PUBLIC NOTICE: Maryland Agencies to Treat Potomac River for Black Fly Control on September 2

ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 1, 2026) ~ On September 2, 2026, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Department of Natural Resources, will be conducting a targeted treatment of the Potomac River near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The purpose of this treatment is to control the population of black flies in the area.

The treatment is scheduled to take place between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. ET and will involve a gray Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopter with blue and red stripes. The helicopter, with tail number N660HA, will be applying a Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti)-based larvicide throughout the targeted area. Bti is a naturally occurring bacterial insecticide that specifically targets midges, black flies, mosquito larvae, and a few other species of aquatic insects.

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While the treatment may cause temporary discoloration of the water, it is harmless and will dissipate naturally. It has been assured that this treatment will not have any adverse effects on drinking water supplies or any other aquatic organisms outside of the targeted insect groups.

The Black Fly Program was established in 2016 after receiving numerous complaints from residents in Washington County. For more information about this program and Bti, interested individuals can visit the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Black Fly Program website.

This targeted treatment serves as an important step towards controlling black fly populations in the area and ensuring the well-being of local residents.

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