Deborah Stephenson

Mrs. Stephenson founded DMS Natural Resources in 2011. DMS is an advisory firm specializing in water right management, water right technical services, water valuation, water investment advisory, and water transaction services. Mrs. Stephenson manages large water right portfolios across the Western United States for which she provides water right database and inventory management, historical research and document interpretation, GIS mapping and aerial photo interpretation, change application and permitting services, adjudication support, due diligence in property transactions, and expert witness support in water right lawsuits. Mrs. Stephenson also has 15 years of experience helping entities across the western United States acquire or sell water assets. From identifying water assets suitable for purchase, to negotiating terms, and through the administrative permitting process, Mrs. Stephenson helps clients navigate the entire water right transactional process. An in-depth technical understanding of water rights combined with a business and economics background makes Mrs. Stephenson one of the country’s leading experts in water valuation and water investment advisory. Mrs. Stephenson maintains detailed water market transaction data and performs water valuations based on multiple valuation techniques. Lastly, Mrs. Stephenson advises investors in making decisions regarding water-related investments. Prior to forming DMS Natural Resources LLC, Mrs. Stephenson worked as a senior associate at WestWater Research (WWR). While at WWR, she worked on a variety of projects including water right appraisals, market research reports, water investment due diligence and water right portfolio management. At WWR, Mrs. Stephenson managed projects and teams of Associates. Mrs. Stephenson graduated with a BS degree in Agricultural Business and Economics from the Montana State University in 2001 and a Master’s of Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2005.