Long before European explorers came to this valley, it was the home of a miracle. With so little rain and such a hot climate, Southern Nevada had been a desert for thousands of years. Yet, even in this harshest of environments, there existed an anomaly that stood in stark contrast to the normally parched valley.

In this case, natural conditions created the miracle of water, an artesian spring in the middle of one of the driest deserts in the world. The expanse of green surrounding the springs was striking, causing the early Spaniards who visited the area to call it The Meadows, a name that was so appropriate, it stuck. In their native tongue, of course, it is pronounced Las Vegas.

Ancient indigenous people gathered around the meadows for generations, probably in the cooler months and over time a significant archeological record was deposited there. Later, when the railroad came though, steam-driven locomotives slaked their thirst near what is now downtown Las Vegas, located downstream of the springs that flowed year round.

In the middle of this great valley that now contains the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas, the birthplace of our metropolis was all but forgotten and almost lost -- but not quite. Just east of the appropriately named Meadows mall is the tract of desert where the springs once flourished. Until recently, it contained little except some old water wells, storage tanks and a small wash trickling with excess urban runoff. The 180-acre parcel, owned by the Las Vegas Valley Water District for decades, is now being transformed into a new miracle -- the Springs Preserve, scheduled to open in June.

The name is a bit incongruous, since the actual springs stopped flowing long ago as the city grew and the water table dropped. But the purpose of the Springs Preserve project is right on target. The multifaceted facility is expected to become the area's premier showcase for sustainable living, offering real-world examples of water conservation, green building, renewable energy and desert living. The blending of ancient wisdom with modern technology in an educational setting is sure to gain national recognition.

There is much to say about the Springs Preserve. The Visitor Center will include the Big Springs Theater and galleries that feature interactive, stationary and live animal exhibits. The Desert Living Center will contain the Sustainability Gallery, Dialogue Center and Design Lab. There's even an area designated for the new home of the Nevada State Museum, which will include interpretive and interactive exhibits about Nevada's history.

Outdoors, it gets even better, with approximately two and a half miles of trails with interpretive ramadas, historic structures and archaeological sites. The Gardens will be an 8-acre botanical demonstration of native and drought-tolerant plants.

Then there is the Cienega, a desert wetland that is already serving as home to hundreds of native plants, birds and other animals. Tying it all together is the Commons, a central hub featuring the trailhead, an outdoor amphitheater and a children's play area in a simulated desert canyon. The open-air amphitheater will seat 2,000 people for concerts under the stars and other special events.

The depth of this facility is also reflected in its buildings, seven of which are expected to qualify for platinum certification under the United States' Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. Platinum is the highest level possible. It is awarded only to the best environmentally friendly buildings.

For example, several buildings use passive solar designs that dramatically reduce the energy needed to heat and cool them. Passive cooling towers that use little or no energy will help tame summer temperatures. Walls made with straw bales and rammed-earth are common. These time-tested strategies illustrate how we can effectively reduce our impact on the environment, while providing beautiful, functional places to live, work and play.

At the high-tech end of the spectrum, the facility will be powered by the sun via large arrays of photovoltaic panels. These panels form the shade structures in the parking lot, so not only will they provide the electricity for the Springs Preserve, they also will help keep visitors' cars cooler.

The Springs Preserve represents a path to a sustainable future. Let us all take advantage of this amazing facility and learn how we can live in better harmony with our beautiful Mojave Desert environment.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, specializing in renewable energy, green building, alternative transportation and lifestyle choices for both residential and commercial clients. The company is committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. Steve can be reached via e-mail at href=steve@greendream.biz.>steve@greendream.bi More information relating to this column is posted at >www.greendream.bi