Caitlan McCartin, Nevada Division of Water Resouces
Water Planning & Drought Resiliency (WP & DR) is currently rebuilding above the 100-year flood zone! We are excited to announce all our new staff, and even a new position for the section. Caitlan McCartin is the new Chief of Water Planning and Drought Resiliency. Caitlan has a B.S. in Geology and a minor in Hydrogeology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Caitlan started her career working for the Division of Water Resources in the Hydrology Section 9 years ago, specializing in water use. Over the past decade, she helped establish the first self-reporting water use network of water rights holders in Nevada for the Humboldt River Basin Region using the Meters Database, was project lead for the generation of regional and statewide inventories, as well as publication of all individual inventories on the basin scale. Caitlan was also the basin engineer for the Pahrump Valley Basin for 7 years prior making the move. She is now leading the Nevada Water Initiative water use component and is very eager to continue her career growth and use the knowledge she has gained over the past decade to better serve the public.
Two additional team members have also joined WP & DR. Lea Jacobsen-Guy has filled the Staff II vacancy under the WP & DR team. Lea has worked for the Division for 5+ years, and moved over from the Hydrology Section with years of experience in water use generation, field methods and basin engineer work. Lea’s previous position as Meter Database Administrator has also moved over to WP & DR from the Hydrology Section and has recently been filled by Austin Tucker! Austin was raised in Carson City and started his career with the State of Nevada as the sustainability intern with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection in 2023. Austin has a B.A.S. in Construction Management from Western Nevada College. Austin enjoys reading, painting, and spending time with his family.
Carson River flooding 2017 near Pioneers way road. Photo taken by Caitlan McCartin.
Sarah Fichtner, M.S., CFM Nevada Division of Water Resources
Sarah Fichtner entered the role of State Floodplain Manager and NFIP Coordinator in October 2024 after 4 years as the Floodplain Mapping Coordinator. Originally from Arizona, Sarah received a B.S. and M.S. in Geology from UC Santa Cruz and San Jose State University. Sarah started her career with the Nevada Division of Water Resources in 2016, gaining experience in the adjudications and water rights sections before joining the Flood Program. She is excited to continue learning about floodplain management and building flood-risk mitigation efforts in Nevada.
Mrs. Fichtner enjoys gardening, baking, camping and spending time with her family.
Andy Pavlu, M.S., G.I.T., Nevada Divison of Water Resources
Andy Pavlu is the new Floodplain Mapping Coordinator at the Nevada Division of Water Resources. He will be graduating in August 2025 with his Masters of Hydrogeology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Andy has five years’ experience as a hydrogeologist in the mine water resources industry and comes to us fresh off an internship as a hydrologist at the Bureau of Mining, Regulation and Reclamation. He enjoys reading and biking around the Carson City area.
Water Planning and Drought Resiliency
The overall planning goals of the Water Planning & Drought Resiliency Section is to support the Division’s mission to conserve, protect, manage and enhance the State’s water resources for Nevada's citizens. The section’s responsibilities and duties discussed in the Spring 2020 Newsletter still stand, but with a few additional components. WP & DR is now responsible for all water use related data for the State of Nevada. As discussed earlier in the newsletter, WP & DR is gaining the new position of Meter Database Administrator and is a contributor to the Nevada Water Initiative. The new goal and project for the Section is to create a pumpage database to make water use data more readily available to the public – so stay tuned!
Sarah and Andy demonstratin the floodplain model simulator to a groupd of elementary school kids at WaterPalooza, 2025.