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 2024, our sphere of influence and metrics.
Upcoming Events
Extreme Weather Impacts Across the Water Sector
Thursday March 27, 2025 10:00am - 12:00pmThis presentation will provide beneficial statistics for understanding and employing resources to address the worsening threat as well as connect international implications for the sector through analysis of the supply chain and key resource hub locations and best practices.
Minnesota Water Resources Conference
October 14-15, 2025Save the date for the 2025 Minnesota Water Resources Conference. This annual conference is the premier event for all things water in Minnesota.
News
The state of Minnesota's soil health
March 10, 2025Tracking the use of practices like reduced tillage and cover crops that promote healthy soil is challenging but critical to gauge progress towards regional and state goals. By combining remote sensing, USDA Agricultural Census data, and state-reported cost-share, we’ve pulled together a county-level dataset that can serve as a baseline for comparison to track changes in Minnesota’s ag practices over the coming years. Here’s a quick peek at the current state of Minnesota’s soil health.
New Water Resources Staff Q&A
March 6, 2025The Water Resources Center had quite a few staffing changes including the hiring of six new employees throughout 2024. Learn about who they are and what their experiences in the WRC have been so far.
A look at progress and needs in the decentralized wastewater industry
February 13, 2025Sara Heger, an industry expert, researcher, and trainer from the University of Minnesota’s Onsite Sewage Treatment Program joins the Tap Talk podcast to discuss the recent progress, needs, and issues in the decentralized wastewater industry.