Denny is new coordinator for conservation program in four districts

Mike Denny is the new Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program coordinator for the Pomeroy Conservation District and Whitman County Conservation districts. He comes from Walla Walla County Conservation District where he was the riparian habitat coordinator and outreach and education co-chair.

Born in Klamath Falls, Ore, he moved with his family to southeast Africa where he grew up in the countries of Malawi and Zambia. It was here that he developed a great interest in conservation and natural history. He attended high schools in Burns, Ore., and Caldwell, Idaho, and studied biology at Walla Walla College.

He has worked for the U.S. Forest Service where he studied small vertebrate populations and did surveys on the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests.

Denny worked for years with the Walla Walla County Conservation District where he was the Riparian Habitat Coordinator in charge of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Mike has also co-authored three books. “Birds of the Inland Northwest and the Northern Rockies” (2008), “The Birds of Interior B.C. and the Rockies” (2009) and “Where the Great River Bends: A Natural and Human History of the Columbia at Wallula” (2008.

He also illustrated “The Birders Guide to Idaho” (1998). He also sits on the board of the Tri-State Steelheaders where he recently was awarded the Wib Wagoner Award for Conservation. He is very involved with many other conservation organizations in southeast Washington.

Denny and his wife of 26 years, MerryLynn, enjoy birding, photography, travel, hiking and people. Mike is looking forward to his job in Whitman County.