By Elena Finnegan Community & Regional Planning Major, Mentor Heather Himmelberger and Dr. Joni M. Palmer. In an increasingly disconnected world, it is vital for us to create systems that integrate various aspects of watershed management, such as wastewater treatment, stormwater runoff, and habitat preservation. An example of a green infrastructure system like this is the Harvey Jones Channel Improvement Project in Corrales, New Mexico. The Harvey Jones Project was created by a coalition of non-profit organizations and government agencies in the region. The newly constructed channels route treated wastewater from the city of Rio Rancho through the bosque ecosystem and to the Rio Grande. The goals of the Harvey Jones Project are to prevent flooding, purify water, and restore roughly 10 acres of wildlife habitat. My communication project takes the information I have learned and puts it together into a zine to share my findings with the community. The zine explains the ecological functions of the Harvey Jones site and the habitat restoration it provides, as well as lessons that can be applied to future green infrastructure projects.
