ROBB FELLOWS WINS 2023 ANDY ALDAX CARSON RIVER WATERSHED AWARD
The Carson Water Subconservancy District (CWSD) announced Robb Fellows as the 2023 winner of the Andy Aldax Carson River Watershed Award for Exemplary Service in Conservation and Protection of the Carson River Watershed. The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have spent a decade or more implementing projects and programs to improve and sustain the natural resources of the Carson River Watershed (CRW). During the award ceremony on Jan. 18, colleagues from area counties and agencies hailed Fellows as a mentor and champion for the community and lauded his insights and willingness to answer questions.
As chief stormwater engineer and floodplain manager for Carson City Public Works, Fellows supervised management of the area’s 18 sub-watersheds. As an integral part of the Carson River Coalition (CRC) team that created the CRW Regional Floodplain Management Plan (RFMP), Fellows promoted the RFMP’s “living river” concept while implementing critical projects. Through his guidance and participation in the CRC, Carson City has become an important role model for other counties on how to implement the RFMP.

Robb Fellows and Stacey Giomi
Among his many accomplishments, Fellows:
- Spearheaded a $4.5-million investment to incorporate storm water improvements along South Carson Street to alleviate flooding during storm events.
- Expanded Vicee Canyon Detention Basins following the 2004 Waterfall Fire.
- Oversaw flood awareness and emergency preparedness outreach, including the Eagle Creek mural project.
- Managed nearly $1.5 million in flood insurance rate map updates for the Carson River, Eagle Valley, Goni Wash, Voltaire Canyon, and Clear Creek.
- Coordinated FEMA’s Community Rating System, providing a 20-percent discount to flood insurance premiums for Carson City residents living in Special Flood Hazard Areas.
- Updated the City’s stormwater ordinances, including a drainage manual and low-impact-development ordinances that weave water quality with stormwater infrastructure and flood protection improvements.
During his 21-year tenure with Carson City, Fellows’ floodplain-management efforts adhered to the guiding principles of the CRC and improved flood hazard mitigation and water quality throughout the city. Fellows worked with Carson City Open Space to designate more than 71 percent of Carson City’s Special Flood Hazard Area as open space, which reduced flood hazards and improved recreation access throughout the city.
“I really appreciate being nominated and accepting this award. I know I’ve done a lot of things, and it’s amazing what people remember,” said Fellows. “It’s been fun…certainly I think myself and the others at Public Works have done a lot of good things for Carson City, and we’re in a good place.”
Created in 2007, the Andy Aldax award honors the legacy of the late Andy Aldax, a 53-year CWSD board member and a tireless agricultural advocate and watershed steward for the CRW.