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City unveils Willow Lake management plan process, highlights vegetation and water-quality priorities
Summary
City staff and a consultant outlined a year-long effort to develop a Willow Lake (Willow Creek Reservoir) management plan focused on water quantity and quality, vegetation management, recreation and partner coordination; the city contracted Southwest Decision Resources for planning services at $110,000 for one year.
Prescott, Ariz. — City staff and consultant Southwest Decision Resources told the Prescott City Council on Sept. 9 that work is underway to develop a Willow Lake management plan focused on water quality and quantity, vegetation management, and public use, and asked for council input on priorities and engagement.
Why it matters: Willow Lake (officially Willow Creek Reservoir) is shallower and warmer than nearby Watson Lake, supports a distinct set of wildlife and recreational uses, and — according to staff — faces high sediment loading and widespread vegetation growth that can reduce storage capacity and degrade water quality.
What staff presented - Jeremy Cordova, environmental project manager for Prescott Public Works, said Willow Lake has an ADWR-rated full capacity of about 5,980 acre-feet and is roughly 450 acres at full pool compared with Watson Lake’s roughly 230 acres. Cordova said Willow receives an estimated 173,000 annual visits (mostly local) versus Watson’s roughly 250,000 visits. - Cordova and consultant Lisa Clark described the planning process: an assessment phase nearing completion, a steering committee and working groups for water, recreation, vegetation/habitat and community engagement, iterative public meetings, and a goal of producing an "actionable plan" staff and partner departments will adopt and implement. - Cordova told council the city used a direct selection process to hire Southwest Decision Resources after staff concluded a competitive solicitation likely would not produce multiple responsive submittals; the contract was described as a one-year engagement valued at $110,000, with possible extension for implementation support.
Public and council concerns Council members and public speakers emphasized vegetation management, wildlife protection, measurable benchmarks, and cost-benefit analysis. Councilman Moore, who identified himself as a frequent lake user and birder, said the shoreline and lakebed currently support extensive willow and cottonwood growth and recommended careful handling of biomass to avoid water-quality problems when vegetation decomposes. Consultant Lisa Clark and staff discussed options including mechanical vegetation removal, mowing strategies tied to water level thresholds, and biological/enzymatic treatments such as ongoing trials with a product described by staff as "muck away." Cordova said monthly water-quality monitoring is already in place and would be used to set benchmarks.
Authorities and legal drivers Cordova said the city’s bond that financed acquisition of Willow Lake includes priorities that place water quantity and quality as a legal reason for city ownership; staff said those bond covenants make water supply and water quality high priorities in the plan.
Next steps and measures of success - Staff and the consultant plan site visits, working-group meetings and at least two community meetings. The team expects an initial draft plan to be returned to council for guidance in 2026 and then move toward adoption and implementation. - Success metrics discussed include established water-quality baselines (pH, dissolved oxygen), angler-satisfaction scores from Arizona Game and Fish, and vegetation distribution changes after management actions. Cordova said Game and Fish reports angler satisfaction at just below 80% with a target near 85%.
Clarifying details (on the record) - ADWR-rated full capacity for Willow Lake: approximately 5,980 acre-feet (staff provided this figure). - Estimated annual visits: Willow Lake ~173,000; Watson Lake ~250,000 (tourism department figures cited by staff). - Lake area at full pool (staff estimate): Willow ~450 acres; Watson ~230 acres. - Contract: Southwest Decision Resources, direct selection; one-year term; value cited as $110,000; staff said extension/implementation contract possible.
Ending City staff will continue convening the steering committee and working groups, hold a public site visit and return to the council with a draft plan for adoption. Councilmembers and public speakers urged measurable benchmarks and cost-benefit analyses so implementation decisions can be evaluated against clear environmental and recreational goals.
