Secretary Salazar Lauds Senate's Confirmation of Anne Castle as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today lauded the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Anne Castle as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science.

“Anne Castle has more than 25 years of experience in water rights, water quality and natural resources law,” Secretary Salazar said. “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.”

As Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at Interior, Castle will oversee water and science policy and have responsibility for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey.

A partner in the Denver, Colo. office of Holland & Hart LLP since 1981, Castle has had an extensive practice, 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. She was elected in 2001 to chair the firm's management committee and served in that position until 2004.

In 2007 Colorado Governor Ritter appointed Castle 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.

Castle has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for water law both in 2007 and 2008. 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.