Avimor Master Planned Community
Boise, Idaho Area
Community Located Above the Inversions
Avimor is the project highlighted above under the big- picture planning and sustainable project expert and our community motto was “Fresh Air Fresh Ideas”.
This project was located in the foothills of the Boise River Valley in an arid climate that required “potable water” to sustain development.
Idaho is one of the only states without primacy under the EPA Clean Water Act which made all environmental permitting a big challenge.
On this Avimor project from a budget of $65 million for the infrastructure and all onsite and offsite utility services, I reduce this cost to less than $45 million and cut almost two-years out of the project timeline.
EPA & IDEQ
Sandy Hill Aquifer, with a storage capacity of over 7 billion gallons, is located in an area that receives less than 8 inches of annual rainfall. Created a portable water source to service the Avimor community and to serve the north Boise Area which uses winter time, non-irrigation season water from the Boise River to recharge the aquifer (Aquifer Storage and Recovery – ASR).
To meet water quality requirements of both EPA and IDEQ reuse water from on-site wastewater treatment plant used an ASR approach. This approach allowed for the treated reclaimed reuse water to be infiltrated into ASR system and recovered as non-potable irrigation water used for stream/drainage restoration and for public green space and residential lots.
On-Site Savings
Saved over $1 million on initial phase and over $50 million at build-out by spearheading the use of
Soil Mat Savings
Cut build out cost by over $30 million by incorporating soil mat to bridge poor soils over high groundwater in the entire valley area which also eliminating risk associated with liquefaction.
Waste Water Treatment
Developed waste water treatment and water reuse systems that were not only sustainable, but reduced initial cost by over 50% which equates to over $30 million at built-out.
Sustainable Systems
Created sustainble water use approaches at Avimor community which is a model that EPA continues to take other countries to visit. Irrigation using this non-portable reuse water is used to raise the water table in the stream highly erosion soils and associated drainage draws which were stabilized using vegetation. This promotes and sustains wildlife in the water and surrounding greenbelt areas.
Creative Material Use
Creative use of MSE walls for thirty foot high embankments used for street crossings over stream.
Project Managment
Pulled together the team of consultants, geologists, and contractors to make it all happen.
