Commentary: A healthy Fairview Park can also mean more mosquitoes

When Costa Mesa voters overwhelmingly passed Measure AA last November, many of us celebrated. We were finally assured that Fairview Park would remain in a natural state. The open space and peaceful beauty of the park would be protected from development for years to come.

Now we have even more to celebrate. Protected species like the California gnatcatcher and the Northern harrier continue to make their home in our park. After an absence of several years, the Burrowing owl has returned. Long-dormant vegetation is flourishing.

This winter, abundant rain added to the picturesque nature of the park. Vernal pools that were dry for several years have refilled, and a new pool was created. Vernal pools provide habitat for the endangered San Diego fairy shrimp. This year, not only are San Diego fairy shrimp in the park but, for the first time, our city staff reports that another endangered species, the Riverside fairy shrimp, has been spotted in the park.

Reports of other wildlife in Fairview Park have increased greatly as those vernal pools are teeming with ducks and other waterfowl.

Unfortunately, the downside of all that water is an increased potential that Fairview can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

To address that, Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, on whose board I’m a member, is treating the ponds to control mosquitoes. OCMVCD personnel have met with Fish and Wildlife officials and with Costa Mesa staff to develop a strategy that will protect not only human health, but the wildlife in Fairview Park.

Vector Control is using a material that affects mosquito larvae and will have no effect on the fairy shrimp population at the park.

As the rainy season comes to a conclusion, it’s a good time to remember that even the smallest amounts of standing water can lead to mosquitoes. And Orange County has already seen mosquitoes that can infect humans and other animals with West Nile virus or the Zika virus.

So please, check your yards and property for any sign of standing water and dump it or drain it. Let’s make every effort to keep Costa Mesa mosquito free in the months ahead.

For more information on how to prevent mosquitoes from becoming a nuisance and posing a risk to your family and friends, go the Vector Control website at ocvector.org.

SANDRA GENIS is mayor pro tem of Costa Mesa and a member of the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District board.