C-34 Mosquito Impoundment Project

Mosquito control in the Cocoa Beach area was initially provided by application of various pesticides, including DDT.

In this beginning phase small ditches were dug through the islands to allow water movement and fish access to inner areas of the succulent marsh.

[6] A pump house allowed flooding of the impoundment during the summer rainy season when mosquito breeding is most intense.

This area was to be flooded sufficiently to inundate black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) pneumatophores, in hopes that stress could be detected by false infrared aerial photography.

This is thought to have been due to the propensity for black mangroves to drop their leaves all at once rather than slowly enough for color changes to be picked up in the photographs.

Construction plan for C-34 Impoundment. [ 5 ]
Perimeter dike of C-34 impoundment.
Remains of C-34 impoundment pump house.