Deer Creek is 60 miles of crystal clear water that drains 134 surrounding square miles of some of the prettiest country in Northern California. From its headwaters in mountains near Lassen National Park to its mouth in the Sacramento River, Deer Creek drops over 5,000 vertical feet, cascading through alpine forests and rugged foothills before its flows over the Vina plains and into the central valley. Historically it has been home for salmon, steelhead, deer and other wildlife, and provided for the human needs of Native Americans, early settlers, and farmers and ranchers. Its benevolent climate and fertile soils led Leland Stanford to build an agricultural empire and the basis for a town that would become Vina.

 Today the Deer Creek watershed continues to produce timber, crops, wine grapes, and livestock, and is still graced by three runs of salmon, trout, steelhead and a plethora of wildlife. A history of careful land stewardship has maintained the excellent conditions that support these species, and landowners and managers continue to strive for a balance that addresses the needs of both wildlife and agriculture. It was in this spirit of stewardship the Deer Creek Watershed Conservancy was formed in 1993.  Since that time the Conservancy has been a leader in promoting sustainable, landowner-driven watershed management.