By Jalen Campbell
Herald Intern
Sanford renews its over $120,000 contract with Clarke Environment to reduce the midge population across the border of Lake Monroe.
Midge is a type of insect that does not bite or transmit diseases, but swarms and can be very irritating according to Laura McGowan, spokesperson for Clarke Environment.
“They don’t fight, they just kind of swarm around you,” McGowan said. “They’re very annoying.”
The midge population breeds in waterways and shores, making their existence prominent around lakefronts and rivers.
Clarke Environment plans to apply a product called “Natular” to the shorelines which prevents midges from hatching from their larval state according to McGowan. This procedure will mitigate the population but will not fully remove them.
“The midge population will be reduced by our efforts, but they won’t be fully removed,” McGowan said.
This contract has been in place since 2017 and has been an annual procedure in the City of Sanford. The monthly treatments are scheduled from May to September, during prime midge season.
“It’s a routine application that we do to enhance the quality of life for visitors and guests and residents of Sanford,” McGowan said.
