Bald Eagles at Watson Lake

In December and early in the new year, Bald Eagles have been observed at Watson Lake. Eric Moore, of The Lookout, wrote in his January 4th Daily Courier column: “Last month, one of our customers captured some still shots of an eagle carrying a stick as it circled above a large cottonwood tree where its

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2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Success! Thank you to everyone who participated!! In the spirit of service to the community, almost 30 people work with Friends of the Verde River and Prescott Creeks in Watson Woods Riparian Preserve to remove non-native, invasive tamarisk shrubs from the riparian habitat. This makes way for more native species. By the numbers… Acres Treated:

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2024 AZ Master Naturalist

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

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Invest to Protect Nature

Dear Friend, Thank you for supporting Prescott Creeks! You are doing your part by protecting threatened riparian areas, restoring important wildlife habitats, controlling pollution, and improving water quality in the Granite Creek Watershed. Your contributions are essential to major construction, water, and research projects which require grants and contracts. Often, half a project’s value must

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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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Creek Master Plan Improvements

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

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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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Master Naturalists

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

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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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Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program

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

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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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2022 Stage I Fire Restrictions

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

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April 4th – Cleanup Pre-Registration Happy Hour

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

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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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2021 Bird Conservation

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

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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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2021 Stage II Fire Restrictions

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

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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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