Crook County Vector Control District

Budget Message 2025-26

The general direction of the Crook County Vector Control District (CCVCD) is to provide acceptable mosquito control as outlined within the Oregon Pesticide use program. We follow the guidelines of Integrated Pest Management.

In the fall of 2019, a West Nile Virus positive horse was diagnosed within Crook County but outside of our Vector Control District. It had spent time north of the district and in the Paulina area. Our response plan which has been in place for a number of years worked quite well. The Crook County Health Department directed the implementation of the plan. The CCVCD will continue to monitor dead bird reports, and livestock infections for cases of WNV. We have implemented some control and surveillance in the area north of the District.

Due to the presence of WNV, the District has budgeted significant funds to be used in the event of a WNV outbreak. Other Districts within Oregon thought they were financially prepared to combat a WNV outbreak, but the costs associated were greater than anticipated and their budgets and reserves were depleted.

Over the last several years, barrier applications have proven successful in reducing the number of mosquitoes traveling into the District from uncontrolled areas. Barrier applications will continue in select areas. The use of barrier applications will also help reduce the use of fogging adulticides.
The City of Prineville has completed their Wetland project west of Prineville. As a District, we were given the opportunity to provide input and testimony into the design to help minimize mosquito issues within the District. The next few years we will work with the city to fine tune management and mosquito control. In 2018 we had the first appearance of mosquito larvae in one of the treatment ponds. In 2019 we discovered that one of the control agents we use for mosquito larvae also controls midge larvae. The City has been controlling both midge and mosquito larvae for everyone’s benefit.

Our commitment to limit the size and number of mosquito producing sites requires an investment in equipment, chemicals, and potential rental expenses. We will be looking for the most efficient methods to treat the COP Wetlands ponds as they produce more mosquitoes.

Cliff Kiser, Budget Officer