Why are riparian areas Important?
The Arizona Riparian Council estimates 90% or more of Arizona's original riparian (streamside) habitat has been lost or severely degraded since the early 1800's. With 75% of Arizona's wildlife depending on healthy riparian areas, one comes to realize what a significant loss this is. Bearing this in mind, we come to view riparian corridors as the livelihood of our landscape.

Why Are Prescott's creeks unique?
Unlike many other cities in the semi-arid Southwest, Prescott has eight creeks winding their way through town. These cool, shady greenways are a haven to humans and wildlife alike, and they are the reason Prescott is in it’s current location. Granite Creek, and it’s seven tributaries, provided the early settlers with a sufficient supply of drinking water.

What has happened?
As additional water resources were found and developed in the early 1900’s, the creeks’ direct importance on Prescott’s existence declined. In many ways they were all but forgotten until the mid 1980’s when Prescott Creeks Preservation Association (Prescott Creeks) was formed. A few concerned citizens recognized the beauty and value of Prescott’s creeks and they set the wheels in motion to restore and preserve Prescott’s riparian areas. Over the last 15 years Prescott Creeks has worked to re-develop awareness, appreciation and an understanding of why our creeks are so important.

Prescott Creeks partnered with the City of Prescott to identify all the creeks with Educational Signs, to develop trails along Granite and Miller Creeks in the downtown area and to establish Watson Woods Riparian Preserve on Granite Creek to the northeast of town. In 2000 Prescott Creeks formed the Prescott CreekWatch Network; an interactive network of citizen-led, neighborhood-based groups celebrating and studying the creeks located in the Granite Creek watershed. Prescott Creeks continuously makes presentations and consults on creek-related issues. Nearly every project we embark on relies on the involvement of our membership and local volunteers. Their participation not only helps stretch limited funding and resources, but it provides meaningful and rewarding opportunities for people to connect with the land.

What is happening Now?
The Prescott Creeks Board of Directors and Staff works hard to protect the many creeks of the Granite Creek Watershed. Please explore our website to learn more, or you can download the brochure below for a quick view of our Programs.

Prescott Creeks Brochure (204kb, pdf)