Senior Water Attorney
Western Resource Advocates
Michael Gheleta has over 30 years of experience practicing natural resources law in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Early in his career, he served as a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in Denver and Sacramento, handling litigation on behalf of federal agencies and officials concerning public lands, water, and environmental law. His litigation docket included representation of Presidents Clinton and Bush in multiple cases successfully defending presidential establishment of national monuments. He has also held several positions with the U.S. Department of the Interior, including Acting Assistant Solicitor for Water and Power, Phoenix Field Solicitor, and Supervisory Attorney. Mike鈥檚 most recent position is Senior Water Attorney at Western Resource Advocates, focusing on interstate water matters including the Colorado River. Mike is a member and former chair of the Advisory Council of the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment at the University of Colorado Law School, from which he graduated in 1988.