Resignation Sparks Concerns Over Colorado River Management
Recent developments in the management of the Colorado River have raised eyebrows, particularly following a significant personnel change influenced by political shifts. Anne Castle, appointed by the Biden administration in 2022 as the federal representative to the Upper Colorado River Commission, was prompted to resign during the Trump administration.
Such transitions are not unusual with a change in the administration, yet Castle expressed apprehension regarding the directives issued under Trump’s leadership. She criticized the orders to release water from California reservoirs, describing them as stemming from a “total lack of understanding about how the system works.” Castle remarked, “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.”
Despite stepping down from her role, Castle remains vigilant about the ongoing negotiations among the states sharing the Colorado River’s resources. She conveyed a sense of cautious optimism, noting, “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.”
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