WINNEMUCCA - Sam Routson, chief administrative officer of Winnemucca Farms, was recently elected to serve on the board of directors for the Nevada Water Resources Association, a nonprofit professional organization focused on providing education, training and networking opportunities for those interested in understanding, developing, conserving and protecting Nevada's water resources.
Routson will represent District 4, which includes Humboldt, Pershing and Washoe counties. NWRA is governed by a 17-member board representing four districts.
Water, as most Nevadans know, is recognized as a central and critical factor in the growth and prosperity of the state, Routson said. And water is not just a regional issue - solving problems and creating water policy require input and cooperation from many interests across Nevada.
As a board member, Routson said he'll be a voice for rural Nevada and agriculture in dealing with water policy. The NWRA has a diverse membership that includes representatives from federal, state, county and local governments, as well as mining, professional geologists, hydrologists and other water professionals.
"There is a tremendous amount of experience and expertise within the association," he said.
Routson was born and raised on an Idaho cattle ranch. He received a Bachelor of Science in forestry from the University of Idaho. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a law degree from Brigham Young University and a Master of Arts in government from Georgetown University. He also entered the Marine Corps, was commissioned as a second lieutenant and retired with the rank of colonel.
During both the Reagan and Bush administrations, Routson served as a deputy assistant secretary of the Navy as well as served as a military aide for President Gerald Ford.
NWRA hosts an annual conference targeted toward water professionals throughout the state. The conference brings key issues to the table for discussion and seeks to provide water managers, policymakers, environmental representatives, federal and state agencies, private consultants and the general public with a more comprehensive understanding of current and ongoing statewide water issues, according to the organization's website. NWRA also hosts a variety of workshops, classes and symposiums.
NWRA has about 407 individual and 28 organizations as members, according to the agency's executive director. The organization has been in operation for 58 years.
Routson also serves on the Nevada Economic Development Board, an agency created during the 2011 legislative session with the passage of Assembly Bill 449. He was appointed to the position by Nevada Senate Minority Leader Mike McGinness.
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