One of the best water officers in the West was pushed to resign by the Trump administration. Anne Castle was appointed federal representative for the Upper Colorado River Commission in 2022 by the Biden administration.

It is not uncommon for her to turn over by changes in the White House. However, Castle says she is worried about her future under Trump. She says the recent orders to release water from California reservoirs are based on “a complete lack of understanding of how the system works.”

“I think it’s reasonable, but I think it’s safe to think that the Colorado River system and its policy direction is not partisan, so it might be safe… but that’s reasonable, These are not reasonable orders,” Castle said.

She has left her position, but Castle says she’s watching how states that share the waters of the Colorado River work towards compromise.

“I think there’s an opportunity and perhaps reason to be optimistic that we’re talking more substantively now about how the nation will reach a consensus agreement,” Castle said.