WE ARE HIRING! Please review the job description below.  

 Conservation Coordinator

Our staff is dedicated to providing excellent services to our customers in a reliable, fiscally responsible manner.

Elizabeth Harper

Executive Director

liz@colusarcd.org

About: Liz grew up in Colusa and returned in 2012 to pursue her passion for farming and rural living.  She began as a ranch intern at Peterson Ranch, a large family farm that produces orchard crops, later that year.  She soon became the Assistant Agronomist working in a close-knit farm management team. Responsibilities included: developing nutrient budgets, managing the irrigation program, and coordinating Integrated Pest Management projects. In her final year at the ranch, Liz became the Assistant Director of Food Safety and Government Compliance, work included developing and implementing a Global Good Agricultural Practice plan.   

Concurrently in 2013, Liz was hired by the local RCD as a Conservation Technician. She was directed by Audubon Society’s lead conservationists to develop and maintain hedgerows at Davis Ranches. 

Apprenticing professionals in both conservation and agriculture specific to Colusa County's ecological farmscape has only solidified Liz's desire to integrate and help sustain both in the place she re-calls home.  

In 2018, CCRCD hired Liz as the Assistant Executive Director to take over the leadership of the RCD at the year's end.  Liz is thrilled to be able to serve her rural community in conserving, protecting and restoring natural resources well into the future.  

When not at work, Liz enjoys raising her son in a small town, running with her dog along the Sacramento River, cooking NYT recipes, attempting a xeriscape garden, reading everything, and traveling outside the valley every once in a while.  

Agriculture Professional certifications:

Certified Crop Advisor/ August 2018

Qualified Applicators License/ March 2017

UC Davis: Walnut Short Course

UC Davis: Pomology Short Course (2-week intensive)

California Farm Academy, Center for Land-based Learning, Winters,
CA / Class of 2014

Graduated in 2008 from Seattle Pacific University, BA in Family and Consumer Science: Individual and Family Development     

Alexandra Berlier

Bookkeeper/ Office Assistant 

alexandra@colusarcd.org

Alexandra is the new Bookkeeper/ Office Assistant at the Colusa County RCD.

About: Alexandra grew up in Willows, CA and moved to Williams, CA in 2019. She is currently enrolled in school to pursue her dream career in Wildlife Biology. Alexandra has always loved nature and more importantly animals. She is excited to be part of the RCD, and to start getting experience in her future career path. When Alexandra is not at work you can find her adventuring/ traveling with her friends, saving animals, and spending time at home with her 2 dogs Miley and Nadia as well as her cat Zodiac. 

Tucker Bennett

Natural Resource Coordinator

bennett@colusarcd.org

Tucker is the new Natural Resource Coordinator at the Colusa County RCD and Colusa County NRCS. 

Tucker grew up in King City, CA where he learned the ins and out of farming. He moved to Chico, CA in 2015, and graduated from CSU, Chico with a BS in Parks and Natural Resources Management. Tucker is excited to join the RCD team to help farmers address natural resource concerns in and around farm land. When Tucker is not working he is enjoying the outdoors and spending time with family. 

Eduardo Blancas-Alcantara

Project Coordinator

eduardo@colusarcd.org

Eduardo is the new Conservation Project Coordinator at the Colusa County Resource Conservation District.

Eduardo grew up in Corning, CA where he started his natural resource career with the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge as a YCC Crew Lead and went on to work for the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve as a Land Steward where he learned the intricacies of land management and the importance of returning good fire back into the landscape. 

He then went on to work for the Mendocino and Shasta Trinity National Forests as a Wildland Firefighter for 2 seasons learning the various fire suppression tactics and fuels management techniques of the U.S. Forest Service. In his final semester at Chico State he worked for Recreation Site Management, where he learned how to coordinate with various public land agencies in efforts to maintain and revitalize our public lands. Eduardo graduated from Chico State with a BS in Parks and Natural Resource Management and in 2023 was hired by the CCRCD as a Project Coordinator to help manage the RCD’s Forest Health programs.

When not at work he likes to tinker in automotive mechanics and spend time with his family.

Margot Flynn

Sacramento Valley Regional Soil Hub Coordinator

margot@svsoilhub.org

Margot is the new Sacramento Valley Regional Soil Hub Coordinator for the Sacramento Valley Region of RCDs, which include: Butte, Colusa, Feather River, Glenn, Sutter, Sierra, Tehama, Yolo, Yuba, and Western Shasta County RCDs. 

Margot is an agricultural ecologist who has been working in community outreach and on farm research for the last 4 years. Margot holds a B.A. in Environment Science from Colorado College an a M.Sc. in Ecology from UC Davis, where she worked in almond orchards to measure the impacts of regenerative management on water use. Margot's passion for sustainable food systems has drawn her to work with RCDs where she is enthusiastic about merging her experiences in community engagement with her technical skills to support climate smart agriculture and help build a healthy, harmonious, and resilient region. When she's not at work, she enjoys making ceramics, exploring California's landscapes, and searching for the best strawberry milkshake in the Central Valley.