Politics & Government

DEP Spraying Delaware River for Black Flies Today

A stretch of the Delaware River starting in Columbia, N.J. and ending in Yardley will be sprayed for flies by helicopter today.

Bucks County officials note that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will conduct a black fly suppression aerial spraying operation along the Delaware River on Monday.

Aerial spraying will be occur along the Delaware River in Northampton and Bucks Counties in Pennsylvania and Warren, Hunterdon, and Mercer Counties in New Jersey. The operational area will be between Slateford, PA/Columbia, NJ and Yardley, PA/Trenton, NJ.

Typical operations involve the application of Vectobac 12AS (a brown, viscous, liquid material that smells like fish oil) from a helicopter. The helicopter will apply the material to the river flow in designated areas by flying back and forth across the river and discharging the material from a boom arm. The material is then carried downriver. The active ingredient in Vectobac is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (B.t.i.), a naturally occurring soil bacterium.

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AgAir, LLC of Thomasville, PA is the scheduled contractor and will be using a Bell Jet Ranger with tail number N16979, the county reports.

The DEP reports that from now through August, 45 rivers and streams spanning more than 1,500 miles in 32 counties will be monitored and treated as needed. Spraying activities will be performed by helicopter and the frequency will depend on black fly surveillance results and weather conditions. Treatments cannot occur during periods of heavy rain or when water levels are high. Fast-moving water can carry away the spray product too quickly, making the treatment ineffective.

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DEP will notify county and local emergency management officials prior to any spraying activity to make them aware that helicopters seen flying over creeks, streams and rivers are working on behalf of the state’s black fly program. Anyone with concerns about the sight of a helicopter is encouraged to call their county emergency management office to verify that a black fly treatment is taking place in their area on that day.

For more information about Pennsylvania’s Black Fly Suppression program, visit www.dep.state.pa.us or call 717-346-8238.


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