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Oak Creek Watershed Council
Sedona, AZ · EIN 270084050 · Form 990EZ · FY2021 · NTEE C27 · Environment · Small ($100K-$1M) · oakcreekwatershed.org
revenue
$110K
expenses
$100K
net assets
$36K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

see Schedule O

profile · synthesized from sources

The Oak Creek Watershed Council protects and restores the Oak Creek watershed in Arizona through water quality monitoring, community cleanups, and educational outreach. The organization focuses on mitigating the impacts of increased tourism and recreational use on the fragile riparian ecosystem, addressing issues like E. coli contamination and habitat degradation.

named programs · 12 · from sources

what they call their work

Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Surveys aquatic insects to monitor the impact of sediment on the stream bottom, which affects the food chain and water quality.
Oak Creek Ambassador Program
Monitors heavily-used recreation sites, educates visitors, picks up trash and waste, and monitors water quality in partnership with various agencies.
Oak Creek Community Outreach Program (OCCOP)
Raises awareness about the consequences of littering and pollution, and promotes responsible outdoor behavior among visitors and residents.
Oak Creek Steward Program
Engages volunteers to clean up littered areas, record data on trash and visitor impact, and inform land managers about problem areas.
Oak Creek Watershed Educational Brochure
Provides information on issues threatening the watershed and how individuals can help, funded by ADEQ and EPA.
Oak Creek Watershed Improvement Plan (OCWIP)
A "living" document approved by ADEQ that outlines strategies for improving the Oak Creek Watershed.
Pet Waste Station (PWS) Program
Identifies locations for pet waste stations to reduce E. coli contamination from dog feces in Oak Creek.
Pickin’ Up in the Pines
Collaborative watershed cleanup event focused on cleaning camping areas in the forests that are the headwaters of Oak Creek canyon.
Social Trail Rehabilitation Monitoring and Watershed Improvement Projects
Monitors and improves areas impacted by social trails and recreational use to protect the riparian ecosystem.
Stormwater Pollution Mitigation
Hosts cleanup events in partnership with the City of Sedona to educate residents about stormwater pollution and its impact on the watershed.
Voluntourism
Hosts cleanup events in partnership with the Sedona Chamber of Commerce to encourage visitors to "give back" while learning about the watershed.
Water Quality Sampling
Monitors water quality in Oak Creek, including E. coli bacteria and sedimentation, to assess ecological health and inform land managers.
activities · 6 groups

what they do

  • Watershed Planning & Management 4 activities
    • Development of Watershed Improvement Plans and Educational Materials
      Develops and completes watershed improvement plans, such as the Oak Creek Watershed Improvement Plan, and creates educational brochures in collaboration with partner agencies to address watershed health issues.
    • Watershed Improvement Planning
      Develops and implements watershed improvement plans, such as the Oak Creek Watershed Improvement Plan (OCWIP) and a Watershed Based Plan, in collaboration with various stakeholders and approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
    • Watershed Improvement Planning
      Develops and implements watershed improvement plans, such as the Oak Creek Watershed Improvement Plan (OCWIP) and a Watershed Based Plan, in collaboration with members and approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
    • Watershed Planning and Improvement
      Develops and implements watershed improvement plans, such as the Oak Creek Watershed Improvement Plan (OCWIP) and a Watershed Based Plan, in collaboration with members and approved by state environmental agencies.
  • Pet Waste Management Infrastructure 4 activities
    • Pet Waste Station Program
      Identifies locations for and implements pet waste stations within the Oak Creek corridor to mitigate pet waste pollution.
    • Pet Waste Station Program
      Identifies locations for pet waste stations within the Oak Creek corridor to manage pet waste and improve watershed health.
    • Pet Waste Station Program
      Identifies locations for and implements pet waste stations within the Oak Creek corridor to manage pet waste and reduce its impact on the watershed.
    • Pet Waste Station Program
      Identifies locations for and implements pet waste stations within the Oak Creek corridor to address pet waste management.
  • Nature-Based Environmental Education Programs 3 activities
    • Oak Creek Ambassador Program
      Utilizes a volunteer workforce through its Ambassador program to monitor heavily-used recreation sites, engage with visitors, pick up trash, and monitor water quality.
    • Volunteer Management
      Utilizes and manages a volunteer workforce through programs like the Ambassador program, recruiting hundreds of volunteers who contribute thousands of hours to support watershed activities.
    • Volunteer Management (Ambassador Program)
      Utilizes and manages a volunteer workforce through its Ambassador program, which involves recruiting and deploying volunteers to monitor recreation sites, engage with visitors, and participate in cleanup and water quality monitoring efforts, totaling 1,080 volunteer hours in a year.
  • Water Quality & Hydrologic Monitoring 3 activities
    • Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting
      Monitors and samples water quality in Oak Creek, including macroinvertebrate surveys, in collaboration with partner agencies. The organization also publishes comprehensive reports on water quality trends for Oak Creek and Fossil Creek.
    • Water Quality Monitoring and Research
      Monitors and samples water quality in Oak Creek, including macroinvertebrate surveys, and analyzes data to assess trends and impacts, publishing comprehensive reports on findings.
    • Water Quality Monitoring and Research
      Monitors and samples water quality in Oak Creek, including macroinvertebrate surveys, in collaboration with partner agencies. The collected data is provided to land managers and used to publish comprehensive reports on water quality trends.
  • Organized Community Litter Cleanups 3 activities
    • Watershed Cleanup Events
      Organizes and conducts volunteer-led cleanup events in the Oak Creek watershed, including specific initiatives like "Pickin' Up in the Pines," to remove litter and waste. Since 2019, these efforts have removed over 3,105 pounds of trash.
    • Watershed Cleanup Events
      Organizes and conducts regular cleanup events in the Oak Creek watershed, including specific initiatives like "Pickin' Up in the Pines," removing thousands of pounds of trash to maintain pristine creek sites and educate the public on stormwater pollution and watershed protection.
    • Watershed Cleanup and Litter Removal
      Organizes and conducts volunteer-led cleanup events in the Oak Creek watershed, including specific camping areas and heavily-used recreation sites, removing thousands of pounds of trash to maintain pristine creek sites.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Data Stewardship for Land Managers
      Records and provides environmental data collected by stewards to land managers to inform decision-making and resource management.
    • Watershed Education and Outreach
      Operates outreach and education programs, including the Ambassador program, to teach about watershed processes, Leave No Trace principles, and stormwater pollution, reaching over 1,000 people annually.
    • Watershed Education and Outreach
      Operates outreach and education programs to teach about watershed processes and Leave No Trace principles, engaging with visitors and educating over 1,000 people annually. This includes creating educational brochures in collaboration with other organizations.
    • Watershed Education and Outreach
      Operates outreach and education programs to teach about watershed processes, Leave No Trace principles, and stormwater pollution. This includes creating educational brochures and engaging with visitors at recreation sites, reaching over 1,000 people in a year.
    • Watershed Education and Outreach
      Operates outreach and education programs, including the Oak Creek Ambassador Program, to teach about watershed processes, Leave No Trace principles, and watershed health issues. This includes creating educational brochures and engaging with visitors at recreation sites.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$110K
Contributions & grants$40K37%
Program service revenue$70K63%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$100K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$33K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$36K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$36K
2 years on record · 2020–2021 · YoY revenue +41.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Kalai Kollus Executive Director key employee 23 $33K
board members · 4
  • Cindy Dunn — Director
  • Crystal Routhe — Director
  • McKenzie Jones — Director
  • Michael Righi — Director
relationships · 26

who they work with

  • AZ State Parks Partner — Partnered during the 4th of July Weekend Cleanup at Slide Rock State Park.
  • Arizona Community Foundation Partner — Partner in the Oak Creek Ambassador Program.
  • Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona Funder — Supported the organization's work.
  • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Partner — Collaborated on creating an educational brochure and approved the Oak Creek Watershed Improvement Plan.
  • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Partner — Partner in the Oak Creek Ambassador Program and collaborated on an educational brochure.
  • Arizona Dept. of Environmental Quality Partner — Invited participants to the "Pickin' Up in the Pines" event.
  • City of Sedona Funder — Supported the organization's work.
  • City of Sedona Partner — Partner in the Oak Creek Ambassador Program, hosts cleanup events for stormwater pollution mitigation, and supported the 2021 water quality report.
  • Coconino National Forest Partner — Invited participants to the "Pickin' Up in the Pines" event.
  • Coconino National Forest Partner — Invites participation in the "Pickin' Up in the Pines" cleanup event.
  • Dark Sky Brewery Partner — Partnered to increase impact and participated in the Pickin’ Up in the Pines event.
  • EPA Funder — Provided funding for an educational brochure.
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Funder — Provided grants to fund an educational brochure.
  • Leave No Trace Center Partner — Encourages visitors to learn about Leave No Trace principles from their website.
  • National Forest Foundation Partner — Invited participants to the "Pickin' Up in the Pines" event.
  • National Forest Foundation Partner — Partner in the Oak Creek Ambassador Program and "Pickin' Up in the Pines" cleanup event.
  • REI Co-Op Partner — Partnered to increase impact and participated in the 4th of July Weekend Cleanup and Pickin’ Up in the Pines event.
  • Sedona Chamber of Commerce Funder — Supported the organization's work.
  • Sedona Chamber of Commerce Partner — Supported the 2020 water quality report and partners on voluntourism cleanup events.
  • Sedona Chamber of Commerce Partner — Supports stewardship and Voluntourism efforts, making events like "Pickin' Up in the Pines" possible.
  • The National Forest Foundation Funder — Supported the organization's work.
  • U.S. Forest Service Partner — Partnered to increase impact and participated in the Pickin’ Up in the Pines event.
  • U.S. Forest Service Partner — Provided a watershed map.
  • United States Forest Service Partner — Collaborated on the "Pickin' Up in the Pines" watershed clean-up event.
  • United States Forest Service (USFS) Partner — Partner in the Oak Creek Ambassador Program.
  • tmsr Design Delivery Partner — Collaborated on creating an educational brochure.