Richard Harris

Dr. Harris has over 40 years of diverse experience in forestry, environmental assessment and planning and the ecology and management of riparian vegetation and oak woodlands.

Early in his career, Dr. Harris was project manager and/or principal-in-charge for many environmental assessment and planning projects throughout California and in other western states during the period 1977-1982. These included general plans, resource management plans, environmental impact reports and statements and forest management plans. From 1982 to the present, Dr. Harris specialized in the assessment of impacts on riparian vegetation for numerous proposed and existing hydroelectric, water supply and flood control projects on streams throughout California. His projects were on the Kern River, Feather River (Oroville Project), Whitewater River, South Fork American River, Orestimba Creek, Truckee River and numerous smaller streams throughout the Sierra Nevada.

After completing his Ph.D. at Berkeley Dr. Harris taught at the University of Wisconsin and conducted research at Oregon State University. He then joined the University of California Cooperative Extension initially as Extension Forester in Humboldt County and later as Cooperative Extension Forestry Advisor and Statewide Specialist at Berkeley where he remained for over 20 years. As a University researcher and Extension educator, Dr. Harris participated in interagency committees and programs, conducted applied research (e.g., contract work with Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Department of Fish and Game, US Environmental Protection Agency, etc.), and conducted educational events for resource professionals and landowners on forest stewardship, rural road management and environmental topics.

Since leaving the University of California Dr. Harris has worked as an independent consultant to TSS Consultants and other clients. Some recent assignments at TSS have included a nation-wide evaluation of biomass energy feedstock availability and an assessment of forest conditions in three Sierra Nevada counties. He currently works on behalf of TSS as the tree mortality program manager in Amador and Calaveras Counties. His current projects with other clients include serving as a specialist on oak woodland ecology and management and wildfire management for the Placer County Conservation Plan and Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan (HCP/NCCP plans) and planning forester at the El Dorado and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts (reforestation projects, fuels treatments e.g., Fire Adapted 50, forest management plans and community wildfire management plans).

Employment

• Environmental Specialist, TSS Consultants, Rancho Cordova, 2008 to present.
• Cooperative Extension Forestry Specialist, University of California, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, Berkeley, 1991 to 2009.
• Consulting Environmental Specialist, Start California, Inc., Sacramento, CA, 2004 to 2008.
• Consulting Environmental Specialist, Resource Insights, Inc. and MWH Global, Sacramento, CA, 1996 to 2004.
• Associate Extension Forest Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Humboldt/Del Norte Counties, Eureka, CA, 1988 to 1991.
• Consulting Ecologist. State of Wisconsin Department of Justice, Madison, WI, 1987 to 1988.
• Post Doctoral Research Ecologist, Oregon State University, Department of Forest Science, Corvallis, OR, 1986 to 1987.
• Assistant Professor of Land Use Planning, University of Wisconsin, Department of Plant and Earth Science, River Falls, WI, 1984 to 1986.
• Consulting Ecologist, Jones and Stokes Associates, Sacramento, CA and numerous other clients, 1982 to 1985.
• Lecturer on Environmental Impact Assessment, University of California, Department of Conservation and Resource Studies, Berkeley, 1977-1979; 1983.
• Principal and Manager of Northern California Operations, LSA Associates, Berkeley, CA 1977-1982.
• Environmental Analyst, Marin County Planning Department, San Rafael, CA, 1974-1977.

Education

• University of California, Berkeley; B.S. Forest Resource Management, 1974; M.L.A. Landscape Architecture, 1976; Ph.D. Wildland Resource Science, 1985