About Tarn Udall

As a Senior Attorney with Western Resource Advocate’s (WRA) Western Lands team, Tarn Udall represents WRA in state and regional level regulatory and planning proceedings, courts, legislative bodies, and other forums to safeguard 50% of Western lands from development, restore wildlife habitat, and ensure equitable and sustainable recreational access throughout the West. Her role also involves developing state-based regulatory and legal strategies to ensure compliance with key state and federal environmental laws. 

WRA’s leadership in the fight against climate change and its commitment to protecting the air, land, and water of the West is what attracted Udall to the organization. Becoming a mother intensified her desire to contribute to a sustainable future for all. She now finds herself at the forefront of the effort to preserve Western lands for generations to come. 

Udall’s roots in conservation work trace back to her upbringing in a small town on the Western Slope of Colorado, where the great outdoors became her playground and seeded her love for the environment and outdoor adventures. In a region that has defined her identity, she is not just safeguarding the West's landscapes and wildlife in her role with WRA; she is also contributing to the transformation of the conservation movement into one that prioritizes equity, inclusion, and lasting solutions to the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. 

With a robust background in law, a passion for the environment, and a deep connection to the West, Udall’s journey is a testament to her commitment to equitable and sustainable conservation efforts. Inspired by the lawyers she encountered during her time as a legislative aide for Senator Tim Johnson in the U.S. Senate, she embarked on a legal career with a focus on natural resources and environmental law. 

Her professional journey took her from a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado to private practice and, later, to the Colorado Attorney General's Office. Throughout her legal career, she has assisted both public and private clients in navigating complex issues related to water rights, real estate, land use, and civil litigation. Udall also served as legal counsel for local governments, contributing to the resolution of challenges to benefit communities. 

Looking ahead, Udall is eager to pursue creative solutions to achieve WRA’s ambitious goals. By collaborating with partners, decision makers, and community leaders, she wants to focus on listening to impacted communities, building relationships, and ensuring that decision-making processes center the voices of those who have been most adversely affected by the impacts of climate change, pollution, and other environmental injustices. Her vision for the future involves advancing equitable access to conserved lands and equitable processes for policy enactment and land management. 

Udall also leverages her expertise and experience to give back to the community. With a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Colorado College, she is deeply involved in pro bono legal service and serves on the boards of the Colorado Outward Bound School and the 10th Mountain Division Association. She previously served on the board for Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. 

Outside of work, Udall, along with her husband, cherishes the moments spent with their two children and their tricolored pup. They call Carbondale, Colorado, home, where Udall grew up. During her free time, she immerses herself in outdoor activities such as skiing, biking, fly fishing, kayaking, and gardening. She also finds solace in reading and expresses her creative side through writing nonfiction essays.

Tarn Udall

Senior Attorney, Western Resource Advocates