Author: Michael Byrd

Miller Creek Revegetation

On the 25th of October, the Prescott City Council authorized funding that will, among other things, allow for the revegetation of the Miller Creek after being disturbed by construction to upgrade aging sewer lines in the area. Prescott Creeks will lead this effort with the City of Prescott, Fann Contracting, and community members. The project will

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Change Over Time – Photographic Monitoring Results

Photographs are indispensable tools to qualitatively document and assess change in any environment. Simply put, they show change over time in a very relatable form. While photographic monitoring alone is not a complete monitoring program to assess project performance and change, they are an important “tool” we have in our “toolbox” for keeping track of

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2022 Monsoon Season Wrap Up

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) office in Flagstaff the Monsoon Season in Northern Arizona officially runs from June 15th to September 30th each year. However, we don’t typically begin receiving monsoon moisture until the beginning of July. NOAA also indicates that that much of the Northern Arizona area receives 40-50% of

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Native Trees in the Preserve

During the spring of 2021, a Prescott College class purchased a few native trees and shrubs to plant at Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. The class got four of ten plants installed in May and Prescott Creeks hand-watered them until the monsoon began. During the summer, Prescott Creeks noted a number of small Arizona walnut trees

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2022 Monsoon!

The 2022 Monsoon in Prescott seems to be on track to make the top ten list for wettest monsoons according to data from the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and data collected by Prescott Creeks. At the Prescott Creeks office, just west of Watson Woods Riparian Preserve and the Sundog Ranch

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Cleanup Trash Audit

A first-ever audit of the trash collected as part of the Granite Creek Cleanup was conducted on April 25th, 2022. Prescott Creeks wanted to gather this information to gain insight into what is in the 1.83 tons of trash and where the trash originated. The hope was that there might be something of a “smoking

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Watson Woods Riparian Preserve Showcase Video

In cooperation with the City of Prescott and the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, Prescott Creeks is pleased to present a video showcasing Watson Woods Riparian Preserve.  Join Michael Byrd, Prescott Creeks Executive Director, and others in this approximately 7 minute video to learn about Watson Woods Riparian Preserve – a rare and threatened cottonwood/willow forest

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The Corps Network – Watershed Restoration

Submitted to The Corps Network by Hannah Traverse on 07/07/2021  “Arizona is one of the driest states in the country. Water is precious here. This makes the watershed improvement projects completed by GEM Environmental Corps all the more important. Based in Prescott, AZ, the GEM Corps team was introduced to watershed restoration work in the spring

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Creeks Connect Community

Prescott Creeks is the featured non-profit in the June/July issue of Prescott Woman Magazine. In addition to the article, we had the distinct pleasure to participate in the Prescott Woman Podcast with Charles Matheus and Kelly Roberge. Read the non-profit feature and listen to Karen O’Neil, Bruce McKeeman, and Michael Byrd chat with Charles and Kelly about

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Emerging Conservation Professionals

Watson Woods Riparian Preserve is many things. It is an important rest-stop and permanent home to Arizona’s wildlife. It is green space in the community. It is natural parkland with walking trails. It is a carbon sink absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It is a sponge and a filter holding and cleaning water flowing

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New Mexico Thistle - Not a Weed - 📷 M Byrd

Is It a Weed?

As a part of the Prescott Creeks mission to achieve healthy watersheds and clean waters, we invest substantial effort into managing non-native, invasive plant species. Some people call them weeds. But what is a “weed?” Are those yellow flowers that pop up in your garden a weed? Are the pink, prickly things along the trail a

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Western Tanager - 📷 EF Sanborn

Watson Woods Riparian Preserve is for the Birds!

Did you know that Watson Woods Riparian Preserve is a key component of the larger Watson and Willow Lake Important Bird Area (IBA)? Riparian (streamside) areas like those at Watson Woods Riparian Preserve are unique environments. They occupy about ½ of 1% of Arizona’s total land area, yet approximately 75% of the state wildlife species

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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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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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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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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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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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