WINNIPEG – May 29, 2008 – Today, the Insect Control Branch announced the commencement of its cankerworm control program for trees in City parks and on City boulevards in specific areas of the City, where cankerworms are starting to cause significant defoliation. Current surveillance information indicates that the larvae are now beginning to feed on the newly emerged leaves, causing many small holes known as “shot gun holes”.

The Insect Control Branch will begin its cankerworm control program this Sunday evening, June 1, 2008 at 10:00 p.m. The program will move throughout the City and will focus on areas where trees are at risk of significant leaf damage. Spraying will occur five nights per week, Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m., weather permitting.

This Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 10:00 p.m. tree spraying will be carried out in Insect Management Areas 7, 8 and 9. This includes the following neighbourhoods:

Please refer to the back of the 2008 MTS white pages or visit our website at Winnipeg.ca/bugline for a map of the Insect Management Areas.

It is anticipated that the program will last for approximately one month. A Public Service Announcement will be issued daily providing information on what treed areas of the city will be sprayed that night. This announcement will also be posted on the Insect Control website at Winnipeg.ca/bugline.

Throughout the program, surveillance crews will continue to identify areas of the city where trees require treatment. Recent monitoring of the adult cankerworm population indicates that some parts of the city are expected to experience a significant emergence of cankerworms because of the large stands of American Elm, Manitoba Maple, Green Ash, and ornamental trees, the preferred host of the cankerworms.

Treatment will be conducted utilizing BTk, a biological product, which is sprayed from high pressure tree sprayers directly onto the foliage of the trees. Once BTk is ingested by the cankerworms, they stop feeding and die approximately two to three days later.

Homeowners are responsible for control on their property. Citizens can spray their own trees with BTk, which is available at most home and garden centres or can contract a tree spraying service by referring to the yellow pages under tree service or exterminators.

Citizens may register for a 30m buffer zone if they do not wish spraying to be carried out on or adjacent to their property. Citizens may register by contacting the Insect Control Branch in writing at 3 Grey Street, Winnipeg, MB, R2L 1V2, or by fax at 311 or by registering on line at Winnipeg.ca/bugline.

Citizens may register for email notification regarding planned tree spraying by visiting our website at Winnipeg.ca/bugline. They can also register for telephone notification by calling the Insect Control Branch’s Bugline at 311 and leaving their name, address and phone number. Once registered, residents will receive automated phone or email notification identifying the area(s) of the City in which the Insect Control Crews are intending to work, weather permitting.

With respect to nuisance mosquito control, the City continues its larviciding program focusing on areas where standing water has accumulated as a result of the recent rainfall. A small emergence of adult spring nuisance species is continuing.

Interested individuals may acquire more information by contacting the City’s Bugline at 311, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by visiting the City’s Insect Control website at Winnipeg.ca/bugline.

WINNIPEG – May 29, 2008 – Canada Post is now delivering the City of Winnipeg’s notice, Protect Your Home from Basement Flooding.

Charles Boulet, Senior Project Engineer, says, “No matter where you live in Winnipeg, your home can be at risk of basement flooding.  Heavy rainstorms that fall over short periods of time can overwhelm any city sewer system. Overloaded sewers can back up through house sewer lines and flow into basements that aren’t protected.”

To protect your home from basement flooding, take the following steps:

• Install a backwater valve and sump pit drainage system
• Check and maintain your backwater valve and sump pit drainage system regularly
• Improve drainage around your house

For more information, homeowners can:

• Visit our web site at winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/sewage/basementflooding.stm
• Obtain a free brochure by contacting our Customer Service Centre by phone at 311 or by email at water@winnipeg.ca

For information on installing backwater valves and sump pits, residents can call the Planning, Property and Development Department at 311, or visit winnipeg.ca/ppd/brochures.stm