The Prescott Creeks organization on Thursday presented to the public it's new booklet, Creek Care: Your Stewardship Guide to the Granite Creek Watershed. Amanda Richardson, Watershed Program Coordinator for Prescott Creeks told the audience, "A lot of time, effort, and enthusiasm went into its making, so we felt that its release is worth celebrating."

Prescott Mayor Marlin Kuykendall, Mayor Pro-Tem, Jim Lamerson as well as councilmen Charlie Arnold, Al Carlow, and Chris Kuknyo were also in attendance. "Prescott Creeks and the Watershed Improvement Council have been determined stewards in protecting our watershed areas," says Mayor Kuykendall. "The City of Prescott is proud of their outstanding work as well as our contribution to the preservation and improvement efforts of our vital tributaries and lakes."

Richardson made copies of the guide available to those in attendance. In addition, 15,000 booklets will be mailed to residents of the City of Prescott and surrounding unincorporated Yavapai County in early February. Copies will be available at the Prescott Creeks office, City of Prescott, Yavapai County, University of Arizona Cooperative Extensions Yavapai County office, as well as local businesses.

The guide is a small, full-color booklet that features the photographs of local photographer and naturalist, Walt Anderson. This project was funded by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality through the Targeted Watershed Improvement Plan Grant program and contributions from the City of Prescott.

Prescott Creeks and the Watershed Improvement Council developed the booklet to provide local residents with information about preventing water pollution and protecting riparian areas in our watershed. It outlines basic practices that homes and businesses can implement to protect our local creeks and lakes from water pollution. "Creek Care" covers topics such as: Storm Sewer vs. Sanitary Sewer; Pollution Pathways; Yard and Pasture Maintenance; Drainage; Erosion Prevention; Riparian Areas; Native Vegetation; Septic Maintenance; and Local Codes, Ordinances, and Permitting.

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, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Prescott National Forest, Arizona Department of Transportation, and citizen volunteers, is to identify the sources of nutrients and E. coli bacteria that impair water quality in Granite Creek and Watson Lake and to design solutions to improve water quality. With approximately 1,500 private property owners along Granite Creek and its main tributaries, educating and empowering residents to play a role in caring for our creeks and riparian areas may be the most critical element to the long-term improvement of surface water quality.