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Mosquito Control Program
The Amherst Highway Department has been home to the Town’s Mosquito Control Division for more than 30 years. What started as a program for the spraying of nuisance mosquitoes has evolved into a complete program of larviciding, adulticiding and surveillance based on resident complaints and virus activity.
Our program begins in March with larval surveillance and a five-week to six-week larviciding program that attacks the spring floodwater mosquitoes throughout the Town. With over 1,500 acres of wetlands in the Town, considerable lead time is needed for treatment, and is available with these mosquito species, which are slow to develop due to low water and air temperatures.
From mid-May through early October, the Mosquito Control Program serves three functions: 1) treatment of more than 6,000 roadside storm receivers throughout the Town; 2) adulticide spraying in areas of residential complaints; and 3) surveillance of adult mosquitoes using a variety of trapping methods, and sending in samples for virus testing in conjunction with the NYS Department of Health.
Roadside storm receiver larviciding during the late spring and early summer – just ahead of peak transmission time of mosquito-borne viruses including West Nile Virus (WNV) – is a necessity, as Cx. pipiens-restuans, the main vector of WNV, uses water found in these receivers as breeding sites. Other potential breeding sites for these mosquitoes and others include bird baths, abandoned swimming pools, swimming pool covers, buckets and tires.
Spraying for adult mosquitoes is considered a last resort, and is done based on resident complaints. Spraying is not done on a set weekly schedule – residents must call the Highway Department during the season in order to be assessed for possible spraying. A pickup truck is used for backyard spraying, and in larger neighborhoods, a tracked machine is used along Town-maintained trails. Most spraying is done to combat the summer species that breed in ponding rainwater, as these species can develop in as little as five to seven days under optimum conditions. These species include Ae. vexans, which has tested positive for WNV in Amherst and is a voracious human biter.
The surveillance program is in place to monitor the species present in the Town, the number of mosquitoes present in various areas and at various times of the season, and virus presence in the Town. Our program sets 20 to 40 traps each week (dependent on the time of year and weather conditions) for approximately 18-20 weeks from May to October throughout the Town. Trapping occurs throughout the Town, including both wooded areas and residential areas. In general, three trap types are used: 1) CDC Light traps, which use dry ice to attract female mosquitoes looking for a blood meal; 2) CDC Gravid traps, which use a solution of hay and water to attract egg-laying female mosquitoes; and 3) “receiver-style” gravid traps, which are modified CDC Gravid traps that use the water present in roadside receivers as an attractant. Different species are often more attracted to one type of trap than another. Mosquito samples from these traps are identified by species and sent for virus testing through the NYSDOH, which in turn notifies the Town program of any positive results.
Our aggressive trapping methods and trap placement over the years have produced more than 310 WNV-positive mosquito samples since 2003, including more than 120 in 2012 alone. In addition, more than two dozen pools have tested positive for other viruses throughout the Town. Amherst is the only town in Erie County that has its own self-sufficient Mosquito Control program, and all of our chemical applicators are professionally trained and licensed in the use of pesticides through NYS Department of Environmental Conservation education and testing.
Inquiries about the program and treatment requests can be made by contacting the Highway Department at 716-631-5990 x 5926 or at mosq@amherst.ny.us.
Highway Department
1042 N Forest Rd
Williamsville,
NY
14221
(716)
631-7117
7:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Mon-Fri)
Highway Department
Parks Department
Refuse Control
Highway Department
Floss, Steven
Highway Superintendent
716-631-7117
Stanley, Kurt
Deputy Highway Superintendent
716-631-5990
Anderson, Paul
Deputy Highway Superintendent
716-631-5990 ext.
5917
Beck, Tina
Principal Clerk Typist
716-631-5990 ext.
5922
Bennett, Mark
Working Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Blocher, Eric
Working Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Bryan, Steve
Purchasing
716-631-5990 ext.
7261
Cottrell, Donna
Clerk - PT
716-631-5990 ext.
5916
Creamer, Dominic
Parks General Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Evans, Kathy
Clerk Typist
716-631-5990 ext.
5936
Galvin, Patrick
Working Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Highway, Dispatch
716-631-5990 ext.
5910 or 5918
Hughes, Michael
Working Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Mosquito, Control
716-631-5990 ext.
5926
Noltee, Michael
Working Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Richter, Shelby
Clerk - Seasonal
716-631-7117 ext.
5958
Schoenle, William
Working Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Schreck, Craig
General Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Scott, Beth
Account Clerk Typist
716-631-5990 ext.
5915
Specht, Steve
Sign & Signal Shop
716-631-7117
Spence, James
Laborer
716-631-5990 ext.
5958
Spoth, Al
General Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Stuhmuller, Mark
Shop Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Sykes, Todd
Working Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Therrien, Todd
Working Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Tremblett, Kevin
Shop Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Walsh, Shawn
Working Crew Chief
716-631-7117
Refuse Control
Lawida, James
Refuse Control Officer
716-631-5990 ext.
5944
Licata, Ryan
Senior Refuse Control Officer
716-631-5990 ext.
5943
Paterno, Anthony
Refuse Control Officer
716-631-7117 ext.
5933
Turton, James
Refuse Control Officer
716-631-7117 ext.
5933
Maple Road, New Road lane closures
Erie County Department of Public Works announces upcoming road restrictions: The portion of Maple Road (CR-192) between Hopkins Rd and N. Maplemere Rd will have a single lane road restriction. This restriction will begin on October 16, with an estimated completion date of October 18, or until complete. Work will be performed daily between the hours of 7am-4pm. This restriction is for the purpose of aerial pole surveys. Syracuse Utilities will be performing the work. The portion of New Road (CR-186) from Dodge Rd to Smith Rd will have a single lane road restriction from 7am to 5pm daily. This restriction will begin on October 21 and will continue until winter shutdown. This restriction is for the purpose of roadway rehabilitation and drainage improvements. Concrete Applied Technologies Corp, dba CATCO, will be performing the work. (DPW road work announcements are coordinated through Erie County. Town of Amherst shares this information as a public service announcement for residents.)
Posted on Oct 09, 2024 by the Highway Department.
Highway Dept. Reminder: Do NOT Place Leaf Piles in Roadways
Town of Amherst Highway Department crews continue with Fall Leaf Pickup, which started Oct. 7 (earlier than recent years) in an attempt to better handle this massive undertaking. Town residents can be helpful in this effort by following the guidelines outlined on the Town’s website, found by clicking the link below. Most importantly – please do NOT rake leaves into the street - it is unsafe and illegal. Please place your leaves on the area between the sidewalk and the curb (or adjacent to the roadway for those without sidewalks) and the Highway Department will pick them up. For the next several weeks crews will be cycling through the town’s 1,300 streets to collect leaves. Your patience and cooperation is appreciated.
Click to view document
Click for website link
Posted on Oct 03, 2024 by the Highway Department.
Highway Announces 2024 Paving Schedule
Town of Amherst Highway Superintendent Steve Floss has announced that the Amherst Highway Department will spend $3.2 million this year to pave and repair 60 Town roads. That money will come from Amherst’s Capital Improvement Project (CIP) bond money as well as funds from New York State that provides money through the CHIPS roads programs. See attached document for complete announcement.
Click to view documentClick for website link