Goleta Slough flooding poses problems  Mosquitoes, birds and
endangered trout raise issues
POSTED: 03:57 PM PDT May 16, 2013   
UPDATED: 09:08 PM PDT May 16, 2013  GOLETA, Calif. -  The Goleta
Slough is an area where fresh water and ocean water meet, but a
sand berm is blocking the natural flow.  The water is flooding
the area between the Santa Barbara Airport and Goleta Beach.  A
pipeline was put in to siphon the water off, but it isn't
working fast enough.  Mosquito management experts say they
caught 25,000 mosquitoes in traps during one night, usually they
only catch 200.  And the mosquitoes are the kind that can carry
the West Nile virus.  The area is also attracting large birds
though could cause airplane bird strikes.  Airport planners
wanted to bulldoze the sand and silt that has built up since
March,  but that could threaten endangered steelhead trout.
Airport planners instend to ask the California Coastal
Commission and the Army Corps of Engineers for permission.  The
flooding has also stalled work