Colorado River states complete drought plan

Tseven Colorado River states finished their emergency drought plan just ahead of a federal deadline, but the completed deal signed in Arizona on Tuesday excludes the river’s largest water user.

California will participate in the plan without the Imperial Irrigation District, which draws more water from the river than any other entity but is refusing to sign the pact because it doesn’t address the growing environmental threat posed by the shrinking Salton Sea.

Southern Nevada Water Authority chief John Entsminger and other representatives of the seven states gathered Tuesday afternoon ONLINE: Videos, graphics and more

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$5,000 for each violation.

Two days before Watson was placed on leave, an independent investigator recommended city officials seriously consider firing her.

The recommendation came after three investigations into her conduct revealed she had allegedly disregarded her supervisor’s orders, tried to influence employee communication, sowed mistrust and division among employees and engaged in a promotion process that led employees to question whether the results were predetermined, records show.

Watson was sworn in as Henderson’s police chief in November 2017. She previously served as deputy chief of the Arlington Police Department in Texas.

Two of the most recent investigations found Watson violated city policy by disregarding her supervisor’s orders to have the city attorney’s office vet proposed policy changes in the department.

Watson later changed policy unilaterally and promoted three lieutenants to captain, including two who had been at their rank for less than a year, violating the department’s existing policy. The department was forced to rescind the promotions.

Watson told the investigator that it had not been an issue when other people had been promoted against policy in the past.

She was also found in violation of city policy when she told union leadership that discussions at executive board meetings would be reported to her. Watson’s conduct contributed to friction with the Henderson Police Supervisors Association, according to the investigator.

“Moreover, she appears to have absolutely no awareness that her commentary to HPSA and others that anything negative they have to say will be leaked or snitched on by co-workers is inappropriate and will create a toxic work environment because employees will mistrust each other,” the investigator wrote.

Last year, Watson was the subject of internal investigations that cost the city more than $50,000. In November, two Henderson police unions accused department leaders, including Watson, of trying to bust the labor groups.

Deputy Chief Thedrick Andres, who is also named in the unions’ complaint, assumed the role of acting chief in Watson’s absence. Watson and Andres formerly worked together at the Arlington Police Department. She specifically hired him to work in Henderson.

Contact Blake Apgar at bapgar@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5298. Follow @blakeapgar on Twitter.