Butte Creek Restoration Council

08/29/2026

Updates from the Butte Creek restoration site at Prescott College:
This summer brought a welcome abundance of rain to the Butte Creek restoration site at Prescott College, and the plants have responded beautifully. The trees have shown remarkable growth, wildflowers are blooming throughout the site, and the landscape is lush, vibrant, and very green. The trail along the creek may seem a bit overgrown to some, but to us, it feels like a wild walk into a thriving riparian ecosystem.
We did experience some plant mortality. One large sycamore, despite making it through its first year and entering its second summer, unfortunately died. We also lost two Emory oaks. These losses are a natural part of restoration, and when we look at the bigger picture, the results are very encouraging: of all the plants we have planted over the past two years, approximately 90% survived.
The pollinator garden is especially lively, visited every day by lots of bees and butterflies. And other bugs. And our bat boxes are awaiting their first residents.
The restoration site is also becoming a beautiful place for people to spend time—whether exploring, observing wildlife, or simply finding a quiet spot to sit and enjoy the landscape.
Come visit and see how the site is growing and changing!

04/07/2026

04/07/2026

A LOT has happened over the last month! With the early Spring came lots of Community and Prescott High School volunteers, new plantings, a new sign, "Prescott College Campus Bat Boxes", revitalization of the pollinator garden, new friendships, and lots of laughter. About 50 willow stakes were planted in early March, and they are all thriving! Come visit, or join our volunteer Arbor Day event at 9 am on April 25th; plantings, food, beverages, and fun!

01/30/2026

Winter news... although our riparian forest is dormant, we have been busy! Staff, students, faculty, and alumni worked together to place two bat boxes as part of Maggie Dye's senior project. That was a big team effort! We can't wait to see the bats making PC campus their home. We also installed 17 educational signs with the help of our amazing volunteer, Mary Powell. When the trees start leafing again, come on by and visit the botanical garden. You will learn so much about our native flora. It seems that some animals have been busy too, eating the bark of our willows and ashes! But a resilient riparian forest must withstand natural predation while providing resources for wildlife.

09/18/2025

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOpAxYDElB1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

08/13/2025

Summer 2025 update! despite dry and hot conditions, the majority of the plants planted in April are thriving! Some cottonwoods have grown 3 feet taller in just over 3 months. On the other hand, some ashes are showing signs of stress, a sycamore and two white oaks didn't make it, and some of the Emory oaks have been eaten by a mysterious creature (although they are in the process of recovering). So far, 94% survival-- pretty good considering the heat and lack of rain. We also had the visit of our grantors, the AZ Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and a group of volunteers from the same agency who cut down a few Siberian elms and chipped all the branches. Meanwhile, the pollinator garden is receiving lots of bees and butterflies, one of our community volunteers, Denise Powel, is working on 15 educational signs that will be up very soon, which will be placed along the trail made by Jenn Sherman, and another volunteer, Jim Presley, is designing a beautiful new website. Overall we are very pleased with the results, and immensely grateful to all the volunteers who have worked so hard and selflessly to help heal this ecosystem!

05/04/2025

Arbor Day Planting was a HUGE success! thanks to our wonderful volunteers! Faculty, staff, students, neighbors, PHS students, community members and families came to share a day of fun, planting, laughing and inspiration. Together we planted 44 native trees! together we cultivated hope.

04/19/2025

It may be rainy today, but our Earth needs this moisture! And rest assured, the National Weather Service is calling for a sunny weekend! So get out, enjoy the petrichor and join us at Prescott's Earth Day Celebration tomorrow!