Author: Michael Byrd

Water Quality & Human Dignity

Adapted from The Daily Courier Located not far from the banks of Miller Creek in the middle of Prescott, a new grant-funded restroom has provided not just an environmental benefit, but addresses human-dignity as well. That point was emphasized recently during a meeting between representatives of the parties involved in the 2019 installation of the

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Sponsor Spotlight

As wise caretakers of the land, Stewardship Sponsor The Highlands Center for Natural History and Supporting Sponsors Alta Vista Garden Club, Bike Prescott, The Hike Shack, and Jay’s Bird Barn are all committed giving back to the community. Showing their alliance with our mission, they converted their support to a donation after the Granite Creek

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Release of American Kestrels

by: Dave Frechette, Prescott Audubon Society     For the last few years, Prescott Audubon Society (PAS) has worked with Prescott Creeks to install and monitor nest boxes in Watson Woods Riparian Preserve for use by American Kestrels as part of an effort by the American Kestrel Partnership (AKP) and the Arizona Game and Fish

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84 Acres on Verde River Protected

from The Daily Courier 84 acres on Verde River added to Prescott National Forest The Trust for Public Land and the U.S. Forest Service announced the permanent protection of 84 acres on the upper Verde River by adding the land to the Prescott National Forest, according to a release Monday morning. The property, known as

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Sponsor Spotlight

Interior Logic joined Prescott Creeks as a first time Stewardship Sponsor of the 2020 Granite Creek Cleanup and converted their support to a donation when the event was cancelled due to COVID-19! Thank you. When asked why Interior Logic supports Prescott Creeks, they said: “As part of the Nation’s leading interior finish company, the Prescott ILG

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Sponsor Spotlight

Thanks go to our Stewardship Sponsor, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3600, for their donation! This year, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, a first-time Cleanup sponsor, stepped up to provide a team for the Granite Creek Cleanup. Unfortunately, this was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past 45 years, our local Aerie #3600 and

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2020 Monsoon Summary

Narrative & Images by: Aaron BurrowsSeptember 1st, 2020 This year’s Monsoon season has continued to be a disappointment across Yavapai County and much of the State of Arizona. Even as dry as what July 2020 was, August of this year has turned out to be even drier for many of the fifty-five monitored weather sites

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50 Yrs at Watson Woods Preserve

We’re excited to share the news that Prescott Creeks has extended its lease for Watson Woods Riparian Preserve with the City of Prescott to the year 2045! The original lease had a 25-year term that matured on July 27th. The lease had a provision to extend for an additional 25-year term, thus continuing the collaborative

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Volunteer Spotlight

We would like to recognize our lovely, dedicated, and skilled volunteer office staff: Mary Jo Dhein, Annie Resnick, Cindy Vaughn, and Chris Brooks. Collectively they have served about 1,200 hours over the past four and a half years (14 years combined with a range of 2.5-4.5 years each). They’ve helped in a variety of capacities

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Fire Restrictions

Effective June 3rd, 2020 at 8 am until rescinded, the Central AZ Fire and Medical Authority and Prescott Fire Department Jurisdictions have implemented Stage II Fire Restrictions This is of particular interest and concern to Prescott Creeks as Watson Woods Riparian Preserve has experienced human-caused wildfires at least three times (1997, 2005, and 2007) resulting in

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Social Media

Looking for more ways to stay in touch with Prescott Creeks? We’ve got you covered! You can find Prescott Creeks on: Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram (our newest addition) Join us in exploring our local creeks through photos. Your comments are welcome.

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Granite Creek Corridor

Many may not realize that Prescott Creeks was originally founded on a vision for Granite Creek in the downtown area of Prescott which has evolved into part of Prescott’s Greenways Trail System, a 1.5-mile network of trails that provides an alternative travel route and immersive nature-experience in the heart of Prescott. Over time, the Granite

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New Staff

We are pleased to announce that Deb Pastor came on board as Development and Communications Manager for Prescott Creeks. You may remember Deb from the Granite Creek Cleanup in 2019. She did such a great job for Prescott Creeks that we’ve brought her on in a full-time capacity to help generate additional support for all

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Periwinkle (Vinca major)

Periwinkle (Vinca major) was first observed in Watson Woods Riparian Preserve in 2016. Since that time, Prescott Creeks has engaged volunteers in multiple methods to control and locally eradicate the periwinkle from the Preserve. A recent effort is being viewed as a preliminary success. While the plant may be viewed a desirable landscape plant around

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2019 Monsoon

“Record Dry Monsoon Continues…” proclaims a Facebook post by the National Weather Service in Flagstaff, Arizona on September 2nd. Prescott is shown as the having the 10th driest monsoon, while Heber, Payson, Flagstaff, and Winslow show even drier conditions for the period from June 15th through September 2nd. Prescott Creeks volunteer Aaron Burrows compiled and

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Tilted Benefits Kids & Environment

The 2019 Tilted Earth Silent Auction netted another $20,000 to support kids and the environment in June this year. Prescott Creeks, Friends of the Verde River, and Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters joined forces to host the silent auction at Tilted Earth – a wine and music festival held on June 21st and 22nd at

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Earth Month

Sierra Club – Yavapai Group’s March Newsletter proclaims “March/April Special Events: Earth Month” The Sierra Club and partners in the Yavapai Climate Change Coalition are expanding Earth Day to Earth Month. They are offering a dozen informational presentations and films beginning in mid-March through the end of April. All this is intended to convince citizens

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Creek Health

Public Bathroom to Improve Creeks & Community   Downtown Prescott features multiple flowing creeks. However, the surface water quality of those creeks has been listed as “impaired” (polluted) for well over a decade. Miller Creek was targeted by local stakeholders for a water quality improvement project. Prescott Creeks brought together the Coalition for Compassion and

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E-News 10th Anniversary!

The first issue of Prescott Creeks e-newsletter came out in November of 2008. Renee Hoover, an Americorps VISTA, pulled that issue together to let people know what was happening with the Watson Woods Preserve Restoration Project, and it stuck. Since then, we’ve sent monthly (almost) updates to your email inbox letting you know what’s happening

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Wild & Scenic Rivers

The National Wild & Scenic River System turns 50 Years Old On this second day of October, 2018, Prescott Creeks takes a moment to recognize the 50 years of the National Wild & Scenic River System that the US Congress set in motion in 1968. While Granite Creek is far from wild for most of

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Gone to the Dogs

Above: Golden retriever Kenna and her handler Laura Symonds of Environmental Canine Services, LLC. take a break from water quality monitoring on Miller Creek. ADEQ, the University of Arizona, Prescott Creeks, and the Butte Creek Restoration Council teamed up to investigate potential pollutant sources with the help of Kenna’s sensitive nose.        

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Bathrooms for Water Quality

In 2016 the Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ) started the Stagger Straight Community Emergency Shelter on Miller Creek near the Dexter neighborhood. When CCJ moved in, they recognized the significance of having the creek in their back yard and asked Prescott Creeks to come talk with their clients about riparian systems and water quality

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Stage 2 Fire Restrictions

Dry and windy weather this spring has led to high fire danger throughout central Arizona. Due to these severe weather conditions, the City of Prescott, Prescott National Forest, Yavapai County, and the Central Arizona Fire & Medical Authority are currently under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, and will be under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions beginning Friday,

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New Riparian Habitat in the Preserve

During this past winter, Prescott Creeks took the opportunity provided by the dormancy of Cottonwood trees and Willow shrubs to harvest pole cuttings for revegetation in the Preserve. Cottonwoods and Willows are members of the Willow Family, (Salicaceae), of which all members have an amazing ability to reproduce asexually. In the wild they grow along

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