Watson Woods
Riparian Preserve
FOREVER PRESERVED
Watson Woods
Riparian Preserve
FOREVER PRESERVED
Act!
Please let the City of Prescott Council and Officials know you want to permanently protect Watson Woods Riparian Preserve by placing it into a conservation easement.Â
Why?
The once-1,000 acres of habitat at Watson Woods have been lost or severely degraded due to decades of livestock grazing, illegal dumping, firewood cutting and sand/gravel extraction.
The current management lease between Prescott Creeks and the City provides short-term protection but, without a conservation easement, the Preserve is not protected in perpetuity (forever) and Prescott Creeks may lose access to millions of dollars in government funding critical to rehabilitating, managing and protecting the Preserve; a habitat that supports healthy watersheds, outdoor education and recreation, volunteer opportunities and the return of native plants and animals.Â
How!
Learn about the Benefits
- Economic
- Recreation
- Conservation, environmental, and biological.
Participate in a FOREVER PRESERVED Tour
No FOREVER PRESERVED tours are currently scheduled.
Please contact us if you would like to explore scheduling a private tour for your class, group, or club.
FOREVER PRESERVED Tour
Watson Woods Riparian Preserve – South Loop Trail
Saturday | September 20, 2025 | 8 – 10 AM
Rosser St. Entrance: 1795 N. State Route 89, Prescott, AZ 86301
Join Prescott Creeks for this FREE/No Cost
opportunity to learn about the Preserve.
Watson Woods Riparian Preserve – North Loop Trail
- Wed | May 8 | 9 – 11 AM | WWRP North Loop TrailÂ
(No Parking Fee Wednesday)
Attend a FOREVER PRESERVED Presentation
Watch this space for additional presentation announcements
Please contact us if you would like a presentation for your group or club.
City Council Presentation
Michael Byrd, the Prescott Creeks Executive Director, Brian Ruiz, City of Prescott Water Resources Manager, and Bryan Sparks, City of Prescott Real Estate Administrator, will provide the Prescott City Council with an update on planning for long-term protection for Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Emphasis will be placed on work completed since their May 2024 presentation. The Deed of Conservation Easement, Lease agreement, Joint Management Plan, and Work Plan (showing on-the-ground improvements) will provide a foundation for the presentation.
Please plan to attend this important Council meeting and show your support to FOREVER PRESERVE Watson Woods Riparian Preserve.
Community Information Session
February 17, 2024 | 2 to 3 PM
The Founders Suite at the Prescott Public Library
(215 E Goodwin St, Prescott, AZ 86303)
Michael Byrd, the Prescott Creeks Executive Director, will guide participants through the three-decade long journey to protect and restore what has become the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. An overview of past accomplishments, progress achieved so far, and future plans will frame an exciting call to action where you can help protect this crucial habitat – FOREVER!Â
Let us know you’re coming:
Community Nature Study Session
March 20, 2024 | 12:30 to 2 PM
Highlands Center for Natural History
(1375 S Walker Rd, Prescott, AZ 86303)
The Highlands Center For Natural History and The Central Highlands Master Naturalist Chapter welcomes Michael Byrd, the Prescott Creeks Executive Director, to offer a presentation on Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Michael will guide participants through the three-decade-long journey to protect and restore what has become the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Past accomplishments and future plans will frame a call to action where millions of dollars are at stake.Â
Talking Rock Ranch Homeowners Association
Tuesday May 14, 2024 | 4 – 5 PM
Talking Rock Ranch
15075 N Talking Rock Ranch Rd
If you are not a resident of Talking Rock Ranch
Click here to make arrangements to attend
Talking Rock Ranch welcomes Michael Byrd, the Prescott Creeks Executive Director, to offer a presentation on Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Byrd will guide Talking Rock Ranch residents and visitors through the three-decade-long journey to protect and restore what is the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Past accomplishments and future plans will frame a call to action where millions of dollars are at stake.Â
OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute
Tuesday May 21, 2024 | 10 – 11 AM
OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
In Person: Yavapai College, Prescott Campus, or ZOOM
Building 4 Room 102
1100 E. Sheldon, Prescott, AZ 86301
Free and open to OLLI members AND the public. The Prescott City Council is being asked to approve a conservation easement for Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Michael Byrd, the Prescott Creeks Executive Director, will guide participants through the three-decade long journey to protect and restore the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. An overview of past accomplishments, progress achieved so far in the quest for in perpetuity protection, and future plans will frame an exciting call to action where you can help protect this crucial habitat – FOREVER!
Community Information Session/Public Mtg.
May 16, 2024 | 2 – 3 PM
Prescott Public Library – Founders Suite A
(213 E. Goodwin St., Prescott, AZ 86303)
Michael Byrd, the Prescott Creeks Executive Director, will guide participants through the three-decade long journey to protect and restore what has become the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. An overview of past accomplishments, progress achieved so far, and future plans will frame an exciting call to action where you can help protect this crucial habitat – FOREVER!Â
Attend the Conservation Easement Workshop with the City of Prescott Council
City Council has the ultimate YES/NO authority. Please attend this “Study Session” meeting to demonstrate public support for a conservation easement to the City Council and Officials. No formal action by Council is expected, but a strong showing of public support will demonstrate how important it is to FOREVER PRESERVE the area.
City of Prescott – City Hall
Council Chambers, 3rd Floor
201 N Montezuma St, Prescott, AZ 86301
Tuesday | May 28th | 1 PM
FOREVER PRESERVED - Updates
12 September 2025
The Prescott Creeks FOREVER PRESERVED initiative was created in 2024 to broaden public awareness and support for long-term protection of Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Prescott Creeks and partner organizations hosted multiple FOREVER PRESERVED presentations for the public, along with numerous Watson Woods Riparian Preserve Tours designed to highlight the importance of the unique habitat found at the Preserve and demonstrate the effectiveness of ongoing ecological restoration efforts for wildlife, recreation, and water quality.
In May last year, Prescott Creeks jointly presented with City of Prescott staff to the Prescott City Council and received positive comments – which were interpreted as a green light to continue with planning efforts.
Save the Dates:
Prescott City Council – Study Session|
January 27, 2026 | 1 PM
(Changed from October 14, 2025)
Council Chambers | Prescott City Hall
201 N Montezuma St, Prescott, AZ 86301
Prescott City Council – Voting Meeting
Tuesday, February 24, 2025 | 3 PM
Council Chambers | Prescott City Hall
201 N Montezuma St, Prescott, AZ 86301
Since then, Prescott Creeks, three City of Prescott Departments, and four partners have worked collaboratively to advance multiple plans and agreements that will ultimately lead to permanent protection of the conservation values at the Preserve. We are scheduled to present again to City Council on October 14th this year. At that presentation, Prescott Creeks and City staff will provide an update and present:
- Draft Conservation Easement Language
- Draft Lease Agreement
- Joint Management Plan (that clarifies roles and responsibilities between the City of Prescott and Prescott Creeks)
- Work Plan (showing planned ecological improvements within the Preserve)
Show your support to FOREVER PRESERVEÂ Watson Woods Riparian Preserve.
16 July 2025
The Prescott Creeks FOREVER PRESERVED initiative was created in 2024 to broaden public awareness and support for long-term protection of Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Prescott Creeks and partner organizations hosted multiple FOREVER PRESERVED presentations for the public, along with numerous Watson Woods Riparian Preserve Tours designed to highlight the importance of the unique habitat found at the Preserve and demonstrate the effectiveness of ongoing ecological restoration efforts for wildlife, recreation, and water quality.
In May last year, Prescott Creeks jointly presented with City of Prescott staff to the Prescott City Council and received generally positive comments – which were interpreted as a green light to continue with planning efforts.
Since then, Prescott Creeks, three City of Prescott Departments, and four partners have been working collaboratively to advance a variety of plans and agreements that will ultimately lead to permanent protection of the conservation values at the Preserve. We are scheduled to present again to City Council in September this year. At that presentation, Prescott Creeks and staff will provide an update and present:
- Draft Conservation Easement Language
- Draft Lease Agreement
- Joint Management Plan (that clarifies roles and responsibilities between the City of Prescott and Prescott Creeks)
- Work Plan (showing on-the-ground ecological improvements within the Preserve)
Save the Date
Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 | 1 PM
Council Chambers | Prescott City Hall
201 N Montezuma St, Prescott, AZ 86301
4 October 2024
During the winter and spring, Prescott Creeks launched the FOREVER Preserved initiative to broaden public awareness and support for long-term protection of Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Prescott Creeks and partner organizations hosted multiple FOREVER PRESERVED presentations for the public, along with numerous Watson Woods Riparian Preserve Tours. Individual meetings with the Prescott Mayor and City Council members preceded a public presentation to the Council on May 28th – at which many FOREVER PRESERVED supporters were in the audience with “I Support FOREVER PRESERVED” stickers on their lapels.
The presentation, jointly made by Prescott Creeks Executive Director, Michael Byrd, and the City of Prescott’s Water Resources and Environmental Services Manager, Brian Ruiz, featured broad overview of the Prescott Creeks In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Program and its many required elements;Â specifically that the Preserve must have protection through an established conservation easement.
The presentation took place at a Council Study Session meeting. While no decisions were made (as expected), Prescott Creeks and City staff did get valuable feedback from Council. Their comments were positive overall and signaled that we should continue to assemble the Conservation Easement package for a later presentation to Council, and then, ideally, their approval.
Main components of the Conservation Easement packet currently under development include:
- A deed of conservation easement
- Property survey, legal description, property assessments
- Title reports
- Maps showing property boundaries, natural features and more
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
- Baseline Documentation Report
We’re also working on other documents and plans that should set a solid foundation for future management of the Preserve. They include:
- New Lease agreement to update the original lease from 1995
- Joint Management Plan to identify roles and responsibilitiesÂ
📷 MByrd, Prescott Creeks
All images on this page are courtesy of EF Sanborn, unless otherwise noted.