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Women of Clark County
Patricia Mulroy
1953 -
Patricia Mulroy served as the deputy general manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, becoming the first woman to hold that role. During her tenure, Mulroy played a key role in establishing the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), a government agency responsible for regional water management in Clark County. Mulroy has remarked on the considerable challenges faced in creating SNWA, which necessitated government agencies to relinquish power and adopt a broader perspective. Since its inception in 1991, SNWA has been pivotal in developing a regional conservation plan for southern Nevada and in negotiations regarding the Colorado River.
These efforts became increasingly significant when, in 2000, drought conditions threatened Lake Powell. In response, the region implemented rigorous water conservation initiatives. Additionally, Mulroy led Nevada's delegation in several negotiations with Colorado River Basin States and Mexico, culminating in an extensive plan that involved seven states and two countries.
Today, Mulroy holds a senior fellow position at the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she focuses on assisting communities in water-stressed areas across the American Southwest. She also operates her own consulting firm and serves on the faculty at the Desert Research Institute.
Pictured: Patricia Mulroy, 2013. University of Nevada, Las Vegas Creative Services Records (2010s). UNLV University Libraries Special Collections & Archives.
Sources
- Municipal Water Leader Magazine. “Pat Mulroy: Secrets to Success on the Colorado River,” January 15, 2021. https://municipalwaterleader.com/pat-mulroy-secrets-to-success-on-the-colorado-river/.
- William S. Boyd School of Law. “Patricia Mulroy.” Accessed May 1, 2025. https://law.unlv.edu/faculty/pat-mulroy.
For questions or comments, please reach out to the Clark County Museum at ccmuseum@clarkcountynv.gov.