Kai Risdahl

All of a sudden there was sort of an awakening that all these places that companies thought, hey, we have no water risk at all, they realized, like, we've got exposure, we've got risk, and we need to pay attention.

All of a sudden there was sort of an awakening that all these places that companies thought, hey, we have no water risk at all, they realized, like, we've got exposure, we've got risk, and we need to pay attention.

The second reason, Reeves says, is about reputation.

The second reason, Reeves says, is about reputation.

As the West gets drier, do you want people thinking your company is making it worse or trying to help?

As the West gets drier, do you want people thinking your company is making it worse or trying to help?

When we're facing long-term drought, we're facing water cutbacks, etc., instead of people pointing fingers, which is usually what happens right away, is people will say, you know, this company has been a partner here for 10 years, helping Arizona do more with less water.

When we're facing long-term drought, we're facing water cutbacks, etc., instead of people pointing fingers, which is usually what happens right away, is people will say, you know, this company has been a partner here for 10 years, helping Arizona do more with less water.

The Biden administration spent billions on water infrastructure in the West, but that spending has gone way down under Trump.

The Biden administration spent billions on water infrastructure in the West, but that spending has gone way down under Trump.

Reeves says corporate money won't replace that spending, but it can help.

Reeves says corporate money won't replace that spending, but it can help.

There's a huge opportunity to use corporate money in very flexible ways to fill some of these critical gaps that are not being met by federal funding at present.

There's a huge opportunity to use corporate money in very flexible ways to fill some of these critical gaps that are not being met by federal funding at present.

Nate Reese agrees with that.

Nate Reese agrees with that.

He's the Arizona director for the conservation group Trout Unlimited.

He's the Arizona director for the conservation group Trout Unlimited.

Reese's group is working on restoring a big meadow in eastern Arizona.

Reese's group is working on restoring a big meadow in eastern Arizona.