The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Trinity County Resource Conservation District (TCRCD) are pleased to welcome John Tiedeman to Weaverville and Trinity County. Although new to Weaverville, John brings a varied background in engineering, including 7
years of private consulting engineering, and 20 years with USDA-NRCS. State registered in civil and agricultural engineering, John has a passion for soil and water conservation, and sees brand new horizons in northern California.

John began his NRCS career in the San Joaquin Valley, and has worked throughout California, including the central coast, southern valleys (Imperial, Coachella), Sacramento Valley, and a 3-year assignment with NRCS in Mexico. From 1999-2001, John made multiple trips to Central America as part of a USDA team assisting in the recovery from hurricane Mitch. In all of these locations, the work consisted of planning, surveying, designing, and constructing soil and water conservation projects to support agriculture and wildlife habitat improvement. Each geographic area has different natural resource challenges, providing perspective for solutions.

Project types in northern California since arriving in August 2003 have included irrigation, water development for livestock and irrigation (creeks, springs, reservoirs), and stream restoration. Both a challenge and reward in NRCS conservation engineering is the diversity of projects, plus the field-to-finish responsibilities. An important part of the job satisfaction is assisting farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners in realizing their visions and dreams. The NRCS and TCRCD field office staff of natural resource specialists are diverse and dedicated team players. That could sum up the satisfaction of an engineering career of this nature – technical challenges, grateful clients, capable co-workers.

John likes to say his best reward from Mexico was meeting his wife Irene, and the birth of their older daughter, Elena. Their younger daughter, Emily, was born in Santa Maria, on the central coast of California. Both girls attend Weaverville Elementary School. John enjoys playing guitar and mandolin, and helps Elena on the piano, and Emily with the violin. Irene had a career as a children’s dentist in Mexico, but now devotes her time as mother, homemaker, and to creative pursuits (knitting, sewing, quilting). The Tiedeman family are active new members at First Baptist Church of Weaverville. John and his family are grateful for the friendly people of Weaverville who have made them feel welcome in their new home.