A Letter From The Director
As we close out 2024, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) reflects on accomplishments over the past year and looks to the future as we ring in 2025.
This year, the DWR continued to work toward the department’s vision of sustainably managing and developing North Dakota’s water resources. The agency worked toward fulfilling water appropriation permit requests and processed the second highest number of temporary permits in a single season. Progress was made on the Southwest Pipeline and Northwest Area Water Supply Projects, and regulatory duties related to sovereign lands, drainage, and construction were carried out. Notably, an NFIP handbook was developed to help communities with flood management. Studies on managed aquifer recharge, surface water management, and data collection were also conducted to address the growing demand for water.
This year, DWR also experienced a change in administration. Gov. Doug Burgum delivered his budget address on Dec. 4 with his 2025-2027 budget proposal for the DWR. The budget proposal includes an allocation for the department for water projects, with a $100 million line of credit for water project proposals. In addition, new full-time employees were proposed to address workforce challenges, including recruitment and retention, and to provide technical and legal expertise needed to ensure sound management of North Dakota’s water resources into the future. This proposed budget is being reviewed by the Armstrong administration.
Since Gov. Burgum’s election in 2016, more than $2.1 billion in state funding has been committed to vital water infrastructure projects, including $1.1 billion for water supply, $1 billion for flood protection, and $84 million for general water management across the state. Funding for water supply projects benefitted 64 communities and 23 rural water systems with populations totaling more than 460,000. In addition, 27 communities with populations totaling 463,000 received cost-share assistance to develop flood protection or general water management projects that improve public safety and resilience to devastating flood events.
During its December meeting, the DWR and State Water Commission presented Gov. Burgum and Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller with resolutions of appreciation in recognition of their significant contributions to water development in the state.
On Dec. 15, Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden officially took office. DWR has met with the new administration to review the current proposed budget as they prepare a revised budget, and to brief them on current challenges and opportunities of the department. Some of the priorities outlined by the Armstrong administration will include behavioral health, workforce, and property tax.
As the 69th Legislative Session starts, DWR has engaged in conversations related to economic development, agriculture practices and water conveyance, irrigation, watersheds, atmospheric resources, permitting, appeal processes, cost-share and red tape reduction. The department looks forward to working with everyone during this upcoming session as these and other important topics are discussed. We encourage you to reach out with any questions related to the upcoming session or anything else the DWR is working on.
We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Regulatory Division
The Regulatory Division has the honor of providing the second DWR division write-up. We get to make sure the projects Pat’s team elevates for funding are compliant with the relevant rules and regulations of the state. In the role of Regulatory Division Director, I am privileged to be able to work alongside the 14 dedicated team members that make up the Regulatory Division. While Regulators don’t often get to be front and center, I am proud to provide an overview of each Regulatory team and cover some notable project highlights.
The Sovereign Lands team is comprised of Sovereign Lands Manager Jerry Heiser and Sovereign Lands Specialist Amy Winkleman. The Sovereign Lands team is responsible for managing state sovereign lands. Sovereign Lands are those areas, including beds and islands, lying within the Ordinary High Water Mark of those lakes and streams that were found to be navigable for state title at the time of statehood under the Equal Footing Doctrine. This responsibility includes overseeing applications for work within the identified 17 navigable waters of the state, providing site delineation of the Ordinary High Water Mark, engaging with elected officials and members of the public, and overseeing research efforts related to extent of state title.
Our Floodplain Management team is comprised of State Silver Jackets Program Coordinator Mike Hall, RiskMAP Program Manager Laura Horner, and National Flood Insurance Program Coordinator Tyler Spomer. Mike’s role provides the ultimate facilitation function – aligning and coordinating multi-faceted collaborations within the framework of the Corps of Engineer’s Silver Jackets Program. Laura oversees FEMA’s RiskMAP projects, including updating National Flood Insurance Program maps as well as pursuing projects that promote an enhanced understanding of overland flood risk within the state. Tyler coordinates the 339 counties, cities, and townships within the state that participate in the National Flood Insurance program – including community coordination, education, outreach, and assistance efforts. The team also manages FEMA and state grants that bring in approximately $3 million per year in ongoing projects.
The Dam Safety team is led by Dam Safety Program Manager Karen Goff, with Dam Safety Engineers Damon Grabow and Nick Bendickson providing programmatic support. The Dam Safety team conducts dam safety inspections, reviews construction permit applications for construction and modification of dams and ponds, maintains an inventory of dams in North Dakota, determines the hazard classification of current and proposed dam projects, and maintains an emergency action plan repository of the state’s medium and high hazard dams. Karen also manages FEMA’s National Dam Safety Program State Assistance grants, dedicated to providing financial assistance to states for strengthening their dam safety programs.
Rounding out the regulatory function is the Engineering and Permitting team, led by Section Manager Matt Lindsay. Matt, alongside Water Resource Engineers Kelsey Huber, Jennifer Martin, and Garrett Larson, are responsible for multiple surface water management reviews and determinations. These include review of surface drainage permit applications for Statewide or Interdistrict Significance, review of permit applications to construct or modify diversions or dikes, stream crossing determinations, watercourse determinations, and providing general Water Resource District board support statewide. Matt’s team also provides an administrative remedy to complaints and complaint appeals on alleged unauthorized drainage or dike works.
The Regulatory Division is only able to make the above happen through the tireless efforts of Program Specialist Courtney Rogstad and Technical Specialist Chance Nolan. Courtney provides consistent and organized management of the multiple incoming responsibilities of the Regulatory Division. Courtney also helps promote intra-agency coordination by helping incoming requests find the most appropriate area of the agency for assistance and coordinates the entire agency’s open record request response activities. Chance is the power behind the multiple databases of the Division, working to keep incoming actions updated, supporting database and GIS deliverables, and working to bring all agency records dating back to the Department’s 1905 origins into the modern database era.
While the Regulatory team, as a matter of course, is generally reactive to external forces like applications and complaints, there are some recent proactive projects worth noting.
Dam Safety Standards Update: At the start of the year the Dams Safety team published the North Dakota Dam Safety Standards to replace the 1985 Dam Design Handbook. The new standards outline the administrative and technical requirements necessary to obtain a construction permit for a dam, pond, or similar structure, and help reflect the state of the dam safety practice to current and would-be dam owners. The new standards are available here.
DWR/WRD Working Group: The Department participated in an interim working group with attorneys and engineering consultants representing Water Resource Districts to talk through potential red tape reduction efforts, opportunities to enhance watershed legislation, concerns about the existing dispute resolution process, and financing of assessment projects.
Database Review: The Division completed a statewide review of over 25,000 structures including dams, dikes, drains, and other structures. The spatial extent and information regarding these structures can be viewed on the associated DWR Map Services, and GIS data, plans, photos, or documents can be provided upon request.
Interim Legislative Township Study: The Floodplain Management team helped track and support the ND Legislature’s Interim Township Study, aimed at reviewing the status-quo on existing township-level or governance relating to floodplain management. Through coordination and education, Tyler and Laura supported sound discussion and review of paths the legislature could take to help achieve the goal of a more intuitive regulatory framework.
Red River Bathymetry: The Department, through coordination with the St. Paul USACE office through Silver Jackets, was successful in funding and facilitating the collection of bathymetry data of the Red River of the North from source to Canadian border. The data collected is expected to be publicly available for review and download on the Department website in the near future.
USGS Bulletin 17C Update: The Division continues to manage the Department-USGS funded multi-year project with the USGS Dakota Science Center. The project updates the peak flow frequency using Bulletin 17C methodology of over 260 stream gages in the state. The gage-specific flow frequency analysis will be followed by updates to the USGS StreamStats data, and finally by an update to the state regression equations for ungaged basins.
Multi-state Water Management Survey: The Department is facilitating a study of 21-states on their surface water management practices to help refine an understanding of the current state of the surface water management practice to help ideate what enhancements the Department may elect to advance for consideration.
Navigability Study: The Department is in the final stages of a study to review navigability information regarding six of the currently claimed navigable waters. The Division’s Sovereign Lands group will be reviewing the provided information and make recommendations to leadership on appropriate next steps.
LiDAR: Through the grant application and management efforts of the Regulatory team and GIS staff, the Department was able to successfully complete the statewide collection of QL2 LiDAR this year, as well as QL1 LiDAR in the most populous cities in the state. This enhanced level of detail in publicly accessible data lays a foundation upon which future technical reviews, designs, and initiatives can be built.
ND Risk Assessment Map Service: Through Laura’s grant program, the Division is advancing an update to the source base level engineering modeling using the new QL2 LiDAR. This transition from QL3 to QL2 LiDAR will provide even greater granularity of flood risk statewide, ensuring all North Dakotans have equitable access and understanding of their flood risk no matter if they are located outside Fargo or rural Divide County.
The entire Regulatory team continually seeks to administer the rules, regulations, and polices of the State and Department to the best of their ability on behalf of the people of North Dakota. The Regulators stand ready to engage and work through any proposed applications or other water management concerns and questions!
Legislative Update
The Department of Water Resources has been actively engaging with legislators, team members, and other stakeholders during the interim in order to prepare for the 2025 legislative session. Going into 2025, DWR is focusing its efforts on the following high-level priorities:
- Retaining and attracting highly qualified team members to support DWR’s opportunities and goals
- Red tape reduction as it relates to DWR processes and permitting
- Continued efforts to support state-owned projects including further development of the NAWS Authority
- Infrastructure development and aging infrastructure
DWR is aware of several topics that will be top-of-mind related to water going into the legislative session. We continue to be willing to have a seat at the table as discussions continue on best water management practices; infrastructure development and resources; water drainage and conveyance; water resuse and recharge; cost-benefit analysis; and competing uses for water.
Water Commission Meeting Updates
At the October 10, 2024, meeting, the Commission approved funding for multiple Low Head Dam mitigation projects.
At the December 13, 2024, meeting, the Commission approved $9.2 million in cost-share for 10 projects.
2025 Water Development Plan Update
As required by NDCC 61-02-01.3, the State Water Commission and the DWR Planning and Education Division completed a 2025 Water Development Plan (WDP) to address North Dakota’s water project funding and development needs for the 2025-2027 biennium. The WDP is organized from a river basin perspective, incorporating data from a comprehensive water project inventory and insights gathered from Commissioner-hosted basin meetings. This plan will provide updated information on project funding needs, large project summaries, long-term funding estimates, and other key resources.
The transition to an online format in 2023 allows for continuous updates to the WDP, replacing the traditional biennial hard-copy release. The updated WDP dashboard is now available and provides stakeholders with easy access to the latest information and developments.
New Policy Requirements For Cost-Share
ATTENTION COST-SHARE PROGRAM APPLICANTS
As approved by the Water Commission at their October 10, 2024, meeting - all Cost-Share Program applications must now include two new pieces of information.
- A copy of draft or final approved meeting minutes acknowledging the sponsoring entity’s approval to apply for cost-share for the specified project.
- A cover letter acknowledging the cost-share request that is signed by a representative of the sponsoring entity (mayor, board chair, city administrator, district manager, executive director, etc.).
Cost-Share Program applicants are also being asked to provide related electronic mapping (GIS) files of projects. This is currently voluntary, but may become a requirement in the future.
DWR Welcomes BIG BLUE: A New Era in Drilling
We are excited to announce the arrival of our latest drilling rig, a Versa-Drill 140X, affectionately named BIG BLUE. BIG BLUE is the fourth drill rig in DWR history and is set to improve safety and enhance our capabilities at the well site. The Old Failing 1500, affectionately named EASY 40, completed its last foot of drilling in late October after serving us faithfully since March 2006.
A Milestone in DWR Drilling History: EASY 40 has been an integral part of our operations for more than 18 years, providing critical insights into our state's geology, aquifers, and groundwater resources. As we transition to BIG BLUE, we reflect on the invaluable data gathered during EASY 40’s tenure, which has been essential for understanding our water resources.
The Importance of New Drilling: As our state’s aquifers continue to be further developed, the need for new drilling is more pressing than ever. Determining the sustainability of additional pumping from these aquifers is vital and our new rig will play a crucial role in managing water resources effectively.
Supporting Monitoring Programs: Today, a significant portion of our drilling efforts focus on maintaining our existing monitoring well network. This involves replacing aging monitoring wells to ensure our long-term water level record is maintained into the future. BIG BLUE will be instrumental in this ongoing effort, enabling us to sustain and enhance our monitoring capabilities.
Looking Ahead: As we continue to innovate and expand our drilling efforts, we remain committed to collecting groundwater to support the responsible management of our state's water resources.
Recent HUD Rules Require Two-Foot Freeboard To Be Eligible For FHA Loans Starting Jan. 1, 2025
In response to Federal Flood Risk Management Standards (FFRMS) requirements, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has developed new rules which became effective April 23, 2024. The rules cover many areas, but this article focuses on updated requirements for the widely-used Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Single Family Insured Loans, or FHA loans. According to March 2024 data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, over 26% of all mortgage applications nationally for newly constructed homes were for FHA insured mortgages.
FAQ about new requirements to be eligible for FHA loans
What is the new requirement? The lowest floor of the building (including basement or crawl space) must be at least two feet above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), commonly called the "100-year" floodplain. This is called the two-foot freeboard requirement. It is a resilience standard which applies to new construction, but not substantial improvement of existing buildings.
When does this requirement start? For any new construction with building permit applications submitted after Jan. 1, 2025.
Where does this requirement apply? Within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) on FEMA floodplain maps (called Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or Flood Hazard Boundary Maps). The SFHA includes A, AE, AO, AH and A# Zones, as well as V or VE Zones.
What is North Dakota's current lowest floor requirement?
North Dakota Century Code § 61-16.2-08 requires the lowest floor of residential structures, including basements, to be elevated to at least one foot above base flood elevation. While some communities have adopted a higher standard, many are only requiring the minimum one foot of freeboard. As a result, new construction in a SFHA meeting just the current state minimum elevation requirement will not meet the new HUD requirements and will not be eligible for FHA loans.
The federal government has not provided guidance on how this may impact North Dakota communities with a basement exception.
What can/should communities do to ensure their residents are eligible for FHA loans? If your community anticipates development in the FEMA mapped floodplain, there are both immediate and longer-term options that are encouraged.
Immediate: Communities can educate those proposing to build single family homes within their FEMA mapped SFHA (the "100-year floodplain") about the new FHA loan requirements and encourage them to meet the two-foot freeboard requirement.
Longer term: Communities can amend their floodplain management ordinance to require lowest floors of new buildings to meet the two feet above the BFE minimum requirement. This is highly encouraged so residents can be eligible for FHA loans and to better reduce future flood damage.
Floodplain management ordinance amendment options: Communities can do a relatively simple amendment to their floodplain management ordinance to include the two-foot freeboard for new construction. Communities updating their floodplain management ordinance are encouraged to contact the DWR for additional information.
Western States Water Survey Report
In our ongoing commitment to understanding and addressing water management challenges, we conducted a survey of the 17 western states. This survey aimed to gather insights from various stakeholders, including water managers, policymakers, and the public, to assess current water issues and identify emerging trends across the region.
Key Takeaways:
- Water Scarcity Concerns: A significant number of respondents highlighted growing concerns over water scarcity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, emphasizing the need for sustainable management practices.
- Infrastructure Needs: Many participants identified aging water infrastructure as a critical issue, calling for increased investment in upgrades and maintenance to ensure reliable water delivery.
- Collaboration and Communication: The survey underscored the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, with many expressing a desire for improved communication and sharing of best practices in water management.
- Public Awareness and Education: There is a pressing need for increased public awareness and education about water conservation and management practices to foster community involvement and support.
- Water Use Self-Reporting Issues: Respondents noted difficulties in ensuring accurate self-reported water use data, with some users admitting that honesty isn’t in their best interest. While states like ND, CA, and TX have metering requirements, others like ID, OK, and SD are considering future mandates. Washington highlighted challenges in confirming compliance with water permits, suggesting that automated data collection could enhance enforcement efforts. California is piloting a project to evaluate telemetered monitoring and improved data reporting structures.
- Quality Control Difficulties: Maintaining quality control with automated data systems was another concern, indicating a need for better protocols and regular validation to ensure data reliability.
- Data Centralization and Access: Integrating water data from various sources into a centralized system remains complex and resource-intensive, limiting accessibility for stakeholders, including policymakers and the public.
- Data Collection and Storage Disconnects: Significant disconnects in data collection and storage practices across agencies were noted. Addressing these issues could streamline data management and improve overall accessibility and utility.
These findings highlight the shared challenges among states and the need for improved strategies in water resource management. The insights gained from this survey will guide our initiatives and policies moving forward, helping us to better serve our communities and ensure the sustainable management of our precious water resources.
Sindhuja S.Pillai-Grinolds Receives Governor’s Harvest Award For Excellence In Quality
Bismarck, ND – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is proud to announce that Sindhuja S.Pillai-Grinolds, Director of the Water Development Division, received the coveted Harvest Award for Excellence in Quality during the 2024 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Public Service. This accolade recognizes her exceptional management of North Dakota's water resources and her leadership on significant projects, including the Southwest Pipeline Project which currently serves more than 55,000 North Dakotans, and the Northwest Area Water Supply project, which will serve 81,000 water users, or 10 percent of the state’s population.
“I am truly humbled and honored to receive this recognition from the Governor and the Lt. Governor,” S.Pillai-Grinolds stated. “This recognition strengthens my commitment to serve the citizens of North Dakota to the best of my abilities. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with a great team and contribute to the success of critical water projects that benefit our state.”
The Harvest Award is a testament to S.Pillai-Grinolds' hard work and the collaborative efforts of her team in navigating the complexities of water resource management.
Under S.Pillai-Grinolds' leadership, the Water Development Division has made remarkable strides in ensuring the state’s water needs are met with precision, foresight, and strong relationships with stakeholders. Her dedication to sustainable water management has played a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for North Dakotans.
“Congratulations to Sindhuja on receiving the Harvest Award for Excellence in Quality,” DWR Director Andrea Travnicek said. “This well-deserved award reflects her strong leadership and commitment to managing North Dakota's water resources effectively. Her hard work and dedication have made a real difference in the lives of thousands of North Dakota citizens. We’re proud to have her leading these vital efforts as part of the DWR team."
Additionally, Cam Wright, DWR Communications Manager, was recognized with a Roaming Bison Award for her contributions to the S’mores World Record Team, led by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, which organized a successful Guinness World Record attempt for the most people making s’mores together, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Fort Stevenson State Park.
“It took the effort and support of multiple state agencies to pull off the successful world record attempt,” Travnicek added. “Collaboration and teamwork should be celebrated, and we appreciate Cam’s proactive approach to creating opportunities to support Team ND as a whole.”
Andrew Rodriguez
We are excited to welcome Andrew Rodriguez to the DWR team as our new Construction Crew Lead!
In this role, Andrew will be spearheading our construction crew, managing various projects, and taking on the responsibilities that come with leading a team. Andrew is eager to learn and grow in this role, continuously seeking opportunities to enhance his skills and become even more valuable to the team.
Originally from Rancho Cucamonga, California, Andrew graduated from Summit High School in Fontana, CA. He brings practical, hands-on experience to the role. Prior to joining us at DWR, Andrew worked as a Utility Worker II for Monte Vista Water District in Montclair, CA. There, they operated heavy equipment such as backhoes and front loaders, and Andrew served as second in charge on the job site.
Andrew is engaged and has two wonderful children, a son, Ayden (5), and a daughter, Drew (3). Andrew enjoys spending his spare time hanging out with his family, barbecuing, and fishing.
Andrew and his family are new to Bismarck, having just relocated from California. Please join us in welcoming Andrew!
Margaret (Maggie) Windingstad
We are excited to introduce Margaret (Maggie) Windingstad, a Hydrologist in the Water Appropriations Division. Maggie is responsible for reviewing groundwater permit applications and is eager to make a positive impact in her role.
A recent graduate from Colorado State University, Maggie earned a B.S. in Geosciences. During college, she gained valuable experience as a lab technician and research assistant in the geology department, where they prepared sand samples for chemical analysis, trained incoming lab techs, and researched the effects of landslides on flood height and sediment transport.
Originally from St. Paul, MN, Maggie is thrilled to be starting her career here at the DWR and looks forward to learning and growing within the team. In her spare time, Maggie enjoys hiking, backpacking, car camping, dancing, and reading. She is new to Bismarck and is excited to explore the area with her boyfriend, Lucas, and to make new friends.
Please join us in welcoming Maggie to the team!
Chioma Onwumelu
Meet Chioma Onwumelu, our new Hydrologist III at the North Dakota Department of Water Resources.
Originally from Eastern Nigeria, Chioma has always been passionate about geology and water resources. After earning her BTech in Geology from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), she moved to the U.S. to further her studies, earning both an MS and a PhD in Geology from the University of North Dakota.
Before joining DWR, Chioma worked at Chevron, where she developed the company’s proprietary Petrel Plugin and played a key role in quality assurance testing. She also helped bridge communication between business and programming teams, ensuring everyone was on the same page. That experience taught her a lot about collaboration and problem-solving, skills she brings to her work at DWR today.
At DWR, Chioma is responsible for evaluating water permit applications, conducting groundwater investigations, and drafting decisions on water resource issues. It’s clear she’s driven by a strong desire to help sustainably manage North Dakota’s water resources, and she’s excited to work with a team of experts to tackle the challenges that come with it.
Outside of work, Chioma is a family person, married with two young kids, Michael (4) and Ethan (2). They don’t have pets, but they enjoy spending time together as a family and connecting with loved ones around the world.
When she gets some free time, Chioma enjoys watching movies, getting outdoors when the weather allows, and volunteering to give back to her community. She’s also passionate about mentoring and being mentored, believing that collaboration and knowledge-sharing are key to both personal and professional growth. Chioma thrives on solving challenges and loves working with teams to come up with creative solutions—whether that’s in her professional life or in her personal projects.
Fun fact: Chioma’s dream vacation destination is Athens, Greece, to explore the historic city. She has been to about 27 states in the United States, 4 countries and 4 continents in the world.
Welcome to the DWR team, Chioma!
DWR Team Member Acknowledgements
Several DWR team members were acknowledged for their work during the annual DWR 2024 Holiday and Awards Celebration.
Years of Service Awards are given to team members who have served the state for three years and multiples of five.
3 Years
- Clay Carufel
5 Years
- Michaela Halvorson
- Lori Noack
- Sid Abudureyimu
- Duane Pool
- Alexis Faber
10 Years
- Abigail Franklund
- Christopher Kadrmas
- Del Nordrum
15 Years
- Kimberly Fischer
- Sarah Felchle
25 Years
- Pat Fridgen
- Julie Prescott
- Karen Goff
- Rex Honeyman
30 Years
- Tom Engberg
- Darin Langerud
35 Years
- Albert Lachenmeier
- Kelli Schroeder
45 Years
- Karen Heinert
Outstanding Performance Awards were given out to team members who went above and beyond in 2024.
- Shana Brost
- Angela Gregory
- Joe Nett
- Rex Honeyman
- Bryce Klasen
- Devin Schwindt
- Travis Thyberg
- Alexis Faber
- Abigail Franklund
- Julie Prescott
- Tina Harding
- Garrett Larson
- Tyler Spomer
The Excellence In Teamwork Award was earned by the Data and Technology Technicians.
- Joe Nett
- Michaela Halvorson
- Albert Lachenmeier
- McCoy Pinkham
- Joe Morrisette
- Andrew Rodriguez
- Tom Engberg
In recognition of a yearlong collaborative effort, the team successfully installed a stilling well at Lake Ilo, enhancing real-time water level monitoring. By coordinating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, securing permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and addressing cultural and archaeological considerations, the team overcame challenges to achieve project goals. This accomplishment improves resource management and decision-making in the Upper Spring Creek watershed, benefiting both the public and the agency.
Leadership Everywhere Award
Lori Noack - For being a vital contributor to the success of the Department of Water Resources’ Cost-Share Program, which allocates significant state funding to local water projects. Her expertise in applications, agreements, eligibility, and reimbursements makes her a key point of contact and a respected team member. Lori has also played a crucial role in onboarding new managers and improving the WebGrants portal, demonstrating her dedication to teamwork, training, and enhancing interagency cooperation.
Missy Schmidt - For demonstrating exceptional service and excellence at the Department of Water Resources. Since joining in January 2023, she mastered payroll, filled open positions, and introduced innovative recruitment strategies. Missy led the transition to a digital performance review system and improved onboarding/offboarding processes. Her contributions to updating policies and resolving HR challenges reflect her dedication to operational excellence and creating a positive work environment, making her a valuable asset to the department.
Professionalism Award - Top Honor
Karen Heinert - For professionalism, proactive attitude, and collaborative spirit fostering a positive work environment.
Her dedication to modernizing records management, transitioning from paper to digital, streamlined operations and enhanced compliance. Karen's exceptional leadership and organizational skills were key during the agency's relocation, ensuring a smooth transition while supporting colleagues' well-being. She consistently goes above and beyond, ensuring efficiency and high-quality work, making her a vital contributor to the DWR's success and a deserving recipient of this award.
Legendary Award - Top Honor
Pat Fridgen - For exemplary leadership and innovation in modernizing the Cost-Share Program, Pat has redefined operational processes, tools, and policies, ensuring legislative intent is integrated into practice. Pat's efforts have streamlined applications, enhanced public engagement, prioritized safety, and optimized resource allocation, benefiting citizens and stakeholders alike. With a focus on transparency, efficiency, and sustainability, Pat's contributions have elevated the program's impact and set a foundation for continued success, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to public service and the mission of the DWR.
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