FLEMINGTON - The coronavirus isn't the only bug that's bothering Hunterdon County.
Black flies, if left unchecked, make visits to the Delaware River uncomfortable for both residents and tourists.
But thanks to cooperation between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, at least the flying bugs are on their way to being eradicated this year.
On April 23, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PDEP) began spraying for black flies on both sides of the Delaware River. The spraying received financial support from the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
“The freeholders and our residents are most appreciative that the DEP has stepped up and provided to the PDEP the state’s share for the cost of this important public health program that suppresses black flies in the area, after not doing so last year,” Freeholder John Lanza said.
Last summer Pennsylvania notified the county it was stopping spraying along the east side of the river because New Jersey was not paying its share of the cost. That prompted Hunterdon County to pay for one spraying along the New Jersey banks in August.
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“Black flies are detrimental to residents, businesses and tourism in the county," Lanza said. "The freeholders believe the black fly suppression along the Delaware River is so important to the quality of life for our residents that county funding was put forward for the program in 2019."
But State Sen. Michael Doherty (R-District 23) lobbied the DEP and the county received assurance that the state would fund the spraying in 2020.
"We are thankful DEP has kept its word,” Lanza said.
According to the PDEP, Vectobac 12AS, a naturally occurring, non-chemical, bacteria called Bti, is dispersed by helicopter over the river several times during the spring and summer. Bti stands for Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, a bacterial larvicide, not a chemical, and is the only product used in Pennsylvania’s waterways for black fly suppression.
In 2015 when all spraying ceased on both sides of the Delaware due to a lack of funding, Hunterdon County’s freeholders worked with local legislators, the county’s Health Department and Warren County Freeholders for several years to have the black fly suppression cost sharing reinstituted with Pennsylvania. The program was resumed in 2018 but ran into the funding roadblock in 2019.
"There was significant concern when New Jersey stopped supporting the program last year," Lanza said. "It is great to have this is program that protects our quality of life back on track for our residents.”
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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