152 - Drones and the Residual Advantage at Turlock Mosquito Abatement District

The Turlock Mosquito Abatement District (District) was established in 1946 and is tasked with providing mosquito control to the 966 square mile area of Southern Stanislaus County in the Central Valley of California. Typical of the Central Valley, Stanislaus County is home to XXXX acres of agricultural which provides a breeding ground and harborage zone for several mosquito species, including vectors of arboviral diseases such as West Nile virus. In addition to agricultural areas, the District is responsible for controlling seepage caused by fluctuating levels of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin Rivers. If left uncontrolled these sources can produce aggressive mosquitoes that will eventually make their way into residential areas looking for a blood meal. Historically these sources have been treated via ground equipment such as amphibious vehicles and backpacks, which can be a lengthy process as well as costing the District in maintenance fees. Recently, with the advances in Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) the District has re-examined how public health applications are made with the goal to streamline workflows and cut down cost. By incorporating residual products such as Altosid P35 into UAS applications, the District has achieved these two goals. With the improvement in workflow staff has been able to inspect and treat more sources and provide a higher level of service to the residents the District serves.