SACRAMENTO – The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) is being honored by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) for its advanced practices in mosquito and vector prevention and management.

The IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Innovator Award recognizes California organizations’ efforts to

practice pest prevention while reducing health and environmental risks associated with pesticide use and sharing these successful strategies with others. This is the association’s first IPM Innovator Award.

“The success of MVCAC really lies in the efforts of our members,” said MVCAC Executive Director Catherine Smith. “Receiving recognition for our members’ efforts to reduce vectors and vector-borne diseases throughout the state is a great honor,” she stated.

The innovations MVCAC is being recognized for include:

• California Surveillance Gateway: Member contributions to this online portal for statewide data surveillance entry and analysis hosted by the University of California, Davis.

• CalSurv online resource: MVCAC and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) collaboration providing statewide surveillance data for current and historical vector and vector-borne disease incidence.

• Dead bird reporting hotline: MVCAC support and promotion of CDPH hotline and Web site (www.westnile.ca.gov) that provide clear, concise, and up-to-date information for all California residents and provide resources for residents to identify their local agency. The use of the hotline and website allows MVCAC members to coordinate and provide a uniform message to the public.

• MVCAC assistance and outreach: Ongoing, proactive outreach to many state and federal agencies, environmentalists and anti-pesticide advocates to solve complex management issues. MVCAC has tackled Fish and Game wetlands management, created the Southern California Vector Control Environmental Taskforce, mobilized to address new NPDES permitting requirements and has worked with CDPH to develop the document “Best Management Practices for Mosquito Control in California.”

• Regulatory outreach: MVCAC provides critical input at the state and federal levels regarding legal challenges to pesticide use in waters of the U.S. MVCAC members are currently collaborating with the State Water Resources Control Board and the EPA to address statewide NPDES permitting and monitoring requirements for mosquito control.

MVCAC will receive the IPM Innovator Award during an awards ceremony to be held Jan. 27, 2011, at the CalEPA headquarters.

MVCAC represents 63 special districts and other subdivisions of local government responsible for mosquito and vector control, surveillance of West Nile virus and other vector-borne diseases, and public education programs to help Californians protect themselves from vector-borne diseases.

MVCAC advocates safe, effective and environmentally-friendly methods of mosquito and vector control.