Nevada's acting top water regulator since January now has the job permanently.

Department of Conservation & Natural Resources chief Bradley Crowell said Thursday that Tim Wilson was promoted to state engineer and Division of Water Resources administrator.

Wilson has been with the division since 1995 and served several roles before stepping up from deputy to acting state engineer following Jason King's retirement.

The state engineer regulates and appropriates surface and groundwater in the nation's most arid state _ except the Colorado River _ and oversees water well drilling, dam safety, resource planning and flood plain management.