Of Counsel
Gary M. Gold
Gary Gold, of counsel, is an attorney and engineer with nearly two decades of experience as a water professional. Gary’s insight and counsel strengthens BBK’s capacity to address pressing issues related to water scarcity, the water-energy nexus, and regulatory compliance matters involving the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other federal laws affecting the use of natural resources.
Drawing on his background in civil engineering, environmental engineering, and law, Gary guides public agencies and Tribal Nations in advancing water and energy projects through complex legal and regulatory environments. Gary also has a record of success in leading multiparty negotiations to settle water rights disputes.
Before joining BBK, Gary served on the leadership team at Interior where he led the Bureau of Reclamation in multiparty water rights negotiations—in the Colorado River Basin and other basins throughout the west—and in advancing significant water infrastructure projects.
Gary has extensive experience working at the intersection of water and energy. Prior to his time at Interior, Gary served as a natural resources attorney for Salt River Project, a major water and power provider for communities in central Arizona. Gary has also served on both sides of the aisle in the U.S. Senate as an advisor on water and energy issues.
Prior to practicing law, Gary served as a water resources engineer for Austin Water, the retail water provider for the City of Austin, where he led resource planning and compliance initiatives relating to water and energy. Gary is a former National Science Foundation scholar and conducted research, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, on the water-energy nexus.
- 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
