Fish & Wildlife Commission

Dennis Byrne – District I 

Dennis has served on the commission for 12 years. His hobbies include building, installing, and maintaining bluebird and wood duck boxes as well as collecting, refurbishing, and gifting fishing rods and reels to local children. He assists in local wildlife projects to include deer crossing signs and the California Department of Wildlife dove banding project. Dennis helps with sourcing and stocking fish in local ponds and supports local children’s fishing derbies.  

Larry Robinson – District II

Larry Joe Robinson is a native of El Dorado County. He serves on the County Council of the Abnaki West Coast Indian Tribe and is a former member of the El Dorado Indian Council. He has been an avid hunter and fisherman for more than 50 years, whose passion is wildlife conservation. 

Jim Davies – District III 

Jim Davies is a licensed forester who has worked and lived in El Dorado County for over 50 years. Passionate about the county's forests and wildlife, Jim now works for the El Dorado Resource Conservation District, rehabilitating burned landscapes and implementing fuel reduction projects within the urban-suburban-wildland interface. He is honored to have been chosen by our District III Supervisor for his position on the Fish and Wildlife Commission. 

Patrick Weddle – District IV 

Patrick Weddle is a retired entomologist specializing in integrated pest management and pesticide policy reform. A life-long outdoorsman, Pat especially enjoys fly fishing. He has served on the El Dorado County Fish & Wildlife Commission in various capacities since he retired in 2011.  

Leona Allen – District V 

Leona is a life-long resident of Tahoe’s portion of El Dorado County. Her passion for fish and wildlife conservation comes from growing up in the naturally rich environment of the Sierras, and being trained to track animals by her father. She volunteers as an Interpretive Ranger at Taylor Creek Visitors Center, monitoring the Black Bear population to keep them safe. 

Mike Denega – At Large 

Mike Denega is a retired teaching professional. During his career, he taught biological sciences and provided travel opportunities for students seeking special outdoor experiences, especially associated with marine environments and wetlands. Mike has a love and passion for teaching, viewing, and photographing wildlife. He has served on the Fish and Wildlife Commission since 2011. www.mikedenega.com 

Dr. Steven Schwarzbach – At Large 

Dr. Steven Schwarzbach, PhD, Ecology, retired from the USGS in 2014, where he had been the director of the Western Ecological Research Center for 10 years. Prior to his tenure with USGS he spent 14 years with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, where he was the chief of the Environmental Contaminants Division of the Sacramento Field Office. He currently serves as the Vice-President of the Board for the El Dorado Resource Conservation District and has been a resident of El Dorado County for 45 years.