What’s up at Watson, Willow and Goldwater Lakes? How have changes in the regulatory landscape impacted the city’s stewardship of those lakes? Matt Killeen, the City of Prescott’s Environmental Coordinator, presented new and evolving information on the water quality of Prescott’s lakes and creeks, dispeled misinformation and discussed the city’s rainwater harvesting project at the Rodeo Grounds. A question and answer period followed the presentation.

2022-02-11 Water Quality in Prescott Lakes and Creeks from CWAGAZ on Vimeo.

Killeen reviewed the findings of a 2020 study of Watson Lake and discussed the city’s forthcoming remediation measures, including lake aeration, the introduction of herbivorous fish, and the application of nutrient binding clay. He also explained the critical relationship between Prescott’s creeks and its three man-made lakes and how citizens can help keep them clean by following proper disposal methods for animal waste, household chemicals, unused medications and yard debris that can find their way into a downstream waterbody.

In addition, Killeen reported on Prescott’s cooperative rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge project at the Rodeo Grounds. The system has the capability to recharge up to 0.87 acre-feet annually and has the additional benefits of reducing the volume of stormwater generated from building rooftops and the amount of animal waste found in rainfall sheet flow.

Prior to joining the City of Prescott in 2016, Matt Killeen spent 15 years managing riparian nature preserves in southeastern Arizona and before that worked in fisheries in the Pacific Northwest and in Nepal.