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
Stormwater Pond Management: Sizing Pretreatment for Cost Effective Maintenance and Evaluating Remediation Methods
Thursday, November 12, 2026 - 10am - NoonThis seminar will share findings from two pond management research projects: one evaluating the effectiveness of iron and alum remediation treatments and whether enhanced street sweeping can help prevent the need for remediation, and another evaluating the costs and benefits of different pretreatment sizes to balance pollutant capture and maintenance costs.
News
I’ve got lead in my Minneapolis home’s drinking water. Now what do I do?
November 9, 2026Water Resources Center's extension educator, Amelia Olsen, speaks on how to interpret lead test results in your home.
Minnesota private well owners are largely on their own when it comes to arsenic
September 15, 2026Some well owners are reluctant to use free arsenic test kits because solving the problem would be too expensive.
What Happens to Soils During a Drought?
September 9, 2026Drought has defined five of the last six growing seasons in Minnesota, with below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures contributing to the spread of D1, D2, and D3 drought conditions across more than 75% of the state this summer. August is normally one of Minnesota’s wettest months, but rainfall totals have continued to fall short. Drought is expected to persist in much of the state through the end of the growing season. While impacts on corn yield are expected to be minimal across much of the state, seeing fields across the state recently had us wondering – beyond looking dry and cracked, what happens to our soils during a drought?