Our Projects

Water Sampling
Water Sampling

One of Oak Creek Watershed Council’s most important projects is water quality sampling. Oak Creek is one of the last remaining undisturbed riparian systems in the desert southwest and is crucial habitat to many native species, along with providing thousands of visitors every year with a place to cool off and enjoy the scenic beauty of this pocket of Northern…

Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Macroinvertebrate Surveys

Soil erosion is impacting the ecological health of Oak Creek. When excessive sediment settles on the stream bottom it suffocates aquatic insects (a.k.a. benthic macroinvertebrates) that are key food prey items for fish and other wildlife. Sediment also serves as a reservoir for fecal contaminants (E. coli bacteria). Sedimentation occurs from erosion, which can be contributed to over-use of swimming…

Pet Waste Station (PWS) Program
Pet Waste Station (PWS) Program

Every gram of dog feces contains an average of 23 million E.coli bacteria, which poses a health threat for recreators swimming in Oak Creek. The PWS program identified locations within the Oak Creek corridor as potential sites for pet waste stations. While we do not know how many pets may live in or visit the Oak Creek Watershed each year,…

Oak Creek Ambassador Program
Oak Creek Ambassador Program

Stewardship Engagement In partnership with the following groups: the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), the City of Sedona, the Arizona Community Foundation, and the National Forest Foundation; Oak Creek Ambassadors have monitored heavily-used recreation sites. They’ve made a positive impact by talking to visitors, picking up trash, human and dog waste, monitoring water…

Stormwater Pollution Mitigation: A Partnership with the City of Sedona and OCWC
Stormwater Pollution Mitigation: A Partnership with the City of Sedona and OCWC

In partnership with the City of Sedona, OCWC hosts cleanup events that encourage residents of the greater Sedona area to learn about stormwater pollution, the sub-basins and watersheds within the Oak Creek Watershed and Sedona area, and how they can play an important role in protecting Oak Creek. Here are some steps you can take to ensure you do not…

Become an Oak Creek Steward
Become an Oak Creek Steward

Because of COVID-19, we are seeing massive increases in visitors fleeing to the creek and Sedona trails, which means increases in littering and habitat degradation, significantly impacting the fragile riparian ecosystem. And it’s an eye-sore! Our small team is working tirelessly to pick-up after visitors, so that creek sites are pristine upon their arrival, hopefully encouraging them to leave it…

Water Quality of Oak Creek and Fossil Creek 2018-2019
Water Quality of Oak Creek and Fossil Creek 2018-2019

Take a look at water quality trends in Oak Creek and Fossil Creek in 2018 and 2019. Oak Creek Ambassador Emma Harries took on writing this comprehensive report as her capstone project for her undergraduate studies. We are so excited to share this report with you and could not be more proud of Emma. View the report here.

Water Quality of Oak Creek 2020
Water Quality of Oak Creek 2020

Take a look at water quality trends in Oak Creek in 2020. This summary report was made possible by support from the Sedona Chamber of Commerce under the Sedona Sustainable Tourism Plan Tactic A2.3. View the report below.

Oak Creek Watershed Educational Brochure
Oak Creek Watershed Educational Brochure

Welcome! Virtually view our educational brochure. Learn more about the issues that are threatening the health of the watershed and how you can help! Created by tmsr Design Delivery in collaboration with Oak Creek Watershed Council and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. This brochure was funded by grants from ADEQ and EPA.

Voluntourism
Voluntourism

In partnership with the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, OCWC hosts cleanup events that encourage visitors to the greater Sedona area to “give back” while learning about the geology, ecology, and other issues pertinent to the watershed. By participating in these events, visitors can visit scenic areas along Oak Creek, red rock country, and northern Arizona forests while making a positive…

Pickin’ Up in the Pines 2022
Pickin’ Up in the Pines 2022

Saturday, September 17 REGISTER TODAY! The Coconino National Forest, National Forest Foundation, Oak Creek Watershed Council, and the Arizona Dept. of Environmental Quality invite you to Pickin’ Up in the Pines!  Join us to clean up camping areas in the forests that are the headwaters of Oak Creek canyon.  In advance of major holiday weekends, get outside, clean up trash,…

Social Trail Rehabilitation Monitoring and Watershed Improvement Projects
Social Trail Rehabilitation Monitoring and Watershed Improvement Projects

Oak Creek flows through a beautiful canyon along Highway 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona and is a popular destination for recreation. The creek is a tributary to the Verde River, which feeds into the Salt River, itself providing water to millions of people living in and around Phoenix. Oak Creek is one of the few perennial streams in Arizona’s high…

Water Quality of Oak Creek 2021
Water Quality of Oak Creek 2021

Take a look at water quality trends in Oak Creek in 2021. This summary report was made possible by support from the City of Sedona in partnership with the Sedona Sustainable Tourism Plan Tactic A2.3. View the report below.

Join Us on Instagram

Happy Wildlife Wednesday! Last week we met a beautiful gopher snake while out collecting water samples. Gopher snakes are a generalist species, which means they survive and thrive in a wide variety of habitats. This has made them one of the most widespread reptile species in North America! Often mistaken at first glance for a rattlesnake, these snakes are non-venomous and do not pose a serious threat to hikers or dogs. As with all wildlife, admire them from a distance and remember that this is their home! ...

Many thanks to our friends at Northern Arizona Audubon Society for helping with our inaugural “plirding” outing! We picked up 12.6 pounds of litter while enjoying over two dozen species of local and migratory birds. #birding #littercleanup #keepoakcreekclean #keepoakcreekbeautiful ...

We’re all set up to celebrate #EarthDay2023 with all of our outdoorsy, environmental pals, including our hosts, @azstateparks ...

Thank you volunteers! This morning these amazing people called over 80 pounds of litter from the roadside of 89A north of Sedona 😍. ...

It’s highway cleanup time! OCWC stewards a two-mile stretch of Highway 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff (mile markers 392-394, to be exact). Today we’ll leave it better than we found it, thanks to the efforts of our hardworking volunteers. 😎☀️ #volunteers #littercleanup #cleanandbeautiful #safetyfirst @arizona_dot ...

In just a few hours today, these amazing volunteers from #SedonaWomen removed 41.6 pounds of trash from the Oak Creek watershed! Among the items collected were articles of clothing, a walkie-talkie, a lost Croc sandal, bottles and cans, and plenty of microtrash and food waste. We focused our efforts at Indian Gardens, Grasshopper Point, Encinoso Picnic Area, the Manzanita day use pullout, and the associated creek accesses at each location. Thank you volunteers for helping to preserve the health and integrity of Oak Creek. ...

It’s litter cleanup day in Oak Creek Canyon! Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers from the community group, #SedonaWomen. #keepoakcreekclean #leavenotrace ...

Thanks to everyone that supported Oak Creek Watershed Council during this week’s Arizona Gives Day!

Unrestricted contributions fuel the watershed council’s growth and ability to engage creek users throughout the year. We have big-time aspirations beyond our funded projects to keep Oak Creek free of litter and pet waste. Your continued support will help turn our dreams of educating, advocating, and building a strong network of Oak Creek Caretakers into a reality.

If you didn’t get a chance to donate on Tuesday, you can always make a gift through our website! Link in bio.

#AZGivesDay #OakCreekCaretakers #KeepOakCreekClean #Sedona #OakCreek
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Thanks to the generosity of three #OakCreekCaretakers, we're already more than 20% of the way towards reaching our fundraising goal for #AZGiveDay. Your contributions during this statewide day of giving will ensure that we continue to be engaged in monitoring the health and integrity of Oak Creek!
📷: OCWC Technicians, Nate and Cassidy, work with partners from @azdeqgov to prepare water samples for E. coli testing, summer 2022.
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TOMORROW, April 4, is #AZGivesDay and we're asking all of our faithful followers and watershed warriors here on Insta to consider making a gift in support of a #cleanandbeautiful Oak Creek. Donate via the link in our bio. ...

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