Mosquito Problem Off of Leelyn Drive

The mosquitoes are reportedly more bothersome than in previous years for some residents whose homes back to Leelyn Drive, the road behind .

The problem, according to one resident, is the stagnant water within the completed by the county last August.

There is a "massive mosquito problem in the Westridge community of Severna Park due to non-draining water in the very center stretch of the stormwater management project along Leelyn Drive," wrote Westridge resident Ann Salus in an email to Patch.

The purpose of the project is to help reduce stormwater runoff from polluting the north branch of Cypress Creek.

"I understand the concept of what the project was supposed to do. However, water always stagnates in the area where the drainage pipes feed into this culvert," she said.

About ten neighbors have hired the Mosquito Terminator to spray, according to Salus, so that they can enjoy their yards.

"Obviously, this is quite expensive and is not addressing the root of the problem," she said.

Salus describes her backyard as the wooded buffer between Kennedy and Leelyn drives.

"Spraying my yard would be futile. Basically, it would be throwing money away and I'm not keen on using pesticides," she said. "I called the county about it last year and everyone that I spoke to claims the water is supposed to gradually sink back into the ground ... great concept except it never does drain in the center area."

Salus said there are other problems as well.

"Plus, the culvert has become a dumping ground for litterbugs and is quite unsightly. ...O.K. so this (project) is preventing sediment from getting into Cypress creek, but the result is making outdoor conditions intolerable for nearby residents."

I contacted the county's Department of Public Works (DPW) for a response to this problem. Kay Haney, outreach coordinator for the DPW wrote back this response:

The stormwater management area on Leelyn Drive has been designed to slow down and reduce stormwater runoff that may enter the north branch of Cypress Creek. The series of small pools allow the stormwater to infiltrate into the ground and recharge the ground water system.

Native trees and local plants further help with the absorption of excessive nutrients and the filtering of sediment.

At this time, the area is being monitored and is functioning as it was intended to function by slowing stormwater runoff and allowing water to slowly infiltrate into the ground. There are additional plantings occurring this week to replenish some plants from the fall. Also, an on-site visual inspection has found no mosquito-related health issues.

Do you think the stagnant water is contributing to the mosquito problem in parts of the Westridge community? Tell us in the comments.

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