The University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center provides leadership in freshwater management through cutting-edge research, educational opportunities for students and professionals, and community outreach. Authorized by Congress as one of the nation’s 54 water resources research institutes, we also connect the research expertise at the University to research problems at the national level.
What we're working on
See our diverse portfolio of programs, projects and events.
Where we're going
Read our strategic plan which guides our work and collaborations for the next several years.
What we've accomplished
Learn about our impacts and activities in 2023, our sphere of influence and metrics.
Upcoming Events
Trees, Ponds, and Watersheds: Long-Term Ecological Research to Understand People and Water in Cities
Thursday May 16, 10a – 12pmThe Minneapolis-St. Paul Urban Long Term Ecological Research project (MSP LTER) is an NSF-funded project exploring interactions between people and nature in the Twin Cities to understand how urban ecosystems respond to rapid environmental and social change and inform approaches to addressing environmental inequities. After introducing the broader suite of MSP LTER research questions related to pollinator communities, urban forests, and aquatic ecosystems, this presentation will highlight research focused on urban watersheds and surface waters.
Blackwaters screening and discussion
May 18, 6 - 9 p.m.Join us at the Bell Museum for a screening of the documentary film Blackwaters: Brotherhood in the Wild and a chance to meet the cast. The University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources, in partnership with the Bell Museum, Minneapolis Parks Foundation, and Melanin in Motion, is pleased to present this event with additional support from the WRC (and others).
Minnesota Water Resources Conference
October 15-16, 2024Save the date! #mnwrc24
Immerse yourself in innovative, practical, and applied water resource engineering solutions, management techniques, and current research about Minnesota’s water resources.
News
Minnegram editor Christine Hansen retires
April 18, 2024After a long career with the U of M Water Resources Center, Minnegram editor Chris Hansen will retire on April 19. In what will be her last Minnegram post, we asked her a little about her time with the WRC, and what she anticipates life will be like in her well deserved retirement.
How innovation in technology used to manage and treat water could spur economic development
March 7, 2024University of Minnesota researchers hope their work with a consortium will lead to economic benefits for the Great Lakes region.
Ecology under ice
February 16, 2024UMD and Water Resources Science student research is advancing our understanding of lake ecology in the winter.