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Coastal wetland management in Florida: environmental concerns and human health

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Abstract

High mosquito populations have always been a part of Florida’s environment. While mosquito-transmitted diseases have played a major role in Florida’s history, saltmarsh mosquitoes have not been implicated in these disease outbreaks. However, the impact of high saltmarsh mosquito numbers on the well-being of residents and visitors cannot be underestimated. Coastal wetland management efforts in Florida, which date back to the 1920s, have included ditching, dredging and filling, and impounding, all having mosquito control and environmental benefits and liabilities. In the early 1980s, efforts to encourage coastal wetlands management for both mosquito control and environmental interests came to the forefront. This resulted in the Florida Legislature creating the Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control and its Subcommittee on Managed Marshes. Through the efforts of these committees, a heavy investment in research, interagency cooperation, and public acquisition of coastal wetlands property, tremendous progress has been made in management of coastal wetlands. This has occurred largely by implementing management and restoration techniques that minimize environmental impacts, allow for mosquito control, and minimize the need for pesticide use. Continued efforts are needed to place into public ownership remaining privately owned coastal wetland property to allow implementation of best management practices on these important habitats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Florida, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, 200 9th Street S.E., Vero Beach, FL, 32962, USA

    Jorge R. Rey

  2. Indian River Mosquito Control District, P.O. Box 670, Vero Beach, FL, 32961, USA

    Douglas B. Carlson

  3. St. Johns River Water Management District, P.O. Box 1429, Palatka, FL, 32178, USA

    Ronald E. Brockmeyer Jr.

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  1. Jorge R. Rey
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  2. Douglas B. Carlson
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Rey, J.R., Carlson, D.B. & Brockmeyer, R.E. Coastal wetland management in Florida: environmental concerns and human health. Wetlands Ecol Manage 20, 197–211 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-011-9235-1

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