A major agricultural irrigation group has tapped Tommy Beaudreau, the Interior Department’s former No. 2, to represent its interests in Washington as states and the federal government work on future management plans for the Colorado River.
The Southern California-based Imperial Irrigation District, the nation’s largest user of Colorado River water, announced it inked a deal with the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, commonly known as WilmerHale.
Beaudreau stepped down as Interior’s deputy secretary in fall 2023 and became a partner in the firm, where he serves as co-chair of both its energy, environment and natural resources practice and Native American law practice. Beaudreau worked at Interior during both the Biden and Obama administrations.
During his tenure at Interior, Beaudreau won praise for his work on emergency negotiations to address shortfalls in the Colorado River, where the water supply is shared by seven states.
