President Obama has nominated Harris Sherman, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, to serve as undersecretary for natural resources and environment at the Agriculture Department.
A primary focus of the undersecretary involves leadership of the Forest Service, which administers more than 191 million acres of national forests and grasslands, as well as close to 60 million acres of inventoried roadless areas.
As DNR’s director, Sherman oversees Colorado’s energy, water, wildlife, parks, forestry and state lands programs. During his tenure, he started and expanded the state’s minimum stream flow program, developed the state’s first mining reclamation program, revised the state’s oil and gas regulatory programs, started Colorado’s Natural Areas Program, participated in the largest expansion of the state’s wilderness and parks programs, and formulated the state’s role in managing synthetic fuel development.
Sherman is also co-chair of the governor’s Forest Health Advisory Council, as well as a member of the Colorado Wildlife Commission, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and Great Outdoors Colorado.
Sherman also served as the DNR director under former Gov. Dick Lamm (D). Between his two periods as DNR director, Sherman practiced law with the international law firm of Arnold & Porter LLP, where he served as managing and senior partner of the firm’s Denver office. His practice focused on natural resources, environmental, water, public land, real estate, and Indian law.
Sherman has also participated in a wide variety of public and private agencies and organizations, including tenures as chairman of the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission, Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board and Denver Regional Air Quality Council. He has served as Colorado’s Commissioner of Mines, as well as a commissioner of the Denver Water Board and trustee of Colorado College, University of Colorado Natural Resources Law Center and the Keystone Center. He is currently a Trustee of the Boettcher Foundation, one of Colorado’s oldest charitable foundations.
Sherman received his bachelor’s degree from Colorado College and his law degree from Columbia University Law School.
Sherman’s nomination drew praise from Gov. Bill Ritter (D).
“He truly understands the solemn responsibility that comes with the conservation and responsible management of those resources, and he is tireless in his dedication and commitment to leaving this state better than we found it. Having twice served as Colorado ’s director of natural resources, first in the Lamm administration and again since 2007, I know he will do an outstanding job as under secretary,” Ritter said in a statement.
The nomination was also applauded by environmental groups, who touted Sherman’s record as a conservationist.
“Sherman has spent a lifetime working to conserve open space, wildlife habitat, and Colorado’s precious water resources,” Matt Garrington of Environment Colorado said in a statement. “It’s no doubt that Sherman’s wisdom will help create smart, sensible policies for our nation’s forests.”
Some sportsmen’s groups were quick to encourage Sherman to back a strong national roadless rule as undersecretary. Colorado’s proposed roadless rule has drawn criticism from sportsmen for language they say would allow significant backcountry development that could negatively affect these lands.
“We would like to congratulate Mr. Sherman and ask that he promote the long-term conservation of our backcountry hunting and fishing traditions, including upholding and defending the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which safeguards our nation’s roadless areas, should he be confirmed as undersecretary,” Joel Webster, associate director of campaigns for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s Center for Western Lands, said in a statement.
