Since 2018, The RainCatcher Inc. has been working with the Las Campanas Owners Association landscape committee to enhance and improve the 23 entrances going into the Las Campanas subdivision outside of Santa Fe, NM.
The need for a complete redesign and overhaul of the existing entrances came from an extremely outdated landscape palette that was not water-wise, and an old irrigation system that only used domestic water.
The use of domestic water sources to inefficiently irrigate the landscaping was the driving force behind the LCOA wanting to update and improve water use.
Landscape Design for drought-tolerant, waterwise medians at Las Campanas
The new entrances were redesigned to capture every single drop of available stormwater during rains by modifying the grade levels at the curb heights. This allows the rainwater to enter the median to irrigate the plants, while also creating terraces to retain soil and water.
Then, using dryland permaculture techniques for passive water harvesting, soil building, efficient irrigation, and intentional dryland/native plant palettes, the new installations for the entrances that were implemented are not only extremely beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but they conserve water and create a new biodiversity that never existed before.
This creates wildlife habitat, pollinator habitat, and uses rainwater as a source of irrigation where it couldn’t have before.
Each new entrance has the capability to capture and infiltrate tens of thousands of gallons of rainwater annually. Irrigation needs from potable water have been reduced, and as each year passes and the landscape becomes more established, less and less irrigation is needed – creating not just sustainability, but a regenerative component to the entrances.
The next time you are in the neighborhood, take a nice drive through the area and see these beautiful medians for yourself!
Click through the slides above to learn more about how The RainCatcher used permaculture, passive rainwater harvesting and native plants to create sustainable, colorful and welcoming entrances to this lovely community.