Source reduction is the elimination of mosquito producing habitat by draining or filling of water holding situations. In South Walton, over 44 major drainage ditches were dug by Mosquito Control to drain the land. These ditches are continually maintained by SWCMCD to ensure that they function properly. Maintenance to these ditches includes:

• mowing the banks, slopes and access roads
• cleaning vegetation from the bottom of the ditches to insure that predatory fish can access the mosquito larvae that may grow in the ditch