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 research and Extension programs, training and courses, conferences and speaker series, and graduate support.
The great MN water get-together
For over 50 years the Minnesota Water Resources Conference has been the state's premier water event.
What we've accomplished
Learn about our value, impacts, and activities in 2025.
Upcoming Events
Engineered Amendments for Climate-Resilient Green Infrastructure
Thursday, June 18, 2026 - 10am - NoonThis presentation examines the use of engineered amendments, including biochar and lightweight aggregates, to improve the resilience and performance of green infrastructure systems.
Vegetation Identification and Maintenance Techniques for Stormwater Treatment Practices - August 4
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 - 9am - 4pmA one-day, hands-on workshop for stormwater maintenance professionals. Participants learn to use plant identification apps to accurately identify species and determine which should be removed from vegetated stormwater practices. This course introduces maintenance of vegetated systems, particularly for professionals who have traditionally focused on mechanical practices.
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Vegetation Identification and Maintenance Techniques for Stormwater Treatment Practices - August 6
Thursday, August 6, 2026 - 9am - 4pmA one-day, hands-on workshop for stormwater maintenance professionals. Participants learn to use plant identification apps to accurately identify species and determine which should be removed from vegetated stormwater practices. This course introduces maintenance of vegetated systems, particularly for professionals who have traditionally focused on mechanical practices.
News
Go with the flow: Hydrodynamic resilience to invasive mussels
June 8, 2026Water Resources Science, masters student Jasper Goldstein, investigated how turbulence in water flow negatively affects zebra mussels.
Temporarily Not Soil: an immersive underground experience above the ground
March 12, 2026A team of soil enthusiasts, including Water Resources Center’s Bailey Tangen and Anna Cates, spent the better part of the past year working on an immersive art shanty that focused on educating visitors about the importance of soil and the impact that humans have on soil health. This artistic build was displayed on a frozen Lake Harriet from January through February,
Aquatic invasive species prevention: leveraging big data to inform infestation risk
March 12, 2026Graduate research assistant, Jeremiah Shrovnal, joined researchers from Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (MNCFWRU) and the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC), along with collaborators at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, to leverage the power of machine learning and large international data sets to generate species distribution models.