David Johnson is Of Counsel to Rose Law Group and advises the firm on water resources and environmental matters.
Previously, David worked for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District which is the elected board that operates the Central Arizona Project. The Central Arizona Project is Arizona’s largest renewable water supply and one of the largest water providers in the United States. In that role, David advised CAWCD on all matters involving the Colorado River including water deliveries and allocations, environmental and natural resources laws such as the ESA, NEPA, and CERCLA, and on tribal water settlements.
David also worked for the Arizona Department of Water Resources, the state agency tasked with managing Arizona various water supplies. During that time, David advised the State on certain matters related to the Gila River water rights adjudication, on dam safety, groundwater permitting, AMA planning, and on the water rights claims of Indian communities. David was also responsible for managing the Department’s various regulatory initiatives during his time with ADWR.
Prior to government employment, David worked in private practice where he generally practiced environmental and natural resources law with a diverse range of clients including mining companies, tribal entities, and water and wastewater treatment facilities.
David received his Master of Laws in Environmental Law from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 2006 and his Juris Doctor from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2004 where he served as Articles Editor for the SMU Law Review. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in 2001.
David has worked extensively with the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources and has served as a member its Executive Council and chair of multiple committees. David also recently concluded his term as chair of the Arizona State Bar’s Environmental, Energy and Resources Chair. David spends much of his free time with his wife and in raising his four children.
In The News

Water situation still murky for Rio Verde Foothills, but Supervisor Galvin continues working toward solution
By Sasha Hupka | Arizona Republic With weeks until their taps run dry, Rio Verde Foothills residents have yet to find a solid solution to their water woes. Scottsdale intends to cut off its water to the community, which is near city limits but falls outside its boundaries as an unincorporated area of the county, at the end of the year.

Thomas Galvin, Rose Law Group partner and Maricopa County Supervisor, talks to CBS about dire water situation in Rio Verde Foothills
By CBS News After years of warning to find another source of water, Scottsdale, Arizona will officially cut off water to Rio Verde on January 1. The move is the latest amidst the west’s growing water crisis. CBS News correspondent Brook Silva-Braga has more.

[OP-ED] Utility regulators, not the county, hold the solution to Rio Verde Foothills’ water woes, says Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin in The Arizona Republic
By Thomas Galvin, opinion contributor | Arizona Republic The Rio Verde Foothills water crisis has attracted national attention, and one that I have worked on every day since I was appointed to office in December 2021. The Rio Verde Foothills is unincorporated, which means that residents don’t automatically get water service from a city or town. Many Rio Verde Foothills
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