Black Fly spraying scheduled for Friday

LOCK HAVEN – Clinton County government has shared word that another state-authorized black fly spraying project will be conducted on Friday along the West Branch watershed.

The aerial black fly suppression operation has been scheduled for Friday Aug. 13 on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and local streams including Penns Creek, Middle Creek, Loyalsock Creek, Pine Creek, and Sinnemahoning Creek. This operation will begin near Selinsgrove at 7 a.m. and will move up river, ending Friday afternoon in Keating. This aerial application will include flights in Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Lycoming, and Clinton Counties. The helicopter will be a Bell OH58 with the tail number N653HA and is grey with blue and red striping.

Helicopter Applicators Inc. will be dispersing Vectobac 12AS, which is a Bti product manufactured by Valent Biosciences. Bti is short for Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, which is a bacterial larvicide, not a chemical, and is the only product used in Pennsylvania’s waterways for black fly suppression. Vectobac 12AS is a thick brown liquid resembling chocolate milk. The helicopter will fly low near tree top level and release the Vectobac 12AS at various predetermined positions on the river. Attached is a copy of the Vectobac label and an SDS sheet in case you would need information on the product.

If you have any questions regarding these operations or the Program in general, please contact Kristin Brown, aquatic biologist with the Department of Environmental Protection office in Williamsport at 570-327-3782 or email me at krbrown@pa.gov.