Abstract: Green infrastructure (GI) is an ecologically sound approach for management of urban flood water that provides multiple community benefits. A network of green and blue infrastructure projects is currently under development in the City of New Orleans. These projects will reduce subsidence and lessen the burden on city drainage systems while beautifying neighborhoods and creating social-recreational green spaces. However, improper design or lack of maintenance can cause unintended health threats by creating conducive conditions for mosquito vectors. Water retention can increase breeding site availability, while landscape changes can affect mosquito ecology through alterations in microclimate and habitat suitability. The City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) monitors mosquitoes at four large-scale and nine lot-scale GI project sites in different stages of construction. These data will be used to track changes in vector populations over multiple stages of site development. Population changes with negative implications for public health can then be evaluated for development of site-specific mitigation strategies. Open dialogue between vector ecologists, project managers, and stakeholders is critical to ensure proper functioning of GI sites for the protection of public health.
