Bringing Nature Back - On-the-ground work continues
There is still much to be done on this multi-year restoration effort. We're coordinating a major tree planting effort, channel reconstruction after the January 2010 floods, and transplanting emergent wetland species. Community participation from people like you is essential. We have many opportunities for meaningful hands-on restoration activities. Project partners from Natural Channel Design and Fann Environmental review design plans at the site.
Please email Volunteer@PrescottCreeks.org, or call us at (928) 445-5669 to sign up or to learn more.
Cottonwood Planting January 2010 flooding at Reach 4 Willow Planting ACE Orientation Spikerush	Restoration Project Updates: Revegetation of Granite Creek floodplain continues as designed - February & March 2010. Redesign plans for 2nd year construction being prepared by Natural Channel Design, Inc. - March 2010. Flooding tests newly constructed Granite Creek channels at Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. Overall performance good; two areas need significant reconstruction work - 22 January 2010. Design plans completed for 2nd year construction & revegetation prepared and submitted to grant funding agencies for comment and approval - January 2010. 1st year construction & revegetation monitoring shows relocated channels performing to specifications, 95% survival of planted vegetation - October 2009. Nathaniel Hoag signs on to the project as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. Nathaniel's work will focus on community involvement for the project through website improvements. Major construction activities complete - Summer 2009. American Conservation Experience (ACE) joins Prescott Creeks again – 18 March 2009. On-the-Ground Restoration construction & planting began - March 2009. Community volunteers harvested almost 15,000 native trees and shrubs for restoration planting - February 2009. Cottonwood and willow harvesting with ACE begins for revegetation efforts – December 2008. American Conservation Experience (ACE) secured as a partner – November 2008. Clean Water Act section 404 permit issued – October 2008. Renee Hoover signs on to the project as AmeriCorps VISTA member – July 2008. Contracted technical experts (for engineering, revegetation, monitoring) – July 2008 Applied for Clean Water Act section 404 permit with US Army Corps of Engineers – January 2008. Secured $800,000 grant funding to support construction, revegetation and project monitoring. Funding from AZ Water Protection Fund – October 2007. Secured $600,000 in grant funding to support construction, revegetation and project monitoring. Funding from the AZ Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Improvement Grants Program – June 2007. Completed Restoration Plan – June 2007
Watson Woods Riparian Preserve Restoration Plan After over a decade of research and planning Prescott Creeks has completed it restoration plan for Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. On-the-ground work is scheduled to begin during the fall/winter of 2008/2009. Review the Plan Restoration Project Goals To enhance and restore the Granite Creek channel function and existing riparian habitats, as well as to create new riparian habitats.  To educate and involve the community in the restoration process.  Restoration Project Objectives Restore the stability of the Granite Creek stream channel while maintaining natural stream processes: proper hydrologic conditions and functions, stream morphology and channel characteristics, and floodplain function. Enhance, restore and (re)create riparian vegetation and habitat along the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve area of Granite Creek.  Educate and involve community members in the restoration process.  Monitoring of the living and non-living environment to evaluate and communicate project performance.
(Please note file sizes before clicking the links below. Some files many megabytes in size and may take a long time to download.) Restoration Plan - Part 1. (633 kb PDF) Cover; Acknowledgements; Table of Contents; Project Background; Management Issues & Considerations Restoration Plan - Part 2. (2.1 mb PDF) Restoration Design Restoration Plan - Part 3. (3.6 mb PDF) Monitoring; Community Involvement, Education & Management; Structural Improvements & Maintenance, References; Budget; Timeline Restoration Plan - Part 4. (3.5 mb PDF) Appendices: A. Expanded Site History; B. Prescott Creeks-City of Prescott Lease Agreement; C. BioEngineering Techniques Restoration Plan - Part 5. (14.1 mb PDF) Appendix D. Restoration Design Construction Sheets Restoration Plan - Part 6. (1.8 mb PDF) Appendix E. 2006 Vegetation Characterization Report Permits Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification - AZ Deparment of Environmental Quality (68 kb PDF) Clean Water Act Section 404 Nationwide 27 Permit - US Army Corps of Engineers (1.4 mb PDF)