State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board

Mosquito Control Projects and Districts

There are nine (9) organized mosquito control projects or districts located throughout Massachusetts.  All mosquito control activities of these organized agencies are performed under the aegis of the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board (SRMCB) pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 252 of the Massachusetts General Laws and special legislation (Acts and Resolves) that created them.

Each mosquito control project or district operates under the direction of a Board of Commissioners.  The Commissioners are appointed by the SRMCB. 

The Board of Commissioners for each project or district varies and represents a wide range of expertise.  Current Commissioners include but are not limited to public member(s), medical doctor(s), police officer(s), board of health director(s), University PhD (s), private citizen(s), mayor's or selectperson(s), DPW engineer(s) or Commissioner(s), former mosquito control project or district superintendent(s).  The make-up of these Commissions helped to direct the mosquito control project or district in important financial and operational decisions.

The Board of Commissioners hires a Superintendent or Director to manage the day-to-day operational mosquito management efforts for the project or districts.

Mosquito control projects or districts employ management methods based on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).   These standard and recognized methods or practices are the result of many years of experience and up-to-date scientific research.  By using IPM, the mosquito control projects and districts integrate a variety of available control strategies i.e. surveillance, source reduction, traps, biological control methods, open marsh water management (OMWM), environmentally acceptable larvicides, and, when necessary, application of adulticides, into a comprehensive program. Ultimately, the strategies used by the mosquito control projects or districts go a long way in protecting the public health and the environment as well as improve the quality of life for Massachusetts’s citizens.

However, the scope and emphasis of these methodologies may differ from one mosquito control project or district to another due to differences in geographic location, topography, and mosquito species.  For example, the management strategies for inland fresh water mosquitoes are not necessarily the same as for salt march species. 

Generally speaking, operational activities are based upon a number of factors including but not limited to surveillance information via larval and adult mosquito counts, Public health data, ecological effects, costs, needs and requirements of the local situation and public complaints.

Below are links to the nine (9) projects or districts. Some projects or districts maintain their own web page and all are hosted on the Department of Agricultural Resources-State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board web page.

Each link will bring you to a standard page providing you with pertinent contact information about the mosquito control project or district.  This information will list the mosquito project or district address, telephone number, facsimile number, e-mail (if applicable), names of Commissioners and designated Chairperson, name of superintendent or director.

Mosquito control in Massachusetts is conducted through nine mosquito control districts.