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
The Value and Importance of MS4 Permittee Coalitions
Thursday, December 17, 2026 - 10am - NoonThe National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA) includes 26 state coalitions of MS4 permittees throughout the United States as members. There are other state-level permittee coalitions that are not NMSA members. The structure and capacities of these organizations vary greatly, but MS4 permittees have found value in and purpose for these coalitions in many states.
News
Natalie Narváez wins 2026 Water Resources Conference poster contest
November 12, 2026This year's poster contest winner is Natalie Narváez for her poster, "An Overlooked Pathway: Contaminants in Firefighting Wastewater Runoff." Narváez is a master's student in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where she is advised by Dr. Grace Wilson.
2026 Water Resources Conference Awards
November 12, 2026Every year, members of the Minnesota Water Resources Conference awards subcommittee carefully select recipients of two awards named after significant figures in the Minnesota water community, Deborah L. Swackhamer and Dave Ford. Each recipient received their award on the first day of the 2026 Water Resources Conference.
2026 Minnesota Water Resources Conference
November 12, 2026The 2026 Minnesota Water Resources Conference, hosted by the Minnesota Water Resources Center (WRC), brought together 920 people from across the United States at the St. Paul RiverCentre on October 13-14th to network and hear from speakers about water topics ranging from chloride pollution, the water workforce, restoration of the Mississippi River, to sulfate pollution, and more.