Site Assessment

Pattern Recognition &

Integrated Design

by Brad Lancaster
www.HarvestingRainwater.com

www.DesertHarvesters.org
Degenerative investment
Generative investment
Rainwater cisterns selected and
placed on western property boundary
as:

- afternoon shade screen

- privacy screen
- property fence
- fire break
- salt-/chlorine-free water storage
- water conservation strategy
Regenerative investment
Planting local resources of rain, runoff, silt, organic
matter, and seed
For more see the Publications Page
at
www.QuiviraCoalition.org
and read all by Bill Zydeek, Van
Clothier, and Craig Sponholtz
This is not about the structure.

It’s about the process

begun with the structure placed
in relationship
with the water and sediment flow.
 See

One-Page Place
Assessments

page at

HarvestingRainwater.com
Sun path
Sun and Shade
Maintaining winter sun access at noon
Integrated Design Pattern Five: Maintaining Winter Sun Access
Winter

Summer
Credit: Ann Audrey and Sonoran Permaculture Guild
Water
Water moves
downhill
http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/rainwater-harvesting-inforesources/water-harvesting-handouts/#Using%20Open-
Source%20Tools%20to%20Create%20a%20Site%20Assessment%20Report%20in%20Context
Erosion Triangle Speed
/ \
Depth — Volume
 Wind

Windmills require minimum windspeed of 4 – 7 mph,

or 15 – 20 mph for higher capacity pumping

High production, wind-electrical systems require average wind

speed of 10 – 14 mph
 Snow drift harvesting

Snow drift harvesting can double the annual moisture

that falls on the surrounding area

More info on Wind & Snow Harvesting page

at www. HarvestingRainwater.com
Credit: Ann Audrey and Sonoran Permaculture Guild
 Credit: Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison

Zonation Map illustrating areas of more intensive use/maintenance

1 = most intensive use/maintenance. 5 = least use/maintenance
INTEGRATED DESIGN
Rainwater cisterns selected and
placed on western property boundary
as:

- afternoon shade screen

- privacy screen
- property fence
- fire break
- salt-/chlorine-free water storage
- water conservation strategy
Integrated Design
Pattern One:

Orienting Buildings
and Landscapes to
the Sun
Integrated Design
Pattern Three:

Solar Arcs
 Turn runoff into runon

Harvest and utilize on-site water

(rainwater, stormwater, greywater,
condensate, etc)
as close as possible to where it falls

within the oasis zone

- within 30’ (9 m) of catchment surface
Maximize living and organic groundcover
- the sponge
Resource into
Waste
30% of household
drinking water
goes down the flush toilet

Waste into
Resource
My composted brown
gold
- no drinking water used
www.HarvestingRainwater.com
Credit: Ann Audrey and Sonoran Permaculture Guild