Influential water official Underwood dies at age 60

Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005 | 10:08 a.m.

Dennis Underwood, who as a federal and California official put a stamp on water policies throughout the Southwest, including Southern Nevada, died Wednesday.

Underwood, who was 60, was the chief executive and general manager of Southern California's Metropolitan Water District and had played a key role in negotiations over the Colorado River for several years.

Pat Mulroy, Southern Nevada Water Authority general manager, said Underwood's passing comes at a time when his leadership could be used to overcome tough issues separating the seven states of the Colorado River basin.

"Dennis is going to leave a big hole behind," she said. "He understood water in a way that transcended the boundaries of the state he was representing."

Underwood was commissioner of the federal Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the water use of the Colorado River, from 1989-1993. He became the chief executive of Metropolitan last year after more than a decade at the district.

Underwood helped usher agreements into place that set the modern structure for sharing Colorado River water among the basin states, among them Nevada and California. Last year he helped negotiate one of the nation's largest habitat conservation plans, covering 27 species along more than 450 miles of the lower Colorado River.

He played a critical role in bringing California into line with its federal apportionment from the river, and a multi-state agreement to share "surpluses" when the river has unused water.

Underwood helped create the water storage or "banking" arrangements that have formed an insurance policy for water users in Southern Nevada. Last year Underwood, then Metropolitan vice president, helped broker a deal that allows the Southern Nevada Water Authority to store up to 30,000 acre-feet of water annually in the Golden State as a reserve against future Las Vegas needs.

That deal gives Southern Nevada a "safety cushion" against future drought.

Underwood said in October 2004 that the deal could open the door to further cooperative projects. Such cooperation could be essential in responding to future needs of the entire Colorado River basin.

Bob Muir, Metropolitan spokesman, said the loss will be felt outside Southern California.

"It is a definite loss, not just for Metropolitan, but for the entire West. Dennis had just a tremendous knowledge of Western water issues," Muir said.

Mulroy said it would not be just his knowledge and expertise that would be missed.

"He was an incredibly smart, even-tempered, substantive human being," she said. "On a personal note, I'm just heartbroken. He was one of the nicest, most generous men I have ever met."

Launce Rake can be reached at 259-4127 or at lrake@lasvegassun.com.