WASHINGTON, D.C.—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today lauded President Obama’s announcement that he intends to nominate Anne Castle to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science. Castle has more than 25 years of experience in water rights, water quality and natural resources law. She currently serves as a partner in the Denver, Colo. office of Holland & Hart LLP.
“Anne Castle is one of the nation’s foremost experts in water and natural resource law,” said Secretary Salazar. “She will be an invaluable addition to our team as we work to address the water challenges facing our country and as we restore the role of science in decision-making at the Department of the Interior. Anne will help us find common sense solutions on some of the most difficult 21st century challenges we face, from climate change to water shortages.”
Castle has been at Holland & Hart LLP since 1981. She has been a partner since 1987 in the Denver office. She was elected in 2001 to chair the firm’s management committee and served in that position until 2004. She has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for water law both in 2007 and 2008—the first years that included the water category. The Women’s Vision Foundation selected Castle for its prestigious Woman of Vision award in 2008, recognizing positive, enlightened leadership and active promotion of the advancement of women within the law firm and in the community. She was featured in the November 2008 issue of Law Practice magazine in its leadership profile series.
Anne Castle’s practice has been extensive, including litigation and multi-party negotiations involving water issues, water related transactions, and advice on water policy and strategy. Her clients have included a wide assortment of water users from small and large municipal water and wastewater treatment providers to farmers and ranchers, water and conservation districts and operators of commercial facilities.
In 2007 Colorado Governor Ritter appointed her to the South Platte River Basin Task Force that examined the water crisis and its challenges for water users in the northeast Colorado basin, and provided recommendations for legislative changes that continue to be explored. She also was the chair and an elected member of the Board of Directors, Genesee Water and Sanitation District from 1989 to 2002. Castle was appointed a member of the Colorado Ground Water Commission from 1994 to 2002 by former Colorado Governor Roy Romer.
The Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of the Interior has responsibility for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).