Nevada’s new state engineer, Joe Cacioppo, says improving communication, transparency, and efficiency will be his top priorities as the state works through a backlog of more than 2,000 water applications.
Cacioppo, who began the role on March 30, 2026, spoke during a recent Central Nevada Regional Water Authority meeting. He said the Division of Water Resources must balance limited water supplies among competing uses while modernizing the office's operations.
“We’re trying to make sure we’re communicating better, being more transparent, and working through applications as efficiently as possible,” Cacioppo said.
He outlined several modernization efforts, including digitizing records and updating outdated internal systems. The division is developing an application tracking system that will first be used internally, then opened to the public so applicants can track the status of their requests. He said the office is also strengthening staff training and reviewing applications earlier to identify complex cases and reduce delays. Focusing on “ready for action” applications, he said, will help move simpler cases through the system more quickly.
Cacioppo said staffing shortages remain a major challenge. The office has 115 positions when fully staffed, but 15 are currently vacant. He added that overall experience levels have dropped as longtime employees retire, leaving newer staff still building expertise. To help stabilize the department, he is bringing in additional support, including former state engineer Jason King.
The division processes about 1,000 applications each year while managing a backlog of more than 2,000 pending requests. Roughly half involve protests or legal challenges. About 30% of applications are completed within six months, another 30% within a year, and the rest can take one to two years or longer.
Board members offered feedback following Cacioppo’s update. Jeff Fontaine pointed out gaps early in the application process, Norman Frey suggested extending the application timeline, and Brian Gale noted the high number of extension requests. Commissioner Perez said clearer communication and a public tracking system would help applicants and local governments better understand project status.
Cacioppo said he is still settling into the role and looks forward to addressing the challenges ahead. “Getting the opportunity to come to work for the Division of Water Resources was quite an honor,” he said.
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