Anne Castle Confirmed as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science
DENVER (June 22, 2009) - Holland & Hart partner Anne Castle has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science. In this position, Castle will oversee water and science policy and will have responsibility for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey.
On Friday, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said of the confirmation, "Anne Castle has more than 25 years of experience in water rights, water quality, and natural resources law." He continued, "I welcome Anne to our leadership team and look forward to working with her on the major water and science challenges we face, from climate impacts, to drought and regional water issues."
In 2007, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter appointed Castle to the South Platte River Basin Task Force. Castle was appointed a member of the Colorado Ground Water Commission from 1994 to 2002 by former Colorado Governor Roy Romer. She also was the Chair and an elected member of the Board of Directors for the Genesee Water and Sanitation District from 1989 to 2002.
Castle works in Holland & Hart's Denver office, where she has represented a wide variety of clients in water court litigation, including adjudications of water rights, changes in water rights and plans for augmentation, and appeals. Castle has also represented clients in numerous administrative proceedings involving water rights and water quality issues. Her practice includes water rights conveyancing, contracts for purchase, use, and supply of water, and the evaluation and assessment of water rights. Castle is the former Chair of Holland & Hart’s Management Committee and former Chair of the firm’s Natural Resources Department. She is consistently listed in Best Lawyers in America for water law and was selected by The Women’s Vision Foundation for its prestigious Woman of Vision award in 2008. She was featured in the October/November 2008 issue of Law Practice Management magazine in its Leadership Profile.