Congresswoman Lee Announces New Center of Excellence within Nevada System of Higher Education
Established as part of initiative to enhance efforts to support the nation’s water infrastructure and protect water quality
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced that the Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $5 million to academic institutions across the country, including the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents, to establish brand-new Centers of Excellence focusing on stormwater control. Funding for this award comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Congresswoman Lee helped negotiate and pass.
Despite being in a desert, southern Nevada is not immune to the severe impacts of stormwater — over the Labor Day weekend last year, most of Clark County was overwhelmed by thunderstorms and floods that delayed flights, damaged homes and cars, and turned streets into waterways. As the climate crisis intensifies, these severe weather events are on the rise across the Southwest, leading to more stormwater runoff and water supply pollution.
“Southern Nevada is on the front lines of the climate crisis, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept severe stormwater impacts as another new reality,” said Congresswoman Lee. “We need the infrastructure and technology to not only tackle drought in the West, but also emerging extreme weather events and pollution. That’s why I helped pass historic, bipartisan water investments, and I’m proud to see those investments returned to southern Nevada to continue developing our leadership in sustainable technologies.”
One of four new centers across the country, Nevada’s Center of Excellence will play an important role in conducting new research and providing technical assistance to state, local, and tribal entities to safeguard the environment while improving stormwater management and climate resilience.
As Vice-Chair of the bipartisan Colorado River Caucus, Congresswoman Susie Lee has been dedicated to finding solutions to the worst drought in the American West in 12 centuries. This Congress, Lee has introduced bipartisan legislation to close the biggest data gap in water management and led bipartisan calls for action in the Colorado River negotiations following a series of missed deadlines, as well as a bill to unlock funding for Hoover Dam. Last year, Congresswoman Lee announced that $63 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been awarded to 13 water infrastructure projects across Nevada.
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