July 28, 2015
The Mosquitoes Return to the Coquille Valley
On July 16, the Coos County Vector Assessment & Control Advisory Committee held their regular monthly meeting on the Ni-les’tun Unit overlook at the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, which is the small wooden platform with a plaque dedicated to longtime Oregon Congressman, Peter DeFazio.
At the meeting, the chair of the committee, Roger Straus, announced that the US Fish & Wildlife Service had their biologist regularly apply BTI larvacide to the marsh and that it is currently free of mosquitoes. However, he also admitted that there has been a severe fly-off off the refuge on property located further into the Coquille Valley near Prosper Road over to Randall Road on Hwy 42S.
The Service is blaming the failure of tide gates located on property within the infested area for the cause of the problem.
They suspect that remaining pools of water stagnated, enabling the perfect environment for breeding mosquitoes. The agency has offered some of the landowners to bring in equipment to dredge the area for better drainage, but suspicions remain as to their real motives.
One reason is that the service’s own biologists relate the current infestation directly to the marsh expansion, which is contradictory to the main storyline.
In addition, over the last few years, several property owners have been seeking permission to replace aging tide gates and they claim that the government is not granting those permits.
Which agency is responsible for granting permits? That is right, none other than the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
The belief of the new leadership on the refuge is that the government will have to expand the marsh to contain the burgeoning wildlife, which sounds like another excuse for a land grab. The agency can only purchase land from “willing sellers,” and claim not to have the funds for the acquisitions.
What better way to create “willing sellers” than to deny them the permits for the gates knowing those actions will cause more mosquito infestations? Moreover, because the infestation will be off the marsh the agency can deny culpability, while acting as savior when they come in with an offer to purchase.
To add insult to injury, Commissioner John Sweet, who is the liaison between the county and The Service, has been parroting the same message of obfuscation. Mr. Sweet said in a conversation at the county fair, “that it seems unlikely that the mosquitoes in the valley are coming from the marsh.”
The commissioner is currently facing a recall for not supporting an ordinance to preserve the Second Amendment in Coos County. His alliance with Fish & Wildlife and caviler attitude towards this latest controversy is a risky public relations tactic, especially since he risks the backlash of his constituents.
Proving the point, The Committee to Recall John Sweet is having a campaign meeting in the Owen Building, 201 N. Adams Street, Coquille, Oregon on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 7:00 pm.
There are several reasons for the removal of John Sweet and the recall committee is inviting everyone to come out to the meeting this Friday to learn the petitioning process. The experience will provide the basic knowledge needed to file future initiatives, recalls, or referenda and the ability to defend the people from bad officials and even worse political policies, no matter what ideology practiced. Equally, the group will need all the help they can get to remove such an entrenched politician.
Rob Taylor is the founder of a local virtual network of activists, which is located on the internet at www.CoosCountyWatchdog.com.
The Mosquitoes Return to the Coquille Valley
On July 16, the Coos County Vector Assessment & Control Advisory Committee held their regular monthly meeting on the Ni-les’tun Unit overlook at the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, which is the small wooden platform with a plaque dedicated to longtime Oregon Congressman, Peter DeFazio.
At the meeting, the chair of the committee, Roger Straus, announced that the US Fish & Wildlife Service had their biologist regularly apply BTI larvacide to the marsh and that it is currently free of mosquitoes. However, he also admitted that there has been a severe fly-off off the refuge on property located further into the Coquille Valley near Prosper Road over to Randall Road on Hwy 42S.
The Service is blaming the failure of tide gates located on property within the infested area for the cause of the problem.
They suspect that remaining pools of water stagnated, enabling the perfect environment for breeding mosquitoes. The agency has offered some of the landowners to bring in equipment to dredge the area for better drainage, but suspicions remain as to their real motives.
One reason is that the service’s own biologists relate the current infestation directly to the marsh expansion, which is contradictory to the main storyline.
In addition, over the last few years, several property owners have been seeking permission to replace aging tide gates and they claim that the government is not granting those permits.
Which agency is responsible for granting permits? That is right, none other than the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
The belief of the new leadership on the refuge is that the government will have to expand the marsh to contain the burgeoning wildlife, which sounds like another excuse for a land grab. The agency can only purchase land from “willing sellers,” and claim not to have the funds for the acquisitions.
What better way to create “willing sellers” than to deny them the permits for the gates knowing those actions will cause more mosquito infestations? Moreover, because the infestation will be off the marsh the agency can deny culpability, while acting as savior when they come in with an offer to purchase.
To add insult to injury, Commissioner John Sweet, who is the liaison between the county and The Service, has been parroting the same message of obfuscation. Mr. Sweet said in a conversation at the county fair, “that it seems unlikely that the mosquitoes in the valley are coming from the marsh.”
The commissioner is currently facing a recall for not supporting an ordinance to preserve the Second Amendment in Coos County. His alliance with Fish & Wildlife and caviler attitude towards this latest controversy is a risky public relations tactic, especially since he risks the backlash of his constituents.
Proving the point, The Committee to Recall John Sweet is having a campaign meeting in the Owen Building, 201 N. Adams Street, Coquille, Oregon on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 7:00 pm.
There are several reasons for the removal of John Sweet and the recall committee is inviting everyone to come out to the meeting this Friday to learn the petitioning process. The experience will provide the basic knowledge needed to file future initiatives, recalls, or referenda and the ability to defend the people from bad officials and even worse political policies, no matter what ideology practiced. Equally, the group will need all the help they can get to remove such an entrenched politician.
Rob Taylor is the founder of a local virtual network of activists, which is located on the internet at www.CoosCountyWatchdog.com.
Related Posts:
Sweet Recall Meeting 7:00pm Friday July 31, 2015
Cribbins & Sweet Snub Second Amendment Supporters Again
History of the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance
BOC ~ Mosquito Meeting on the Marsh Thursday July 16, 2015
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Discussing Nearshore Strategy July 7 & 9, 2015
Coos County Mosquito Meeting Thursday June 18, 2015
Two Bills on Wetlands in Oregon Legislature SB544 Protects Landowners
BOC ~ Vector Control Meeting in North Bend Thursday March 12, 2015
Coos County Vector Control Committee ~ Mosquito Meeting February 12, 2015
ACTION ALERT ~ Bandon City Council Meeting Jan. 5, 2015 ~ Real Mosquito Report
Fred Messerle Bankrupting Beaver Slough Drainage District to Harass Neighbor
ODFW ~ Permit for the Winter Lake/China Creek Project, Messerle Named Manager
ODFW ~ Purchases Private Property for Wetland Restoration "Mosquito Preserve"
Did the Mayor of Bandon Lie to the People of Coos County?
Sweet Recall Meeting 7:00pm Friday July 31, 2015
Cribbins & Sweet Snub Second Amendment Supporters Again
History of the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance
BOC ~ Mosquito Meeting on the Marsh Thursday July 16, 2015
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Discussing Nearshore Strategy July 7 & 9, 2015
Coos County Mosquito Meeting Thursday June 18, 2015
Two Bills on Wetlands in Oregon Legislature SB544 Protects Landowners
BOC ~ Vector Control Meeting in North Bend Thursday March 12, 2015
Coos County Vector Control Committee ~ Mosquito Meeting February 12, 2015
ACTION ALERT ~ Bandon City Council Meeting Jan. 5, 2015 ~ Real Mosquito Report
Fred Messerle Bankrupting Beaver Slough Drainage District to Harass Neighbor
ODFW ~ Permit for the Winter Lake/China Creek Project, Messerle Named Manager
ODFW ~ Purchases Private Property for Wetland Restoration "Mosquito Preserve"
Did the Mayor of Bandon Lie to the People of Coos County?
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