Any ideas on who could help?

[MSBelle4Life]

Between my neighbor's and my back yard, there is a drainage ditch which is really just a pool for mosquito breeding because there is always stagnant water and its never dry. Anyway, its because there isn't proper sloping or something, which I'm sure has been an issue since the subdivision was developed. And because I deal with real estate on a daily basis, I know better than to even think of looking to the developer.

So, I called Lamar County supervisors' office, and was told that unless it was a drainage ditch running along the road, it wasn't the county's problem to fix. That's acceptable, however, what am I supposed to do? It's hard to say if its my neighbor's ditch or mine because on our plat the lot line is the ditch. I'm guessing it's half theirs and half mine, but because they have lived there before me, I'm guessing they don't care since it hasn't been fixed. Any ideas???

[JMC]

Between my neighbor's and my back yard, there is a drainage ditch which is really just a pool for mosquito breeding because there is always stagnant water and its never dry. Anyway, its because there isn't proper sloping or something, which I'm sure has been an issue since the subdivision was developed. And because I deal with real estate on a daily basis, I know better than to even think of looking to the developer.

So, I called Lamar County supervisors' office, and was told that unless it was a drainage ditch running along the road, it wasn't the county's problem to fix. That's acceptable, however, what am I supposed to do? It's hard to say if its my neighbor's ditch or mine because on our plat the lot line is the ditch. I'm guessing it's half theirs and half mine, but because they have lived there before me, I'm guessing they don't care since it hasn't been fixed. Any ideas???

I have the exact same problem as you do. My ditch just needs to be cleaned and re-cut. I haven't found anybody to do it and even if I did, I probably couldn't afford it. I talked to the county as well, it took forever for them to come look at the part by the street and other than shuffel some rocks around, they didn't do anything.

[Hermione]

If it's a mosquito problem, can the Health Dept do something, or at least tell you who to call?

[TheKing]

yeah if youre more worried about the mosquitos... just go to lowes and get whatever they have to handle it... if youre more worried about the ditch itself... everybody nkows if you want something done right.. you have to do it yourself

but id let the neighbors know what youre up to

[JMC]

I'm going to try to do something with mine in the fall. Maybe fishbait can bring his tractor. :clap:

[proud MS-ian]

This website tells you what to do to lessen the amount of larvae that hatch (http://www.mosquito.org/mosquito-information/control.aspx)...but I agree with Hermione, unless you can fill the ditch yourself, I'd call the health dept and ask who to contact...it's a health issue for all surrounding homes in the area.

[Fish-Bait]

I'm going to try to do something with mine in the fall. Maybe fishbait can bring his tractor. :clap:

The tractor is in the very near future my friend....


How much dirt to fill up what's there?

[JMC]

The tractor is in the very near future my friend....


How much dirt to fill up what's there?


i have no idea. Can’t imagine it will be much but really won’t know until get into it. Cleaning it out will probably take care of 90% of the problem. It’s basically about 30 years of nobody maintaining it so trees and all kind of crap is in there. Katrina took care of most of the trees so some good boots, rake, and my chain saw will probably be able to take care of most of it.

[58ford]

If you've got a shovel, I hear lamarebel is lookin' for work. J/K
Seriously though if you can find some guppies (the cheap kind you feed to bigger fish) & release them into your ditch It helps, guppies breed like crazy, they love mosquito larva, they can breathe at the surface so stagnant water doesn't hurt them, and when it gets to be winter the cold kills them off.

[proud MS-ian]

when it gets to be winter the cold kills them off.

poor guppies!!! :ohnoes:

[Ted]

Or - -

Seine ya up some native Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquitofish).
It's an indigenous (native) species, very closely related to Guppies (Poecilia reticulata), slightly larger - about 2" long -, and is very hardy in our clime.
Lake Byron is full of 'em.

[MSBelle4Life]

I thought about calling the person over the Mosquito Control Program at Lamar County and see if they could just come out and make sure everything's okay. Other than being an eyesore, if there is no health risk, I'm fine with leaving it alone. A fence is going up in backyard soon enough and I won't have to look at it anymore while sitting on my back deck.