Of Counsel
Gary M. Gold
Gary M. Gold is an attorney and engineer with nearly two decades of experience as a water and energy professional. Drawing on his interdisciplinary background, Mr. Gold guides Tribal Nations and public agencies through complex legal and regulatory environments with particular expertise in the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and other federal laws governing natural resources.
Mr. Gold previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior). While at Interior, he played a key role negotiating numerous settlements to resolve water rights for Tribal Nations in Arizona, Montana, and New Mexico. Along with other members of the federal team, Mr. Gold negotiated the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement, which has been introduced in Congress and seeks to resolve water rights for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. He also led efforts to implement Tribal water rights settlements—through negotiations with Congressional offices and the White House Office of Management and Budget—and helped advance construction of water infrastructure projects including the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.
Mr. Gold holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona, a Master of Science in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Juris Doctor from the Arizona State University College of Law.
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Natural Resources Attorney, Salt River Project (Arizona)
- Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema
- Water Law Fellow, U.S. Senator Jeff Flake
- Water Resources Engineer, Austin Water Utility, Texas
- Research Fellow, National Science Foundation
Publications
- “An Antifragile Approach to Water Scarcity,” The Water Report, June 16, 2025
- “What’s Changing in U.S. Water Policy? Key 2025 Updates to Environmental Rules,” The Driller, May 5, 2025
- “It’s not all zero-sum: Tribal water settlements can be a win-win solution in Arizona,” The Arizona Republic, Dec. 2020
- “The Energy-Water Nexus: An Analysis and Comparison of Various Configurations Integrating Desalination with Renewable Power,” Resources Scientific Journal, April 2015
Presentations
- “No Harm, No Foul: Services Propose Rescinding ‘Harm’ Definition in ESA Regulations,” National Water Resources Association D.C. Conference, May 2025
- “Tribal Water Rights and the Colorado River Basin,” University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center Seminar, Oct. 2024
- “A Bureau of Reclamation Perspective on Tribal Water Rights and the Colorado River Basin,” Secretary’s Indian Water Rights Office Team Chair Conference, Oct. 2024
- “Tribal Water Rights and the Colorado River Basin,” Arizona Water Law Conference by CLE International, Aug. 2024
- “Tribal Water Rights Settlements: a Nexus of Law, Policy, and Engineering,” University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center Seminar, May 2024
- “A U.S. Department of the Interior Perspective on Tribal Water Rights Settlements,”Arizona Water Law Conference by CLE International, Aug, 2023
- “Perspective from the U.S. Department of the Interior,” Association of California Water Agencies D.C. Conference, Feb. 2023
- “Federal Issues Forum,” Association of California Water Agencies Fall Conference, Nov. 2022Association of California Water Agencies Spring Conference, Federal Affairs Committee, May 2022
- “Colorado River at a Crossroads,” California Lawyers Association Environmental Law Conference, Oct. 2022
- “Arizona Caucus Legislative Update,” Colorado River Water Users Association Annual Conference, Dec. 2019
