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 2022, our sphere of influence and metrics.
Upcoming Events
Road salt impacts: Stormwater, surface water, groundwater, ecosystems and drinking water supplies
Thursday February 23, 2023 10:00am - 12:00pmUnderstanding the factors that control chloride (and sodium) concentrations is essential to inform efforts to improve deicing salt application practices and reduce impacts on ecosystems and drinking water quality.
News
Investigating the effects of intensive agricultural irrigation on tribal resources in Central Minnesota
February 1, 2023by Philip Margarit and Leslie Ludtke
The 1855 Treaty Territory overlaps partially with the Pineland Sands Aquifer System (Pineland Sands) in Central Minnesota. This region is important culturally, ecologically, and economically, including the headwaters of the Mississippi River and numerous trout streams, recreational lakes, and wild rice water bodies important to the Anishinaabe.
Analyzing potential public health concern of walleye mercury concentrations triggered by zebra mussel invasion
February 1, 2023by Denver Link
Minnesota’s state fish is threatened by an aquatic invasive species, potentially inducing public health concern. The beloved walleye holds significant cultural and economic importance in Minnesota, but zebra mussels cause large scale changes that impact the food web. Water Resources Science graduate student Denver Link seeks to understand how zebra mussels impact food sources for walleye populations in Minnesota lakes.
Minnesota springs are getting wetter. What’s at stake for farmers?
February 1, 2023by Bailey Tangen and Anna Cates
Climate change is projected to change the timing, frequency, and severity of spring precipitation in Minnesota, and farmers might notice those changes first. Increases in number and quantity of rains are expected early in the growing season in southern Minnesota, where acres of corn and soybean dominate the landscape. Besides increasing the risk of water erosion in these fields, erratic rain patterns cause a lot of stress to farmers looking to plant corn and soybeans in May.