SNWA official urges states to end water arguments

A top official from the Southern Nevada Water Authority is calling on states that rely on the Colorado River to resolve their differences before a growing dispute derails decades of cooperation on the river.

The Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming have accused one of Arizona’s largest purveyors of manipulating the river system to maximize the amount of water Lake Powell releases downstream to Lake Mead.

But officials from the Central Arizona Water Conservation District insist they are operating within the rules of the river as they deliver water through their Central Arizona Project canals to Phoenix, Tucson and farms in between.

“I think there’s been some mincing of words,” said Colby Pellegrino, Colorado River programs manager for the Water Authority. “People have to sit down and talk these

WATER

of the instability created by UNLV President Len Jessup’s departure to become president of Claremont Graduate University in California, College of Education officials have not be able to reach a formal memorandum of understanding with the matching donor.

“It would be fair to say that the uncertainty and unsettledness of the situation with President Jessup has been a factor,” Metcalf told the Las Vegas Review-journal after his presentation. “It would not be fair to say it’s the only reason for the holdup.”

On Friday evening, Metcalf said the donor’s commitment has not wavered, but officials on both sides were

being extra cautious before signing a formal agreement.

This is the second donation affected by Jessup’s departure, although the first donation was pulled entirely.

In March, after Jessup announced he would seek other opportunities, the Engelstad Family Foundation revoked a $14 million donation toward UNLV’S medical school building.

Kris Engelstad Mcgarry, a trustee, said the donation was contingent on stable leadership.

The foundation was not involved in the teacher preparation program, Mcgarry said.

“They’re treating us like kryptonite right now,” she said. “They know better than to ask us for anything.”

Mcgarry, who said previously that the foundation doesn’t trust the Nevada Board of Regents to be good

stewards of its money, said this issue likely reflects similar thinking.

“When you start behaving in ways like these guys behave, this is what ends up happening,” she said. “You end up short, and people don’t want to be community-involved.”

Metcalf said there were certain areas he could continue moving forward in, but until the donor was secured, he did not want to accept the state money.

“Our goal all along has been to build a sustainable strategy for recruitment nationwide,” he said.

Contact Meghin Delaney at 702-383-0281 or mdelaney@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @ Meghindelaney on Twitter. Reviewjournal staff writer Natalie Bruzda contributed to this report.