During the recent Central Nevada Regional Water Authority (CNRWA) meeting, Joe Cacioppo was introduced as the new Nevada State Engineer. Cacioppo is a registered professional engineer and water rights surveyor and has an extensive career in water and engineering. His background includes service in the Army, work as a principal engineer at Resource Concepts Inc, 12 years on the Carson City School Board, as well as roles with the Northern Nevada Development Authority, Carson City Parks and Recreation, and the American Society of Civil Engineers, where he served as president. Cacioppo has lived in Nevada for over 30 years, and started his new role on March 30, 2026.
Cacioppo outlined his main priorities as improving communication, transparency, and efficiency. He emphasized the importance of balancing Nevada’s limited water resources among competing uses. “We’re trying to make sure we’re communicating better, being more transparent, and working through applications as efficiently as possible,” Cacioppo said.
He also outlined efforts to improve how the division operates, including digitizing records and modernizing outdated systems. The division is developing an application tracking system that will first be used internally, then made available to the public, so applicants and stakeholders can use it as a tool to follow the status of requests Additional efforts include strengthening staff training and mentorship to build experience, as well as reviewing applications earlier to identify complex cases and reduce delays. He noted that focusing on “ready for action” applications will help move simpler cases through the system more quickly.
Cacioppo provided an update on challenges within the department, including staffing shortages and a significant backlog of applications. The office has 115 employees when fully staffed, and there are currently 15 vacant positions. He said the division has also seen a drop in overall experience levels, noting that in the past many staff had years of experience, while newer employees are still building that same level of expertise. Cacioppo added that he is working to bring in additional support to strengthen the department, including bringing in previous state engineer Jason King.
Additionally, the division is processing roughly 1,000 applications each year, while also managing a backlog of over 2,000 pending applications. Of those, roughly half are considered complex cases involving protests or legal challenges. Cacioppo said about 30% of applications are completed within six months, another 30% within a year, while others can take one to two years or longer to resolve.
Board members also provided input following Cacioppo’s update. Jeff Fontaine pointed to gaps early in the application process, while Norman Frey suggested extending timelines for applicants. Brian Gale noted the high number of extension requests, and 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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