Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)

This is often a favorite to hate in the central Arizona highlands. Knapweed is a pioneer species found in recently disturbed sites or openings. Once it has been established at a disturbed site, it continues to spread into the surrounding habitat. This species outcompetes natives through at least three methods: A tap root that sucks up water

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Malta Starthistle (Centaurea melitensis)

Malta starthistle (synonyms: Napa starthistle, tocalote) is an annual invasive weed with foliage and winged stems that are grayish to green in color. Its thistle-like appearance is similar to yellow starthistle (C. solstitialis), but Malta starthistle is distinguished by smaller yellow flowers and longer seedpods that are armed with relatively short spines (less than 1/2

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Sweet Resinbush (Euryops subcarnosus)

From the CA Extension offices: Sweet resinbush (Euryops subcarnosus) is an exotic species from South Africa that was introduced in Arizona during the 1930’s. It was brought here in hopes that it would provide forage for livestock and aid in slowing soil erosion. Potted plants were sent to Civilian Conservation Corps camps in 1935 where

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Scotch Thistle (Onopordum accanthium)

From the Wikipedia entry on this invasive weed: Onopordum acanthium (Cotton thistle, Scotch thistle), is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Europe and Western Asia, from the Iberian Peninsula east to Kazakhstan, and north to central Scandinavia, and widely naturalized elsewhere. It is a vigorous biennial plant with coarse, spiny

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Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

Another invasive species in the Granite Creek Watershed, and mostly in Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, is common teasel. Often used in flower arrangements, this attractive piece, has found its way into our creeks and is taking over sections of our riparian habitat. According to Wikipedia: The genus name is derived from the word for thirst

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Tamarix (Saltcedar, salt cedar, tamarisk)

Tamarix is perhaps one of our better know invasive species. It is found widely throughout the Southwest. The description below comes from Wikipedia, where you can read more in depth on the subject. They are evergreen or deciduous shrubs or trees growing to 1–18 m in height and forming dense thickets. The largest, Tamarix aphylla, is an evergreen tree that can grow to 18

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Russian Olive (Eleaganus angustifolia)

According to the National Park Service:Russian-olive is a small, usually thorny shrub or small tree that can grow to 30 feet in height. Its stems, buds, and leaves have a dense covering of silvery to rusty scales. Leaves are egg or lance-shaped, smooth margined, and alternate along the stem. At three years of age, plants

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What Weeds are Considered Invasive Species in This Area?

The priority species for the Upper Granite Creek Watershed are:    Dalmation Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)    Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa)    Russian Knapweed (Acroptilon repens)    Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)    Malta Starthistle (Centaurea melitensis)    Sweet Resinbush (Euryops subcarnosus)    Scotch Thistle (Onopordum accanthium)    Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)    Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima)  

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Invasive Weed Species – Why do they matter?

Prescott Creeks often talks about invasive weeds, but what are they and why are they a problem in our area? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the following: An exotic species is any species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species, that is not native to that

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Growing Pains (looking a little rough)

  Sometimes, as we develop native vegetation projects that will eventually help to clean our waters and provide beautiful habitat, there’s a sort of growing-out phase. It’s a little like growing out a hair cut (like those too-short bangs from junior high) and there’s a point where you can see it’s going to look good,

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Volunteer Opportunity! Granite Creek Park – Saturday 9/13

Come out and join Prescott Creeks on an invasive species removal spree on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at Granite Creek Park. Meet at 8:30 am at the Granite Creek Park parking area off 6th Street and we’ll teach you about invasive weeds, why they’re the bad, and what you can do about them. We’ll spend

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Improve the Watershed – Tomorrow 8/30 – Watson Woods

Join Prescott Creeks on an invasive species removal spree on Saturday, 8/30/2014 in Watson Woods. We’ll meet at 8:30 am at the Rosser Street entrance and teach you about invasive weeds, why they’re the bad, and what you can do about them. We’ll spend a little while pulling some weeds then we’ll spread native grass

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LOOP TRAILS REOPEN

The Watson Woods Riparian Preserve Loop Trails are now 100% open. The northern loop had been closed since April due to nesting Common Black Hawks who like to defend their nest territory. But good news, their chicks have graduated from the nest and the happy family has moved on so we can re-open the trail.

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CLOSED – Office Manager

Essential to achievement of the Prescott Creeks mission, the Office Manager is the Prescott Creeks staff member responsible for overseeing the office and business functions of the organization. Reporting directly to the Executive Director and working closely with other Prescott Creeks staff, the Board of Directors, and partners, the Office Manager will be involved in

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Green infrastructure’ project lets nature clean the runoff

Cindy BarksThe Daily Courier PRESCOTT – Colorful flowers, native shrubs, and rock-lined basins greet visitors to the Prescott Adult Center. Although attractive, the new landscaping at the building’s front entrance serves a purpose that goes well beyond aesthetics. The system of basins, trenches, and plants is being installed around the Rosser Street building with a goal

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Improve the Watershed – Volunteer Opportunity

Join Prescott Creeks on an invasive species removal spree. We’ll teach you about the invasive plants, why they’re the bad-nasties we want out of the watershed, what they’re doing to the habitat and water quality, and what you can do about and to them. Then, we’ll take up all of their space by seeding native

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Watson Woods Temporary Trail Closure

Prescott Creeks has placed two temporary closure signs on the west side of the North Loop Trail within Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. After receiving multiple reports of nesting common black-hawks along the trail, it seemed a prudent course of action since they are a listed as a Wildlife of Special Concern (WSC) by AZ Game

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Community Center Rain Garden Nearing Completion!

Thanks to hundreds of volunteer hours from Decision Point, Yavapai Exceptional Industries, Oasis, and Southwest Youth Conference of UCC, construction of the new rain garden at the Rowle P. Simmons Community Center is nearing its final phases!  Temporary irrigation has been installed to help the 350+ plants get established for their first few years.  Many

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Northern Flicker Rescue

On Wednesday, June 25th, Prescott Creeks was glad to welcome five young northern flickers to Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. These young flickers were rescued by APS crews from a burned pole during the Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon. A little over a month later, they had been nurtured by Liberty Wildlife and were ready

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Welcome to Our New Board Chair – Doug Bunch

Starting in July, Doug Bunch will be taking on the role of Chair of the Prescott Creeks Board of Directors. He has served the past two years on the Board and comes to us with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion. We are lucky to have him leading us through this next phase. Doug

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Thank you to Outgoing Board – Karen O’Neil & Joel Hiller

After a decade of serving on the Board of Directors, Karen and Joel are changing their involvement with Prescott Creeks. We have been fortunate to have their leadership, insight, and guidance through the growth and change these past ten years have brought the organization and our region. Karen has served as our most recent Board

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Rain Garden Update

The new green infrastructure rain garden continues to take shape at the Rowle P. Simmons Community Center. Thanks to the City of Prescott Streets and Parks and Recreation Departments, construction got underway with the excavation of the rain garden’s main basins. Since then, with the help of volunteers, the garden’s many interconnected basins that will

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STEVE PAWLOWSKI: IN MEMORIAM

Yesterday, the water world in Arizona lost someone doing good work. Steve Pawlowski was an inspiration from his years at ADEQ to his recent work at Sierra Club. From the Sierra Club blog: Steve Pawlowski, Arizona Water Sentinels coordinator for the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter, died yesterday while waiting to testify at the state Capitol in Phoenix. He

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Granite Creek Cleanup 2014 Results

This year’s Granite Creek Cleanup made a huge difference in the health and beauty of Prescott. Your work produced nearly 4½ tons of material from our area lakes, creeks, and trails. Of that, 3.04 tons was trash plus approximately another ton of upcycled materials. For the first time this year, the 22 tires collected (including one five-foot tall

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