Oak Creek Watershed Council

Protecting one of Arizona’s greatest treasures – and the habitat it supports

The Oak Creek Watershed Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to preserving the health and integrity of Oak Creek. Oak Creek is a perennial, spring-fed stream that stretches fifty miles from its headwaters in Oak Creek Canyon, and flows through Sedona, Page Springs, and Cornville to its confluence with the Verde River. As one of the last free-running streams in Arizona, Oak Creek is a precious jewel of riparian habitat in the desert Southwest, where human activity has destroyed over 90% of all rivers and streams.

With increased tourism and visitation, Oak Creek’s unique riparian ecosystem is being challenged like never before. Sedona alone gets an estimated three million visitors per year, and many of those visitors naturally want to be in or around Oak Creek. It’s simply beautiful, and a great place to be – particularly in warm weather. Sadly, the result is massive increases to littering, wildlife disruption, habitat degradation, and microbial contamination. Oak Creek is being loved to death.

Oak Creek Watershed Council works to mitigate that through stewardship engagement; partnering with local agencies and interest groups; outreach and education; and scientific monitoring.

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Our Mission

Maintaining a standard of excellence for watershed stewardship and preserving the integrity of Oak Creek.

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Hablemos de 💩. Los desechos humanos en las vías fluviales pueden convertirse en un vector de propagación de enfermedades y lo hacen asqueroso para los demás visitantes. Puede mantener limpio Oak Creek (#KeepOakCreekClean) usando los baños públicos que están disponibles en las áreas de uso diurno, los comienzos de los senderos, los campamentos y los centros de visitantes.
Si absolutamente tienes que ir y no hay ningún baño cerca, aún puedes ir sin dejar rastro (#LeaveNoTrace). Camina por lo menos 60 metros (70 pasos grandes) del arroyo, busque un lugar privado y cavar un hoyo https://lnt.org/how-to-poop-outside/
#CuidaElAmbiente #SedonaCares #AppreciateAZ #LeaveNoTraceSedona #SustainableSedona
Aprenda mas en: bit.ly/OakCreekCaretaker
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Let's have a quick chat about #2. Human waste in waterways can become a vector for spreading disease and makes it gross for others who visit. You can #KeepOakCreekClean by using public toilets that are available at day-use areas, trailheads, campgrounds, and visitor centers.
If you absolutely have to go, and there’s no nearby toilet, you can still #LeaveNoTrace and walk at least 200 feet away (70 big steps) from the creek, find a private spot, and dig a cathole: https://lnt.org/how-to-poop-outside/
Learn more: bit.ly/OakCreekCaretaker
#SedonaCares #AppreciateAZ #LeaveNoTraceSedona #SustainableSedona
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Todo lo que dejamos en la cuenca termina en el arroyo. Cosas como la basura y los desechos humanos agregan contaminantes y parásitos a la fuente de agua cuando los dejamos atrás. Podemos evitar esto empacando nuestra basura y usando baños en los senderos. ¡Vamos a mantener limpio Oak Creek (#KeepOakCreekClean) y no dejar rastro (#LeaveNoTrace ) en nuestra visita a la cuenca!
#CuidaElAmbiente #SedonaCares #AppreciateAZ #LeaveNoTraceSedona #SustainableSedona
Aprenda mas en: bit.ly/OakCreekCaretaker
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Anything we leave in the watershed ends up in the creek. Things like litter and human waste add pollutants and parasites to the water source when we leave them behind. We can prevent this by packing out our trash and using toilets at trailheads. Let's #KeepOakCreekClean and #LeaveNoTrace on our visit to the watershed!
#SedonaCares #AppreciateAZ #LeaveNoTraceSedona #SustainableSedona
Learn more: bit.ly/OakCreekCaretaker
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Green Jacks NAU club cleanup event on 4/1 - this is not a joke! Come join us for some fun while picking up trash in Oak Creek Canyon. RSVP using the QR code for a seat! ...

¿Te gusta Oak Creek? ¡Conviértete en un Cuidador de Oak Creek!
Con el aumento del turismo y las visitas, el ecosistema único de Oak Creek en el norte de Arizona está siendo desafiado como nunca antes. La cámara de comercio de #Sedona y la Oficina de Turismo (@SedonaChamberofCommerce) se han asociado con la ciudad de Sedona (@CityofSedonaAZ), Consejo de Cuenca de Oak Creek (@Oak Creek Watershed Council) y el Departamento de Calidad Ambiental de Arizona (@azdeq) para continuar promoviendo las formas como Leave No Trace (@LeaveNoTrace) hace la diferencia cuando pasamos tiempo afuera.
Involucrate visitando: bit.ly/OakCreekCaretaker
#CuidaElAmbiente #SedonaCares #AppreciateAZ #LeaveNoTraceSedona #SustainableSedona #KeepOakCreekClean
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Do you love #OakCreek?Become an Oak Creek Caretaker!
With increased tourism and visitation, Oak Creek's unique ecosystem in northern Arizona is being challenged like never before. @SedonaChamberofCommerce and @CityofSedonaAZ have partnered with @Oak Creek Watershed Council and @azdeq to continue promoting the ways that @LeaveNoTrace makes a difference when we spend time outside.
Get involved today by visiting: bit.ly/OakCreekCaretaker
#SedonaCares #AppreciateAZ #LeaveNoTraceSedona #SustainableSedona #KeepOakCreekClean
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¿Ha visitado el área de Sedona? Atravesando la ciudad se encuentra Oak Creek, una importante vía fluvial que nutre el ecosistema que la rodea y apoya a las comunidades de #AZ. Millones de nosotros visitamos el arroyo y disfrutamos de su abundancia de actividades al aire libre cada año, y eso significa que podemos impactar la salud de esta cuenca.
¿Será usted un cuidador de Oak Creek y ayudará a mantener limpio Oak Creek (#KeepOakCreekClean) cuando visite? Estos son los cuatro consejos más importantes a tener en cuenta para no dejar rastro (#LeaveNoTrace).
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Have you visited the #Sedona area? Running right through town is Oak Creek, an important waterway that nourishes the ecosystem around it and supports #AZ communities. Millions visit the creek and enjoy its outdoor activities every year, and that means we can impact the health of this watershed.
Help #KeepOakCreekClean when you visit by following these four important #LeaveNoTrace tips:

💧Protect watersheds
💩Have a poop plan
🗑️Trash your trash
🥾Stick to trails

Get involved ➡️ bit.ly/OakCreekCaretaker

#SedonaCares #AppreciateAZ #LeaveNoTraceSedona #SustainableSedona
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The cleanup event on 2/25 at Mescal TH is also canceled due to adverse weather conditions right now and continuing into the weekend. Stay safe everyone and look out for future posts about more cleanup events!! ...

Spread the word! OCWC is hosting a cleanup event at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village on 2/23/23 🎉 Register to join us at this event at the link in our bio! ...

Sedona’s rocks are red ❤️
Oak Creek is blue 💙
We love this ecosystem 💦
And we hope you do too! 🌱

Happy Valentine’s Day from OCWC!

Also wishing Arizona a happy 111th birthday 🎉🥳

#oakcreekcanyon #oakcreek #sedona #sedonaredrocks #valentinesday #azbirthday
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Our partners from @azdeqgov, @U.s.forestservice, and @cityofsedonaaz (along with others) will be presenting on environmental concerns around Oak Creek on February 24. The public program is free to attend and will be held at the @sedonalibrary ...

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