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
Minnesota Water Resources Conference
October 13-14, 2026Participant registration and exhibitor registration is now open for the annual Minnesota Water Resources conference. #MNWRC26
Real-Time Control For Enhanced Urban Stream Health: Promising or Over-Promising?
Thursday, October 22, 2026 - 10am - NoonThis presentation will investigate real time control (RTC) at the site and system scales, providing a real-world case study of multiple controlled stormwater assets in one watershed, and observation of in-stream dynamics during control.
News
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’s next in ag drainage?
September 9, 2026Through the MN Drainage Program, University of Minnesota Extension works with producers and others, such as Water Resources Center's Extension educator in agricultural water management, Tim Gieseke, on the nuances of precision drainage and its management.
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?