Oak Creek Watershed Council

09/26/2026

Thanks so much to the NAU Green Jacks for joining us yesterday and giving Oak Creek some TLC! Together we picked up over 14 pounds of litter from the banks of the creek in a high-traffic area.

09/19/2026

Oak Creek has mostly reopened, but recent rains have caused more flash flooding events! Our water samples from Thursday show elevated levels of ash, sediment, and potentially harmful bacteria in the creek. Stick to the hiking trails if you choose to visit this weekend!

08/19/2026

We’re out sampling again today! The creek is still running dark brown and opaque, which means ash and sediment from the burn area are still making their way through the system.

If you love Oak Creek, respect the closures and give it time to recover before visiting again!

08/05/2026

Thank you FOX 10 Phoenix for helping us get the word out about the impacts of the Pocket Fire! If you love Oak Creek, the very best thing you can do right now is respect creek closures and let it recover in the absence of visitor traffic. As always, DM or email us with any questions!

07/27/2026

Results are in: conditions on Oak Creek vary significantly above (left) and below (right) the burn area.

Turbidity is much higher below the burn, due to both ash and sediment entering the system. As expected, this has translated to unusually high E. Coli levels. We detected potentially unsafe levels at our below-burn sampling site on July 22nd, with other organizations reporting similar results.

What can you do?
1. Respect creek closures! Keep yourself safe and allow Oak Creek time to recover as ash and post-burn erosion move through the system.
2. Volunteer! While it’s still too early to begin restoration efforts for the Pocket Fire burn area, the USFS is seeking volunteers to help plant trees in several previous wildfire scars.
3. Donate! Now more than ever, we need your support to help us step up and make a difference for Oak Creek. Head to the link in our bio or go to oak creek watershed.org/donate!

06/26/2026

05/21/2026

Did you know - OCWC tests the water in Oak Creek every month! We test for a variety of parameters but we are primarily looking for E. Coli contamination, which has significantly decreased in the last decade.

What can you do to help prevent E. Coli contamination?
• Pick up after your dog
• Prevent erosion by sticking to official trails
• Keep babies in properly-fitting swim diapers

Every action counts!

05/01/2026

Thanks for everyone who joined us today!! It was a beautiful day for a cleanup.

If you’d like to do a cleanup with us, drop us a line! You can DM us or shoot us an email at [email protected]

04/07/2026

🎉 ARIZONA GIVES DAY GIVEAWAY!

We’re celebrating Arizona Gives Day by giving back and giving away this stunning metal print by the incredibly talented .hofferber shot at Hunt’s Mesa on the Navajo Reservation. 🏜️

To enter: donate $50 or more to Oak Creek Watershed Council today, April 7, 2026, then comment “DONATED” below to confirm your entry. One winner will be drawn by April 30, 2026.

Donate via the link in our bio for Arizona Gives Day.

Open to U.S. residents 18+. One entry per person.
Winner selected at random by April 30, 2026 and notified via DM and/or e-mail.

This giveaway is not affiliated with or sponsored by Instagram.

04/07/2026

🎉 ARIZONA GIVES DAY GIVEAWAY!

We’re celebrating Arizona Gives Day by giving back and giving away this stunning metal print by the incredibly talented .hofferber shot at Hunt’s Mesa on the Navajo Reservation. 🏜️

To enter: donate $50 or more to Oak Creek Watershed Council today, April 7, 2026, then comment “DONATED” below to confirm your entry. One winner will be drawn by April 30, 2026.

Donate via the link in our bio or screenshot slide 3 for the QR code.

Open to U.S. residents 18+. One entry per person.
Winner selected at random by April 30, 2026 and notified via DM and/or e-mail.

This giveaway is not affiliated with or sponsored by Instagram.