Category: Recent

2021 Stage I Fire Restrictions

It’s that time of year again where we all start thinking about wildfires!  On Friday, May 14th, the Prescott Fire Department (and much of Northern Arizona) implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions.  The main restrictions as they relate to our local creeks and lakes are: NO smoking outside of vehicles, outside of residential yards, or outside

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Siberian Elm

Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)

Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) is a locally, widespread tree common to the southwestern US. It is a mid-size tree that can reach 70 feet tall.  At Watson Woods Riparian Preserve this tree out-competes native cottonwoods, willows, ash, boxelder, and walnuts to the extent that Prescott Creeks has listed it as a Priority 1 species on

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Earth Week – Family Birding in Prescott & Flagstaff

What Join the fun in this inaugural Family Birding Earth Week! Witness and learn about the beauty of your local birds, spend quality time with loved ones, and be entered in a raffle for a chance to win awesome prizes! It’s easy, fun, free, accessible; all you need to do is go outside and pay

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City of Prescott Spring Bulk Item Collection

The City of Prescott will be having a Spring Bulk Item Cleanup Event during the month of April 2021 to assist residential utility customers with disposal of bulky items that do not fit into a regular trash or recycle cart.  Bulky items include, but are not limited to, large household items such as mattresses, furniture,

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2021 Cleanup Pre-Registration Required

In an effort to continue the springtime ritual of celebrating local waterways and natural places, the Granite Creek Cleanup received a number of modifications to address life during the pandemic. Primary among those modifications is the requirement for ALL participants to PRE-REGISTER for the 2021 Cleanup. Once pre-registered, Prescott Creeks will send registrants a  confirmation

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Image: Council Members Goode & Rusing walk Granite Creek contemplating improvements

Downtown Greenway Corridor

In a press release earlier this week, City of Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli referred to the Granite Creek Corridor as “One of the jewels of Prescott…” The area holds a long history and early planning for it in the 1980s was the impetus for incorporation of Prescott Creeks Preservation Association in 1990. The forming group

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Sponsor Spotlight

Each month we try to recognize local businesses and individuals who have made a difference with event sponsorship. Below you’ll find a listing of key sponsors not yet recognized who converted their sponsorship to unrestricted donation when the Granite Creek Cleanup was canceled in 2020.  Please let them know you support Prescott Creeks! Mandalay Homes

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Wildlife Imagery

You may have noticed all the fantastic wildlife imagery featured on the Prescott Creeks social media in recent months. Much of it has come to us courtesy of Everett Sanborn – a community volunteer who has proven quite handy with his camera. Among other activities, Everett has been photographing the bald eagles nesting at Lynx

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2021 Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Enjoy an evening of entertainment and connect with others as we screen films that feature the people, places, wildlife, and initiatives making a splash in modern conservation today. Watch and learn about the threats and challenges, as well as the triumphs and joys, of habitat restoration, river conservation, environmental protection, and more. When: January 30,

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Greater Prescott Podcast

Matt Rotty, of the Greater Prescott Podcast, invited Prescott Creeks Executive Director, Michael Byrd, to an interview in Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Committed to sharing the stories of Greater Prescott, Matt explored Michael’s journey from his Ohio childhood to his Prescott College thesis creating Prescott Creeks first management plan and his 25 years managing the

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IMPORTANT BIRD SURVEYS

Important Bird Surveys in Watson Woods Riparian Preserve By:    Karen O’Neil(Prescott Creeks Board Chair 2010-2014) In 2005, the Watson-Willow Lakes Ecosystem Important Bird Area (IBA) was designated as the first Important Bird Area in Yavapai County by a group of Arizona scientists for National Audubon Society.  As a part of the ecosystem, Watson Woods Riparian Preserve was

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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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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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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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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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