News Briefs
May 5, 2017
IN THIS ISSUE...

Jobs

Interested in a career in mosquito and vector control? Check out the MVCAC Job Board at www.mvcac.org

 

Have a Job or RFP to post to MVCAC.org?  

Requests to post job listings (no more than 500 words in length) should be submitted to the webmaster at [email protected].

 

Do you have important news to share about your district or mosquito and vector issues?

If you would like your news to be included in the MVCAC News Briefs, please send press releases and/or links to relevant news articles to [email protected]
Mailing Address:
1 Capitol Mall
Suite 800
Sacramento, CA 95814
MVCAC Sustaining Member Corner
Note: MVCAC does not endorse the products below, but we do support our Sustaining Members
Central Life Sciences has announced the release of Aqua Zenivex™ E20, a reduced-risk adulticide for mosquito control professionals.  


Participate in the 2017 MVCAC Annual Conference Survey
2017 MVCAC Annual Conference Attendees and Exhibitors,

Help us make the 2018 Conference our best yet by responding to our brief Conference survey.


Thank you!
Special Districts Legislative Days: May 16-17, 2017
The MVCAC i nvites you to participate in Special Districts Legislative Days (Legislative Days), scheduled for May 16-17 at THE Grand Events Center in Sacramento. 
 
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Attend:
 
  1. Efforts underway in Sacramento could significantly impact special district revenue sources,includingproperty tax allocations, voter thresholds for special taxes and new funding opportunities for local projects and programs.
  2. The Little Hoover Commission's March 2017 report could impact how special districts are organized, formed, or consolidated.
  3. Hear from noteworthy speakers, such as Pedro Nava, Chair of The Little Hoover Commission, as well as the Chairs of the Assembly Local Government Committee and Senate Governance and Finance Committee.
  4. Learn from a panel of policy experts and CSDA's lobbyists, as they take your questions on the hottest issues facing special districts.
  5. Pre-arranged legislative visits and a hosted reception enable you to build relationships with your state legislators and their Capitol staff.
 
Register online today to attend Legislative Days. 
CAHAN Health Notification - First West Nile Virus Illness of 2017
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced the first confirmed illness in California due to West Nile virus (WNV). The illness occurred in Kings County. 

The full News Release can be found at the link below.

Introducing the NEW CDPH Website
The following is being sent on behalf of Dr. Karen Smith

Dear Community Partners,

I'm happy to announce the launch of our new CDPH website, and I invite you to take a tour at www.cdph.ca.gov.

Stakeholders, partners and the public can now more easily navigate the site and find helpful information. The new user-friendly design also gives CDPH an opportunity to better highlight the everyday work of public health and showcase the hundreds of ways we promote and protect the health of Californians and the millions of people who visit here each year.

Please keep in mind that with any new launch, there may be a few initial kinks. In our case, a few links may not work. If you find broken links, or have comments and suggestions, please let us know by emailing [email protected]

Serving with you,
Karen L. Smith, M.D., M.P.H
Director and State Public Health Officer
California Department of Public Health
Possible District Funding Opportunities from OES for Flooding Impacts
Our advocates have had conversations with the Office of Emergency Services( OES) concerning their emergency declarations related to flooding and funding eligibility requirements for vector control agencies.  There were 51 counties impacted by storms this year.  And there were three specific emergency declarations events declared:  January 3-12, 18-23, and February 3-23. 
 
Per our conversation with OES staff, we learned the following about funding reimbursement requests:
  • Generally speaking, special districts, which includes most vector control agencies, can make their own applications for funding reimbursement to OES
  • Vector control agencies need to work closely with the counties and specifically their public health coordinator and emergency response teams
  • Applications for funding must be accompanied by a letter from the public health officer of the county
  • The public health officer must attest to the fact that mosquitos or other vectors posed an immediate threat to public health and safety resulting in extraordinary costs to the vector control agency
  • Reimbursement is limited to "extraordinary costs" based on a historical cost baseline (usually 3 - 5 years)
  • OES will reimburse 75% of the costs
 
OES has more information about the emergency declarations on their website if you need more information:   http://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes-divisions/recovery/public-assistance/404-hazard-mitigation-grant-program
2017-18 Yearbooks Available Now!
The 2017-18 MVCAC Yearbooks are ready.  

To view the electronic (PDF) version please  visit our website (note: you will need to login to access this content).

MVCAC Staff will be handing out hard copies at the Spring Meeting.
NPDES Updates
NPDES Coalition Report Filed with SWB
 
The 2016 NPDES Coalition Report was filed with the State Water Resources Control Board on behalf of the participating districts. You can access a copy of the report in the "Members Only" section of the MVCAC website by clicking here. If you have any questions or issues you can contact the MVCAC office.
Access your Countersigned NPDES Coalition Agreement for 2016
 
If you would like to access and print a countersigned copy of your District's NPDES Coalition Agreement you can go to the MVCAC website Members only Section and find a copy. They are grouped alphabetically by District name. If you have any problems or questions please contact the MVCAC staff: [email protected]
To assist MVCAC NPDES Coalition members in preparing the annual report to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), MVCAC is providing the Sacramento/Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control annual report to be used as a template. Districts need to submit four items to the State Water Board.  Your report does NOT need to be sent to your regional boards.  

The MVCAC NPDES Coalition 2016 annual report will be submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) soon.

Each agency must submit the following:
  1. Cover Letter 
  2. Narrative Annual Report 
  3. Map of all treatments to WOTUS 
  4. Application Log of all applications to WOTUS 
Please submit your annual report to the SWRCB contacts below via email:
Please also bcc Rachel Hickerson:  [email protected] from AMG when you send your package to the SWRCB. 
 
The cover letter should still be addressed to Victoria Whitney. The Vector Control permit annual report is due March 1st. 

Also, make sure the entire following statement is included in your cover letter and signed by the appropriate person:

Per Attachment B, Section V.B.4 of the General Permit:
"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations." (40 C.F.R. § 122.22(d).)


Register Now for Expert-Lead UAS Training
Leading Edge is excited to announce our Unmanned Aircraft System Operator Training Program taught by FAA Certified Instrument Rated Pilots coming in May! 

Our courses will help you learn and organize the must-know information for passing your certification in one place. The all-inclusive training sessions include breakfast and lunch and will be held on May 10 & May 11 at University of California at Davis. 

Registration is open until May 9 and is limited to the first 30 people who register. Please let us know if you have any questions and remember to register before the classes fill up! 

Click here to download the event flyer

WHEN: 
MAY 10 | 8:30 AM PST
FAA sUAS Part 107
Knowledge Test Prep $495
MAY 11 | 8:30 AM PST
sUAS Basic 
Flight Training $495

WHERE: 
Western Center for Agricultural Equipment 
Far West Equipment Dealers Association Classroom (North Wing)
University of California at Davis
154 Hills Drive Davis, CA 95616

REGISTER: 
CALL BY MAY 9 TO REGISTER. LIMIT 30 ATTENDEES. 
Piper Kimball: 707-484-6937
Bill Reynolds: 407-468-0008

Please click here for more information
MVCAC News Briefs - Zika Updates
Please note: The items contained below are not the views or opinions of MVCAC but they are what is being reported in the media.  The goal of MVCAC providing this information is to keep MVCAC members informed of all news articles that are being presented regarding Zika.
CDC Zika Virus Web Page

CDC Zika Virus Microsite

CDPH Zika Virus Web Page

4/29/17: Zika virus suspected in Clark County - Springfield News-Sun
MVCAC News Briefs - Other Outbreaks
Please note: The items contained below are not the views or opinions of MVCAC but they are what is being reported in the media.  The goal of MVCAC providing this information is to keep MVCAC members informed of all news articles that are being presented regarding other outbreaks.
5/3/17: What Does a Warming Planet Mean for Mosquito-borne Diseases? - Laboratory Equipment

5/3/17: Combination of Increased Rain and Hot Temperatures Bring Mosquitoes - Sac-Yolo MVCD

5/3/17: Experts Warn of Increases in Deadly, Tick-Borne Powassan Virus - KTLA

5/2/17: Brazil Yellow Fever Outbreak Spawns Alert: Stop Killing the Monkeys - The New York Times

5/1/17: Coachella Valley Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus - Banning Patch

5/1/17: New technology in the fight against mosquitoes - ABC Action News

5/1/17: Lyme Disease Awareness Month - Pests in the Urban Landscape

4/30/17: Mosquito-Borne Malaria Is On The Rise In The U.S., New Report Says - Inquisitr