The mission of the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC) is to work with the community to manage, conserve, improve, and enjoy the natural resources of Tehama County.

Who We Are

The RCDTC is a non-regulatory, public agency providing conservation leadership through technical, financial, and educational support for voluntary stewardship of natural resources on public and private lands in our community. In 2018, the RCDTC received the "District of the Year" award from the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.

What We Do

The RCDTC supports local residents, landowners, agricultural producers, educators, and government agencies voluntarily address small and large scale natural resource needs. We facilitate land use decisions that are socially acceptable, ecologically sound, and economically feasible across the landscape.

Service Area

The RCDTC serves all of Tehama County, covering 1,761,000 acres, except the cities of Tehama, Corning, and Red Bluff. Landscapes in the county include valley floor agricultural and urban uses, foothill grasslands and chaparral, scattered blue oak woodlands, mixed forest communities in the higher elevations, and the wildland-urban interface.

Formation

The RCDTC was formed in 1987 as a legal subdivision of the State of California, governed by Division Nine of the Public Resources Code, to conserve natural resources within its borders. The District is wholly funded by grants, donations, and contracts. It receives no general tax revenues.

Leadership

Leadership and governance of the RCDTC's seven-member volunteer Board of Directors appointed by the Tehama County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Directors is made up of local landowners with a diverse background and interests yet share their practice real-world experience in support of the RCDTC's mission. The roles of the Directors are to establish priorities and guidelines and oversee general operations. If you are interested in serving on the Board or serve as an Associate Direct, please contact our District Manager for more information. Day-to-day management of the RCDTC is conducted by a District Manager and the work of the RCDTC is performed by staff who all share a passion for conservation. See Board & Staff page for more information.

Excellence

In 2018, the RCDTC received the District of the Year Award from the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD). This award is given to an RCD that is relevant, excellent, and visible in its community. We were honored to receive the award and have kept these principles at the forefront of our work. The RCDTC remains relevant by addressing multiple resource concerns in our community including water management, wildfire prevention, wildlife habitat restoration, carbon sequestration as well as soil and energy conservation and educational outreach. The RCDTC prides itself on excellence through its outstanding financial and operational management as well as project administration. The RCD maintains visibility through extensive community engagement. The 1,300 individuals reached annually through the RCDTC's outreach programs speak to our commitment to public education. Staff participation on a variety of county committees keeps the RCDTC connected with local decision-makers. Staff also attend or host multiple community events and meetings to connect with various segments of the community.

From the Beginning

Our story begins in the drought-stricken Dust Bowl era of the 1930's where poor land management lead to a period of severe dust storms throughout the plains of north america. The international disaster cause tremendous damage to agriculture and ecology. Thereafter, Congress recognized that soil conservation is critical and made erosion control the #1 priority for sustaining a healthy agricultural industry. The well-being of the country relied on it! As a result the Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resource Conservation Service or NRCS) was formed with local counterparts called Soil Conservation Districts--today's Resource Conservation Districts to serve as a liaison between local landowners and government agencies. Since that time, the NRCS and RCDs have maintained a close working relationship to conserve the natural resources throughout Tehama County.

Balanced Use of Natural Resources

The RCDTC applies the tragic lessons learned from the Dust Bowl era in supporting sound ecological practices across the local landscape: agricultural lands, riparian corridors, oak woodlands, chaparral, mixed forests, conifer forest, and timberlands under public and private ownership. There is much to consider when managing land. The RCDTC helps local landowners and citizens navigate water, air, forest, and soil needs for practical economic and ecologic outcomes. The RCDTC continues to grow and strenghten over time to meet the ever-changing conservation needs facing our community.   

Vicky Partch Dawley

A Legacy of Leadership, Conservation, and Community

Over four decades, Vicky Dawley stood at the intersection of land stewardship, organizational leadership, and public service. As Founder, former Advisor and District Manager of the Resource Conservation District Tehama County (RCDTC), she helped shape the district into a cornerstone of conservation in northern California. Her leadership from 2002 to 2021 guided the district through significant growth by securing millions in grant funding to address local natural resource needs while building a trusted board and staff team. She also founded the Tehama Conservation Fund to expand the district’s capacity for public engagement and diversify funding.

Today, her influence continues through the networks, people, and programs she helped build. Even after stepping down as District Manager, she remained a dedicated Advisor, mentoring staff, counseling on Board communications, and anchoring the organization’s culture of integrity and humility. Her legacy is evident in the district’s continued success and respected presence throughout the state.

She brought deep-rooted, hands-on experience in working landscapes. Since 1975, she helped manage Big Bluff Ranch in Red Bluff, California, the family-run, diverse operation focused on regenerative agriculture, restoration, and education. Her experience spans from infrastructure development and conservation practices to holistic pastured livestock production, ranching, agritourism, and educational outreach. She lived the work from the soil up.

Prior to becoming District Manager, Vicky served as the RCDTC’s first Watershed Coordinator in 1999. In this capacity, she managed the organization’s earliest multi-year grants and launched outreach and restoration efforts that paved the way for decades of community-centered conservation.

Vicky served as elected Vice-Chair and appointed voting member of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel. Secretary Karen Ross first appointed Vicky to the Panel in January 2017 and her fellow Panel members elected her co-chair in April 2021 where she served until her passing. Vicky was a clear and compelling voice for ensuring that farmers and ranchers have access to reliable, on-the-ground technical support as they adapt to the growing challenges of climate change. Her leadership helped guide CDFA’s flagship incentive programs through significant periods of growth and transition, and she played a key role in shaping the Climate Smart Agriculture Technical Assistance program, launched in 2019. Her persistent advocacy for greater inclusion of ranchers in CDFA’s policies and programs remains a source of inspiration.

She was also an active member of the Tehama County Cattlewomen’s scholarship committee, reflecting her educational values to the local ranching community and commitment to agricultural heritage. She served eight years on the board of trustees of the Reeds Creek School District followed by eight years as trustee of the Red Bluff Joint Union High School District.

Vicky held a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in Business and Human Resources Management from Simpson University, along with studies in Plant Science at UC Davis. Her career reflects a rare blend of entrepreneurial spirit, technical know-how, and public-minded leadership, a foundation upon which much of the RCD’s reputation stands today.

She understood that an organization’s strength comes from the people behind it. She made it a priority to invest in her staff, not just professionally, but personally. She mentored with intention, encouraged growth, and built a workplace culture rooted in respect, humor, and genuine care. Under her leadership, the RCD became more than a workplace; it became a community where staff celebrated one another's accomplishments, showed up for each other, and shared a deep commitment to doing meaningful work together.

In honor of Vicky

She remains with us in the working landscapes she helped restore, the people she uplifted, and the community she served with unwavering dedication. We appreciate her care, courage, and connection.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10am on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at  William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park at 21659 Adobe Road in Red Bluff, CA. 

In lieu of flowers, the Dawley family welcomes donations in her memory to:

·         Tehama Conservation Fund, supporting the programs she helped launch

·         ALS Association, supporting research and care for those affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)