One of the West’s top water officials was pushed to resign by the Trump administration. Anne Castle was appointed to serve as federal representative to the Upper Colorado River Commission by the Biden administration in 2022.
It’s not uncommon for her position to turn over with a change in the White House. But Castle says she’s worried about the future under Trump. She says recent orders to release water from California reservoirs were based on a "total lack of understanding about how the system works."
"While it's rational, I think, for us to think that the Colorado River system and its policy direction isn't partisan, and therefore may be safe … while that's rational to think, these are not rational orders," Castle said.
Although she’s left her position, Castle says she’ll be watching how states sharing Colorado River water work towards compromise.
"I think that there is opportunity and possibly some reason for optimism that the states are talking more substantively now about how to get to a consensus agreement," Castle said.
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Arizona is considering pumping water from a desalination plant on the Gulf of California to boost its water supply, but would need buy-in from Mexico. -
Thursday marks the kickoff of the third annual International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Summit, hosted at Arizona State University. -
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren made his third annual state address in Shiprock on Tuesday, outlining his administration’s accomplishments amid ongoing efforts to remove him from office before his term expires this year. -
Gov. Katie Hobbs announced in her annual State of the State address on Monday that a depleted groundwater basin in La Paz county will now be subject to conservation measures. -
And now let’s turn to Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro. The Show spoke with him about the governor’s speech, what he makes of some of her proposals and the GOP’s priorities for the upcoming session.
