Prescott Creeks Preservation Association

PRESCOTT CREEKS IS A 501(C)(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO ACHIEVE HEALTHY WATERSHEDS AND CLEAN WATERS IN CENTRAL ARIZONA FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE THROUGH PROTECTION, RESTORATION, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE 2022FY TOWARD THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE WERE LARGELY FOCUSED AT WATSON WOODS RIPARIAN PRESERVE. PRESCOTT CREEKS HOSTED MULTIPLE VOLUNTEER CREWS AT THE PRESERVE THROUGH THE YEAR TO WORK ON A VARIETY OF VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROJECTS (PRIMARILY REMOVAL OF NON-NATIVE SPECIES)IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE CONSERVATION EFFORTS. PARTNER ORGANIZATION, GEM ENVIRONMENTAL CONTINUED THEIR MONITORING OF THE WATSON WOODS RIPARIAN PRESERVE PHENOLOGY TRAILS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONALPHENOLOGY NETWORK. INFORMAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRESCOTT AUDUBON SOCIETY AND THE AZ GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT (AZGFD) CONTINUED IN THE 2022FY WITH ANNUAL MONITORING OF THE PRESERVES AVIFAUNA (BIRDS) AND TO MONITOR NEST BOXES INSTALLED TO SUPPORT BOTH AMERICAN KESTRELS AND WOOD DUCKS. THE NEST BOX PROJECT WAS EXPANDED IN 2020FY AND REPEATED IN THE 2021FY TO INCLUDE A SLOW RELEASE OF BIRDS RESCUED AND REHABILITATED IN THE PHOENIX AREA. FUTURE RESCUED AND REHABILITATED AMERICAN KESTRELS WILL BE DIRECTLY RELEASED INTO SUITABLE HABITAT WITHOUT THE SLOW-RELEASE PROCESS DUE TO THE EXPENSE OF TIME AND PERCEIVED LACK OF MATERIAL BENEFIT FOR THE BIRDS. PRESCOTT CREEKS ASSISTED IN THE COORDINATION FOR THE RELEASE OF 12 REHABILITATED AMERICAN KESTRELS IN THE PRESCOTT AREA ON THREE SEPARATE PROPERTIES.THE PRESCOTT CREEKS IN-LIEU FEE (ILF) MITIGATION PROGRAM CONTINUED WITHIN THE PRESERVE WITH ON-THE-GROUND MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES AND FURTHERANCE OF DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A CONSERVATION EASEMENT (CE) FOR THE PROPERTY. DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, THE CITY OF PRESCOTT, HAVE RESULTED IN PLANS FOR AN EXPANDED PRESERVE AREA (FROM 126 ACRES TO APPROXIMATELY 160 ACRES). THE CE WILL PROTECT CONSERVATION VALUES IN THE PRESERVE FOR ALL TIME GOING FORWARD, AND IT REPRESENTS A MATERIAL ELEMENT OF BRINGING THE ILF PROGRAM INTO FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE CLEAN WATER ACT.MANY EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS AND OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE YEAR SUPPORTED THE ABOVE PROJECTS AND THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OF ACHIEVING HEALTHY WATERSHEDS AND CLEAN WATERS IN CENTRAL ARIZONA. SOCIAL MEDIA CONTINUED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE CONDUIT FOR OUTREACH WITH A DECREASED EMPHASIS ON TRADITIONAL PRINT PUBLICATIONS. PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE TO BOTH LOCAL GROUPS AND REGIONAL AUDIENCES. THE ANNUAL GRANITE CREEK CLEANUP IN 2022 CONTINUED WITH HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ADAPTATIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS. CLEANUP PARTICIPATION SAW A 21% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND TRASH COLLECTED INCREASED BY 50%. VOLUNTEERISM DURING THE PERIOD SAW AN INCREASE OF 50% IN NUMBERS OF VOLUNTEERS (1075).SELECT PROGRAMMATIC SUCCESS STORIES FOR THE YEAR INCLUDE COMMON BLACK HAWKS (A SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN FOR AZGFD) NESTING WITH TWO FLEDGLINGS IN THE PRESERVE AFTER A SINGLE CHICK IN THE YEAR BEFORE. ADDITIONALLY, THE SUMMER OF 2022 FEATURED A STRONG MONSOON SEASON WITH 13.78 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION PLACING IT AS THE 5TH WETTEST MONSOON ON RECORD. BENEFITS FROM THIS MOISTURE SHOULD PRESENT DURING THE FOLLOWING YEAR WITH VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE.MAJOR PLANS FOR 2023FY INCLUDE COMPLETION OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR WATSON WOODS RIPARIAN PRESERVE, INITIATION OF THE NEXT PHASE OF STREAM RESTORATION, RETURNING STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS AS A COMPONENT OF THE GRANITE CREEK CLEANUP (PENDING FAVORABLE COMMUNITY PANDEMIC CONDITIONS), AND INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION.