Central Nevada Regional Water Authority | July 24, 2026

The Central Nevada Regional Water Authority held a regular meeting on July 24, 2026, in Churchill County. Key procurement-related discussions included the approval of a professional services contract amendment for Jeff Fontaine, changing his compensation to a flat fee of $40,000 annually inclusive of all expenses, payable quarterly. The board also discussed initiating a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to select government affairs firms for legislative representation and monitoring, with a working group tasked to recommend candidates by the next meeting. Additionally, the board addressed water rights applications, including interbasin transfers and change applications, with motions to authorize the executive director to file protests on water rights applications after consultation with relevant county representatives. The meeting also covered updates on geothermal activities in Nevada, including leasing, permitting, and emerging enhanced geothermal technologies, highlighting significant investment and regulatory developments. Legislative matters were discussed, focusing on proposed omnibus water law legislation for the 2027 session, including funding, water rights retirement, and groundwater management. The board amended a resolution to allow more flexible and timely protests of water rights applications to better protect member counties' interests. No specific contract awards or capital improvement projects were reported, but policy and procedural decisions were made that could impact future procurement and water resource management activities.