Jeff Fontaine

CARSON CITY, Nev. – After 25 years of dedicated public service to the State of Nevada, State Engineer Tim Wilson will retire on Monday, November 30, 2020. Wilson was appointed State Engineer in December 2019, having served as Acting State Engineer since January 2019. During his esteemed career with the Nevada Division of Water Resources (NDWR), Wilson served as Hydraulic Engineer, Administrative Hearing Officer, Manager of the Well Drilling and Adjudication Section, Deputy Administrator, and many other functions. As Nevada’s top water regulator, Wilson proactively addressed many of Nevada’s most pressing water resource issues, and collaborated with numerous water right surveyors, contractors, professionals, researchers, attorneys, and regulators on a wide variety of water issues across the State. 

Following Wilson’s retirement, current NDWR Deputy Administrator, Adam Sullivan, will serve as Acting State Engineer and Administrator of NDWR. Sullivan has been with NDWR since 2009 and has served as Deputy Administrator since 2018. He is a licensed Professional Engineer with a Master’s degree in Hydrology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and has worked on Nevada water resource issues for over 20 years. In his new role, Sullivan will continue addressing the many critical water quantity issues and policies that affect all Nevadans, including the increasing demand for limited water resources, proactive management of over-appropriated and over-pumped groundwater basins, impacts of floods and prolonged drought, enhancing dam safety, and sustainment of our wetlands and freshwater ecosystems; all within the over-arching context of Nevada’s growing population and the current and future impacts of climate change already being felt throughout Nevada.  

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak expressed appreciation for Mr. Wilson’s service and support for Mr. Sullivan’s new role. “I thank Tim for his deep knowledge and dedicated service to address the many complex and critical watermanagement issues that affect all Nevadans. Water is Nevada’s most precious and limited natural resource, and my administration will continue to address our most pressing water issues in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the next State Engineer. I am confident that Mr. Sullivan will continue to lead and enforce Nevada’s bedrock policies while advancing new and innovative solutions to preserve the long-term viability of Nevada’s water resources in every corner of our great state.” 

Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bradley Crowell, echoed the Governor’s comments, adding: “I am grateful for Tim’s meritorious service to Nevada, his unparalleled water knowledge, and his thoughtful stewardship in managing our limited water resources for the benefit of all Nevadans. As the driest state in the nation, coupled with the ever-growing impacts of climate change, Nevada’s State Engineer plays a pivotal role in protecting existing water users while advancing innovative and forward-looking water management policies that ensure the integrity of Nevada’s water resources for future generations of Nevadans. I thank Tim for his steadfast leadership of the Division of Water Resources. Tim is now passing the torch to Adam, who will lead the Division’s mission to solve complex water challenges head-on, while ensuring a sustainable water future for all Nevadans. I am confident Adam will succeed in this critical undertaking.”  

As part of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the State Engineer’s Office / Division of Water Resources is responsible for the appropriation, adjudication and regulation of all the waters within the State, except the Colorado River. The State Engineer’s Office / NDWR also has oversight of water well drilling activities, dam safety, water planning, and floodplain management.