Following a diverse history that ran the gamut from decades of
operational mosquito control to elimination of the mosquito program
in 1992 to reinstatement in another state agency in 1996, the
Wetlands Habitat and Mosquito Management (WHAMM) Program of the
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
is promoting a concept called Integrated Marsh Management (IMM).
The term is offered as a means to alleviate the semantics issue
that often arises with regulatory and other agencies when performing
mosquito control, restoration or other wetland-related management
projects. IMM involves a holistic approach to mosquito control
and wetlands management utilizing a variety of applied management
techniques to achieve multiple site-specific goals. IMM takes
into consideration the many aspects of wetland management including
mosquito control, vegetation management, wildlife habitat enhancement,
hydrologic modification and wetland restoration and could also
include storm water management and other functions. Some of the
projects can be relatively simple in nature and goals can be achieved
through minimal effort and cost while other projects can be very
complex. Much of the success of IMM depends on diligent education
and the formation of partnerships. In the upcoming year, the WHAMM
Program intends to develop a public education brochure as well
as more technical guidelines or a field manual to assist wetland
resource managers and regulatory agencies in restoring and enhancing
degraded wetlands.