquito trap numbers, mosquito complaints the City of Portsmouth receives, and projected weather.

The Norfolk District does not have the authority to spray over city or private property; spraying efforts are limited to federal property. Officials coordinate mosquito adulticide flights with the City of Portsmouth so the city can synchronize their spraying on non-federal areas in order to maximize the effectiveness of the treatments in northern parts of Portsmouth.

Norfolk District adheres to the Virginia Department of Agriculture's pesticide laws and regulations, and gives 48 hours notice before spraying.

Notices from the Norfolk District will also remind local beekeepers to keep their bees covered when adulticide spraying is scheduled.

News

District schedules Craney Island mosquito treatment for Oct. 19
10/18/2023
The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has scheduled aerial mosquito treatment on Thursday, October 19th, over the federal property on Craney Island...
District schedules Craney Island mosquito treatment for Sept. 25
9/22/2023
The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled aerial mosquito treatment on Monday, September 25, over the federal property on Craney Island...
Craney Island mosquito spraying scheduled tomorrow
9/12/2023
NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, will conduct joint aerial mosquito spraying on Wednesday, September 13, over federal properties...
Craney Island mosquito spraying scheduled tomorrow
11/1/2022
NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, will conduct joint aerial mosquito spraying Wednesday, November 2, over federal properties on...

Spraying Schedule

Upcoming aerial spraying
Future spraying is scheduled based on mosquito counts and weather conditions.

 

Mail logo with envelopeClick here to receive notices about scheduled spraying at Craney Island.

Contacts

Portsmouth Mosquito Hotline
757-393-8666

Portsmouth residents can call to report mosquito problems between the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The City of Portsmouth respond to all calls within 48 hours. Please provide a name, address and phone number.