Hi there! My name is Andi, and I am Colorado Water Trust’s newest Staff Attorney. I am honored to be part of the Colorado Water Trust team and to contribute to having a positive impact on Colorado’s water resources and communities.
I am a water attorney who started her career at a small law firm representing many different water users throughout the state, including farmers, ranchers, landowners, municipalities, counties, and mutual ditch companies. In 2023, I had the privilege of being a Legal Extern for Colorado Water Trust. This experience inspired me to pursue water law with the hope that I would one day get to use my career to benefit the environment. All that being said, I am proud to now be part of the Colorado Water Trust team!
I did not know that I would discover my passion for being a water attorney when I began law school in 2021. All I knew was that I wanted to use my career to make a positive impact within the state of Colorado. This is partly because I am the fourth generation of my family to grow up in Colorado—throughout my life, I have had the privilege of visiting family and enjoying the outdoors throughout the state, which has helped me to foster an appreciation for Colorado’s many different histories, cultures, communities, riverscapes, and landscapes. My family has deep roots in Southern Colorado, in the Spanish Peaks area, where my great-great grandparents built their livelihoods working in a coal mining community.
While in law school, I discovered my deep interest in western water law and policy. This area of law not only allows me to envision and work within Colorado’s varied landscapes, but it also allows me to continue to learn and think both technically and creatively every day.
In conclusion, I approach my role of staff attorney with a deep respect for Colorado’s communities and water resources. I can’t wait to continue to learn from my wonderful mentors and colleagues at the Water Trust and to continue to dive into the complexities of Colorado’s water rights system. I am honored to devote my career to working in the service of Colorado’s rivers, streams, and communities!
Andi Bonato-Gach
Staff Attorney
Email: abonatogach@coloradowatertrust.org
Phone: 720.570.2897 Ext. 8