Governor Signs Wolk West Nile Virus Bill

Law will assist mosquito control in state managed wetlands

AB 1982, which received unanimous, bipartisan support in both the California Assembly and Senate, would require that habitat management plans developed by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) for State Wildlife Areas include Best Management Practices (BMPs) for mosquito abatement. The companion bill to AB 1982, SB 1545, was also signed by the Governor. SB 1545 appropriates $750,000 to DFG to implement AB 1982.

"The threat of West Nile Virus has forced mosquito abatement to the forefront of public consciousness. The virus is here, in California," said Assemblywoman Wolk. "California's wetlands provide mosquito habitat. However, those same wetlands also purify our air and water, and provide habitat for threatened and endangered species. AB 1982 requires an approach to mosquito reduction that also maintains the health of one of our state's richest native habitats."

The West Nile Virus claimed 12 lives in California this year, according to the Center for Disease Control. As of September 14, 2004, there have been 392 reported cases of the virus, which can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some other mammals.

Severely hit by the current budget shortfall, and with the heightening the need to control the West Nile Virus, Mosquito Abatement Districts have been forced to increase the cost of mosquito abatement on State Wildlife Areas. Although this has been necessary, it has increasingly threatened DFG’s ability to manage their habitats in public trust. In 2003 the inability to pay abatement costs required DFG to delay the fall flood up of Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, putting millions of arriving migrating waterfowl and hundreds of other species at serious risk, and raising the concerns of agricultural producers about increased levels of crop depredation by waterfowl.

AB 1982 was sponsored by CA Waterfowl Association, and was supported by conservation and mosquito abatement interests alike. The measure will take effect on January 1, 2005.