By Leslie Loomis, Prescott Creeks Volunteer & IBA Survey Coordinator A very big thank you to all the volunteers who helped to gather data and make these days fun! The data we gathered helps Prescott Creeks in making management decisions for the Preserve. It also helps in the bigger picture because this data goes to eBird,
The Prescott Fire Department (PFD) and the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA) enacted Stage I fire restrictions effective 5/21/2026. There are approximately 50 miles of named creeks within the Prescott area that could be negatively affected by wildfire. Please do your part to be safe by using care when visiting creeks, lakes, and
By Leslie Loomis, Prescott Creeks Volunteer & IBA Survey Coordinator The morning of the first fall migration survey in Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, Sunday, August 24, dawned sunny and clear, after a week of light monsoon weather. Eleven volunteers from Prescott Audubon and Prescott Creeks met at the Peavine Trail for a check-in before splitting up
By Phil Taska, Prescott Creeks Volunteer and AZ Master Naturalist, and Michael Byrd, Prescott Creeks Executive Director You may know that the master abiotic (non-living) factors governing any ecosystem are temperature and moisture. This is especially true for the riparian ecosystem found in Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. “Climate” can be described using exactly those parameters:
Update – 6 August 2025 On Tuesday, August 5th, 2025 Prescott voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition 484 “Open Space Charter Amendment”. Passage of the proposition will amend Article VIII, Section 12 of the City of Prescott Charter by adding several city-owned properties, prohibiting the sale, lease, or transfer of such properties and requiring such properties be
The Prescott Fire Department (PFD) and the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA) enacted Stage I fire restrictions as of 8 a.m. Friday, May 30 – throughout the 42 square mile service area of the City of Prescott. See additional details at The Daily Courier. There are approximately 50 miles of named creeks within
Granite Creek Upper Verde River Watershed Plan-EA The Yavapai County Flood Control District (YCFCD) is the Sponsoring Local Organization receiving assistance from the USDA-NRCS to create a PL 83-566 Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment Document (Plan-EA) for the Granite Creek Upper Verde River Watershed in Yavapai County, Arizona. YCFCD is supported in this effort by
What is a “Master Naturalist” you say? In short, a Master Naturalist is a certified volunteer who is passionate about nature and is eager to share their knowledge with others. If you are interested in ecology and natural history of the Arizona Central Highlands, would like to learn more, and would like to invest your
To Pave or Not to Pave? West Granite Creek Park is under threat by a City plan to install a paved parking lot between the railroad trestle bridge and Miller Creek! West Granite Creek Park is actually the upstream portion of Granite Creek Park – one of Prescott’s oldest and most beloved parks. Few realize
Set to begin the week of October 31st, 2022, the project consists of improvements to the trail corridor that parallels Granite Creek between Aubrey Street and Granite Creek Park. Improvements will be made to the trail and to the creek channel riparian habitat. Read more about the project in our March 5, 2020 post
What is a “Master Naturalist” you say? In short, a Master Naturalist is a certified volunteer who is passionate about nature and is eager to share their knowledge with others. If you are interested in ecology and natural history of the Arizona Central Highlands, would like to learn more, and would like to invest your
Join Prescott Creeks at Prescott City Council Chambers201 S. Cortez St.Tuesday, 13 September 20223:00 PM Thanks to Yavapai County Supervisor (and previous Prescott Mayor) Harry Oberg’s nomination, the annual Granite Creek Cleanup event will be recognized as a Copper Level Member of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s (ADEQ) Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program. The Program
It’s that time of year again where we all start thinking about wildfires! On Thursday, May 5th, Yavapai County (and much of Northern Arizona) implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions. This is 10 days earlier than last year in 2021. The main restrictions as they relate to our local creeks and lakes are: NO smoking outside
Join Us for the After-Party at Founding Fathers Collective Founding Fathers Collective (218 N Granite St.)9 AM – 6 PM30% off any purchases while wearing this year’s Granite Creek Cleanupevent t-shirt
Granite Creek Cleanup is Saturday, April 23, 2022, and required Pre-Registration has been extended to April 6th. People looking to do their part must Pre-Register. Pre-Register Here Founding Fathers Collective is hosting a Granite Creek Cleanup Pre-Registration drive from 4 – 5:30 PM on Monday, April 4th, 2022. Join us at 218 N. Granite Street
Important Bird Area Did you know that Watson Woods Riparian Preserve is part of the Watson and Willow Lakes Important Bird Area (IBA)? An IBA is a site that is small enough to be entirely conserved and differ in its character, habitat, or ornithological importance from the surrounding habitat. In the United States, the Program
With no precipitation since May 14th when Phase I Fire Restrictions were imposed, restrictions are now being elevated to Phase II. Effective Friday, June 11, 2021 the Prescott Fire Department (and much of Northern Arizona) are implementing Stage II Fire Restrictions. Stage II fire restrictions are as follows: NO smoking outside of vehicles, outside of residential
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
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
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
Spring is here, migrating birds are back, butterflies are out and about, flowers are in bloom, a lot is going on. To most this is an exciting time to be outside and explore our natural gems. For Prescott Creeks staff and volunteers it is also time to roll up our sleeves and engage in management of invasive
One of central Arizona’s most important assets is its natural beauty – supported by healthy natural areas. Prescott Creeks is working to protect and enhance them. We invite you to make a difference for the long term by becoming a member of Prescott Creeks. Becoming a Prescott Creeks member demonstrates your commitment to make a
Creeks Connect Community! Prescott Creeks held its 25th Anniversary Celebration September 19, 2015. A beautiful fall day welcomed guests and visitors to our office site at Watson Woods Riparian Preserve to celebrate the waterways and natural areas in our community and the work of Prescott Creeks in restoring and preserving these community treasures. Our guests
The term ‘indicator species,’ or ‘bioindicator,’ seemed too impersonal and detached to describe the black hawk screeching kee-kee-KEE-KEE as it emerged from a wall of lush cottonwoods and took a low pass right over our heads. We must be close to a nest, we thought, and quickly backed away in the direction we had come. We watched