The Village At the Galisteo Basin Preserve
Galisteo, NM
Project Description
The Galisteo Basin Preserve is an exciting new development in the state of New Mexico. The concept behind the development is unique and highly progressive. Guided by the Commonweal Conservancy, the Preserve is designed to protect and restore more than 13,000 acres of open space, as well as promote a new model of environmentally responsible mixed-use, mixed-income community development. At completion, the majority of the Galisteo Basin Preserve will be publicly accessible open space. Such a concept is important because the preserve is at great risk for unplanned development. The initiative will also help restore 12 miles of riparian habitat to protect wildlife and water quality. It will also provide high-quality inclusive housing for approximately 300 moderate-income households in Santa Fe County. (Galisteo Basin Preserve Literature)
The village plan incorporates new urbanist principles, clustering most of the homes on a small portion of a 17,000-acre parcel. The village design is based on progressive energy and water efficiency principles. One of the design goals is the efficient use of water resources, with infrastructure designed to use reclaimed water for site restoration, regeneration, irrigation, and reuse in the buildings.
NSI Contribution
NSI was retained by Commonweal Conservancy early in the planning process. NSI’s is providing engineering services for an onsite wastewater treatment and collection system for the planned phases of development. The wastewater infrastructure proposed for the Village, one of the development phases, will provide robust treatment and high quality reclaimed effluent suitable for reuse on the site. Effluent will meet NMED ‘Class 1B’ effluent standards. Wastewater treatment infrastructure will be developed on a centralized treatment site at the lower end of the property; wastewater infrastructure development will coincide with construction and building within the development.
