Watershed Improvement Plan

For the past two years, the Granite Creek Watershed Improvement Council has been studying the water quality in Prescott’s creeks and lakes. The goal of the Council, consisting of representatives from the City of Prescott, Yavapai County, Prescott National Forest, Arizona Department of Transportation, and citizen volunteers, is to identify the sources of nutrients and E. coli bacteria that impair the water quality in Granite Creek and Watson Lake and to design solutions to improve water quality and overall watershed condition. Improving the watershed and water quality is one of many benefits that may result from projects that enhance our natural environment, our community, and quality of life.

The results of the planning process to-date are summarized in a preliminary Watershed Improvement Plan (WIP 1.0). It provides a detailed description of the watershed; potential sources of bacterial and nutrient pollution; chemical, physical, and biological data collection; data reduction and interpretation; and general findings and recommendations for water quality improvements.

The WIC is now accepting public comment on WIP 1.0. The document is available for download and an online comment system is located on the Prescott Creeks website at www.PrescottCreeks.org/feedback. The public comment period will close on January 31^st, 2012 at 11:59 p.m.

Public feedback, along with additional research to be conducted during the winter months of 2011 and early 2012, will be included in the final Watershed Improvement Plan (2.0) which will include a strategy for watershed improvements, including specific projects and project locations. The final Plan is to be released in late 2012.