Editor’s note: CAP employees have unique backgrounds and experiences, shaping us as an organization and reflecting the diverse communities we serve. Natalie Mast joined CAP as the manager of Resource Planning and Analysis in July 2025, bringing a decade of experience in Arizona water.
Natalie Mast is a self-proclaimed science nerd.
“Even at an early age, I was always fascinated by nature,” said Mast. “I was the nerdy little kid who was digging in the leaves, looking at bugs and rocks.”
Fortunately for Mast, she had many opportunities to do just that. Her parents, both transplants from other states, had a deep love of Arizona and took their family of five hiking and camping as they extensively explored the state.
“My dad would drive the minivan down roads that we shouldn’t have been on,” said Mast. “I’m pretty sure many of them weren’t even roads.”
When it was time to head off to college, Mast took a different road, choosing a small college in Kansas to pursue a degree in chemistry. She found great friends and had fun times, but after two years in the Midwest, she was done with the flat terrain and winters that started in September.
“I wanted mountains and warmth,” said Mast. “I had taken Arizona for granted – its beauty, diversity and uniqueness – and as soon as I left, I wanted to come back.”
Armed with her associate’s in chemistry, she landed a job at Henkel, commonly known as Dial. For nearly 10 years, she worked on research and development for laundry detergent and finished her bachelor’s degree in environmental science. With one semester left in school, she interviewed a soil scientist from Tonto National Forest for a project and asked him what the biggest environmental issue Arizona was facing.
“His immediate response, with no hesitation, was water,” said Mast. “When I asked him if he meant quality, he said no. Supply. I was fascinated by that because I had never thought about Arizona’s water supply.”
It was a spark she couldn’t extinguish, and although she enjoyed her time working with laundry detergent, Mast knew she wanted to do something impactful with her career. Something that would be good for Arizona. And water ignited her soul.
“I’ve always been fascinated with topics that don’t fit traditional subjects and areas that overlap,” said Mast. “Water is geology, chemistry, sociology, geography and engineering all coming together and I find those overlapping spaces fascinating.”
With determined intentionality, Mast started applying for jobs at the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and ultimately landed a job as a statewide planning water resource specialist. She worked on rural water issues near Douglas, Willcox and San Simon. She held public meetings, engaged with stakeholders and explored options by collecting, analyzing and forecasting data.
“The options in rural Arizona are limited and it’s challenging, but I loved it,” said Mast. “The people were amazing, but they were scared. Working through issues with them gave me a lot of empathy for them and their situation.”
Mast worked in statewide planning for two years, then became an active management area (AMA) manager and ultimately the AMA director. Water in Arizona was a hot issue! It was dominating conversations in the legislature and in the media. Mast was not only involved in water data and science, but she was also working in water policy – an overlap and challenge that she found fascinating.
When she saw CAP’s Resource Planning and Analysis (RPA) manager position, she was drawn to it.
“This job felt like a natural next step,” said Mast. “I get to use so many of the skills I’ve developed over the years – analytical skills and policy skills and stakeholder skills – and also expand into a new area, the Colorado River.”
Mast is leading a three-person team of water experts and has a leadership style that emphasizes collaboration, creativity and curiosity, an approach she has seen produce superior solutions.
“I think data is inherently creative,” said Mast. “You have to think about things in a different way, approach things differently and discover the questions you’re not even asking.”
Arizona water is a challenge, but Mast is excited to use her experience, skills and nerd-like curiosity to tackle the issues and work with other water leaders to find solutions.
“The challenge of figuring out how we plan for Arizona water in that big picture is both the whole reason I do this and the biggest challenge,” said Mast.
Outside of work, Mast’s life is as full as her career. She and her husband are raising their eight-year-old daughter Juniper, alongside an ever-growing menagerie that includes two dogs, 20 chickens, a turkey, a bearded dragon and a tortoise. The trio embraces outdoor adventures and shares a love of Arizona, a state with a future that relies on the success of Mast’s leadership.
“I want my daughter to have the option to live in Arizona as an adult, and a reliable and long-term water supply is the key to that,” said Mast. “I don’t know what better driver there could be.”
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