Updated on May 5th
The Verde Headwaters Field School is being run by the Flagstaff Chapter of the Arizona Hydrological Society from June 4-7 at various locations in the Paulden, Chino Valley and Prescott area. The following are text, displays and maps supporting the field school on the following topics:
- the area’s major drainages (the upper Verde and Granite Creek plus a few others);
- area watersheds;
- springs;
- groundwater conditions;
- discussions about the Prescott water supply and management of the Prescott AMA;
- geology of the area;
- mine reclamation.
Fieldtrip goers can join us for the day or stay with us at the unique setting and accommodations of the Little Thumb Butte Bed & Breakfast but all attendees must be a member of AHS. You can have a private single room to yourself or share with a friend, park your RV (water/sewer/electricity sites available!), pitch a tent, or have a sleeping cot ready for you in John’s shiftpod superdome! You can also purchase meals from the B&B, brought to you farm-fresh by owner, Ann, and her staff. Gluten free or vegetarian or other dietary needs are no problem. We will email all attendees before the event to provide Ann with a final list of requests. Hiking will be rugged or like bushwacking in places. Field boots and long pants recommended for hikes. Start hydrating a week before the trip, as temperatures could reach the low 90s.”
This trip is being run as a break-even event. The Chapter is seeking several sponsors to help cover costs for this amazing trip! Sponsor levels include: Verde Headwaters at $750 (logo on field trip hat and top-tier in field trip guide; full-page advertisement in field trip guide), Stillman Lake at $500 (logo on field trip guide; ½ page advertisement in field trip guide) or Granite Creek at $250 (logo on field trip guide). Sponsorships will cover costs for van rental(s), fuel, field trip hats, spiral field guide printing costs, tips for the cooks and crew at the bed-n-breakfast. We might also refund the field trip fee for all if we have enough sponsor funds.
Register Today: https://members.azhydrosoc.org/event-6633579
Find more information here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/1ac017bd818c48c0bcbc612009d4af59
Itinerary :
Day 1 / Thursday / June 4th
Drive via personal vehicles to the Little Thumb Butte Bed & Breakfast in Paulden, AZ. Field School official start is at 1:00pm.
- Personal Time exploring the area around LTBBB
- Afternoon talks on area geology by local experts tentative Elizabeth Mora – Spheros Environmental
- Lunch available
- Dinner for those arriving Thursday at LTBBB
- After dinner – Orientation and overview at LTBBB Leaders – Leslie Graser (City of Prescott) and Abe Springer (NAU)
Day 2 / Friday / June 5th
Confluence of Granite Creek and Verde River, Stillman Lake; Geology; Paulden gauge; low-flow SRP gauge.
- 6:30-7:30 am Breakfast at LTBBB.
- 8 am – Hike from the LTBBB into the Upper Verde River Wildlife Area: confluence of Granite Creek and the Verde; Stillman Lake and the nearby petroglyph site; Pre-Cambrian, Cambrian, Devonian and Mississippian stratigraphy and some Tertiary volcanics. Leaders – Kimberly Schonek (TNC), Abe Springer and Elizabeth Mora.
- 11:30 pm Lunch at LTBBB.
- 1 pm – Drive then hike to the Paulden Gauge from the Rio Verde Ranch via FS635. Discussion about FS watershed restoration activities in the area. Visit to low-flow SRP gauge. Leaders – Chad Yocum– US Forest Service, Abe Springer
- 6:00 pm Dinner at LTBBB. Evening fireside presentation.
Day 3 / Saturday / June 6th
Big Chino Water Ranch, Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River Proposal Verde River State Park & vicinity
- 6:30-7:30 am – Breakfast at LTBBB
- 8-12 pm Drive to Big Chino Water Ranch (3-1). Leader – Leslie Graser or Brian Ruiz (City of Prescott). Discuss the ranch history, acquisition, features, and current scientific work. Visit one monitor well.
- 11:30 pm Lunch at LTBBB.
- 12:30 pm Talk and discussion on designation of the Upper Verde as a Wild and Scenic River.Leader – Joe Trudeau.
- 1:30-5 pm – Drive personal vehicles to Verde River State Park / Del Rio Springs / Sullivan Lake. Leaders – Kim Schonek and Selena Pao from The Nature Conservancy.
- 5 pm – Back to LTBBB to shower and freshen up.
- 6 pm – Dinner then a recap and fireside presentation Saturday night at LLTBB
Day 4 / Sunday / June 7th
Prescott Water Supply at Watson Lake, Goldwater Lake, Mine Remediation Bradshaw Mtns
- 6:30-7:30 am – Breakfast at LTBBB
- 8:30 am – Pack up and depart LTBBB.
- Watson Lake to discuss Prescott water supply. Goldwater Lake to discuss the history of the Prescott water supply, water quality monitoring and watershed restoration in the area. Leader Brian Ruiz City of Prescott.
- 11:30-12:00 pm Lunch at Goldwater Lake pavilion.
- 12:00-12:30 pm – Carpool from Goldwater Lake parking area. Visit mining remediation sites: McCleur Mine, McKinley, Storm Cloud Mine. Carpooling required. Leader – Jason Elliot ADEQ.
- 2:30-3:00 pm – Drive back on Senator Highway to Goldwater Lake parking area before returningto PHX, FLG, etc.