CALEXICO California
WHERE CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO MEET
Agenda Item #20
(Informational Item regarding)
Mosquito Abatement Update
Calexico Public Works Department is now working in close collaboration with the Imperial County Vector Control Program and the Imperial Irrigation District towards the prevention and abatement of mosquitos within its jurisdiction.
For this purpose, City Staff have met with said agencies as follows:
Imperial County Vector Control Program
Antonio Lechuga, Vector Biologist/Entomologist
> on September 26, 2025 & November 4, 2025
Imperial Irrigation District
Mike Pacheco, Water Department Manager
Ismael Gomez, Water Department Principal Engineer
Lewis Pacheco, Director, Division 4
• on October 22, 2025
The follow-up meeting has been scheduled to take place on November 14, 2025 Background:
After each rain event, the storm system is designed to take the storm runoff water from the streets into retention basins, located throughout the City (see Exhibit A "City of Calexico Retention Basins"), where it will keep the streets free from standing water, allowing for uninterrupted lanes for people to transit. Ultimately, the retention basins must drain no later than 72 hours, for the water to continue its course to its final discharge point, which in this case is the New River.
In cases where the amount of rainwater far exceeds the capacity of the pipes in the storm system, like in the recent Tropical Storm Mario event, it creates a situation in which the water stays in the retention basins longer than the expected 72 hours. This condition of standing water allows for the breeding of different biological life, including vectors (mosquitoes).
To mitigate, prevent the spread of mosquitoes, and alleviate the negative impact they have on our residents, the City first must avoid the accumulation of water inside the retention te basins. That is why the City's Streets and Wastewater Collection crews have been thoroughly
working to empty the retention basins; however, this measure does take time and the City only has capacity at the time to work on one or two retentions at the time.
In these occasions where there is too much water in different retention basins, the City, in collaboration with the Imperial County Public Health Department's Vector Control, works to determine a priority list to see which locations require more attention, which in turn helps the Public Works Department better focus its limited resources. In addition to that, Vector Control provides fumigation efforts to eliminate the threats of mosquitoes. For this measure, the City is also in the process of removing excess vegetation inside the retentions and in the path of travel for Vector Control, to grant free access to any part of the basin so they can work their process to eliminate the vectors.
Although draining the water out does assist in the purpose of eliminating the breeding grounds for mosquitoes, it is still a reactive approach. The are other underlaying causes to the issue of the drainage of storm water, like the conditions of the infrastructure, current elevation grades in the retentions, and the fact that in some parts, runoff water must drain to Imperial Irrigation District's (IID) drains. Since our system depends on another agency's infrastructure, the City is in constant coordination with the IID, to make sure that the drains that are relevant to the City's system are kept in optimal conditions.
The following is a list of some of the City's Retention Basins and their current status:
1. Las Casitas Park (Sam Ellis St between M. Knechel Ave and G. Burt Ave) Substantially drained.
2. Alameda Park (Zapata St and Granero St)
Substantially drained, vegetation to be removed.
3. Zapata Park (Zapata St between E Bielma Ct and I. Yturralde St) Substantially drained, vegetation removed.
4. Eastland Retention (Meadows Dr in front of Camino Dr) Substantially drained.
5. Villa de Oro Alley Retention (between W Calle de Oro and E Calle de Oro) Substantially drained.
6. Harrington Retention (Harrington St, West of Rancho Frontera Park) City staff are currently working on draining the water.
7. Rancho Frontera Park (Harrington St between Rancho Frontera Ave & Fiesta Ave) City staff are currently working on draining the water and removing vegetation to allow the passage of the Imperial County Public Health Department's Vector Control.
8. Joel Reisin Park (Andrade Ave and Sapphire St)
Substantially drained.
9. Camilia Park (Andrade Ave between Holdridge St and Camilia St) Substantially drained.
10. Meadows Park (Andrade Ave between Camilia St and Rosas St) Substantially drained.
11. Gutierrez Park (Andrade Ave between Santa Fe Dr and Paseo Camino Real Substantially drained.
12. Rivera Retention (E 2nd St and E Rivera Ave)
Substantially drained. City staff will continue removing vegetation from the basin.
13. Meadows East Retention (East of Jasmine St and Margarita St) City staff are currently working on draining this retention. Substantial progress has been made. City staff will continue removing vegetation from the basin.
14. Tierrasanta Retention (Sapphire St, in front of E Cantu Ave) sh
City staff are currently working on draining this retention.
In summary, the City's actions to abate the mosquito breeding are:
a. Use City Staff working on removing the excess water from the retention basins. b. Coordinate with Imperial County Public Health Department to establish a priority list of retentions to attend.
c. Clean and remove excess vegetation to allow a safe travel path for the Imperial County Public Health Department.
d. Coordinate with IID to keep its irrigation drainage pipelines clean and clear of obstacles to avoid any water backup.
Exhibit B
Photo Report
EETE
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #2 (Alameda Park)
Zapata Street & Granero Street Intersection
Exhibit B
Photo Report
A CHE
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #3 (Zapata Park)
Zapata Street between Bielma Ct & I. Yturralde Street
Exhibit B
Photo Report
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #6 (Harrington Retention)
Harrington Street, West of Rancho Frontera Park
•Page 3 of 15
Exhibit B
Photo Report
Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #7 (Rancho Frontera Park)
Harrington Street between Rancho Frontera Avenue & Fiesta Avenue 1 A Page 4 of 15 15
Exhibit B
Photo Report
EBIE
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #7 (Rancho Frontera Park)
Harrington Street between Rancho Frontera Avenue & Fiesta Avenue e Page 5 of 15
Exhibit B
Photo Report
LB LELE
(CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025 Public Works Department
Retention Basin #7 (Rancho Frontera Park)
Harrington Street between Rancho Frontera Avenue & Fiesta Avenue
Exhibit B
Photo Report
BHE
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #7 (Rancho Frontera Park)
Harrington Street between Rancho Frontera Avenue & Fiesta Avenue
Exhibit B
Photo Report
JERIE
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #7 (Rancho Frontera Park)
Harrington Street between Rancho Frontera Avenue & Fiesta Avenue
Exhibit B
Photo Report
e BHE
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #8 (Joel Reisin Park)
Andrade Avenue & Sapphire Street Intersection
JOEL REISIN FIELD
Exhibit B
Photo Report
B CAE Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
CALEXICO
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #8 (Joel Reisin Park)
Andrade Avenue & Sapphire Street Intersection
Exhibit B
Photo Report
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #8 (Joel Reisin Park)
Andrade Avenue & Sapphire Street Intersection
Exhibit B
Photo Report
SEHE
Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
CADEX100
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #9 (Camilia Park)
Meadows Road between Holdridge Street & Camilia Street
page 12 of 15
Exhibit B
Photo Report
AHE
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #10 (Meadows Park)
Andrade Avenue between Camilia Street & Rosas Street
Exhibit B
Photo Report
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #12 (Rivera Retention)
E. 2^d Street & E Rivera Avenue Intersection
Exhibit B
Photo Report
BRAE
CALEXICO Mosquito Abatement Update - November 05, 2025
Public Works Department
Retention Basin #12 (Rivera Retention)
E. 2nd Street & E Rivera Avenue Intersection