Minnesota Stormwater Research Council

The Minnesota Stormwater Research Council (MSRC) is an organization of stormwater professionals, practitioners, managers, engineers, researchers and others that seeks to facilitate and complete research on urban stormwater management and transfer that knowledge to professionals that can use it to prevent, minimize and mitigate the impacts of runoff. The MSRC is administered by the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center (WRC). 

Established in 2016, the goals of the MSRC include:

  • Facilitate the completion of needed applied research that enables more informed decisions about the use, management and protection of our water resources in urbanized areas.
  • Periodically assess the status of research, identify consensus research priorities, and communicate these to Minnesota’s public and private research agencies and organizations.
  • Promote coordination of research goals, objectives and funding among the research agencies and organizations.

Financial support

Financial support for the Council is provided by member cities, watershed districts and organizations, and private businesses. Additional support is provided through the Clean Water Fund from the State of Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center, Minnesota Sea Grant, the College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, and the National Institutes for Water Resources funded by the US Geological Survey.

The Council in partnership with the Water Resources Center, invests financial resources in research that results in discoveries that help Minnesota professionals, practitioners, and policymakers across cities, watersheds, counties, and private businesses to –

  • Evaluate and design more effective stormwater practices
  • Manage urban runoff to prevent or reduce impacts to lakes, streams, rivers, and groundwater
  • Maintain investments in stormwater infrastructure for continued effective operation
  • Incorporate strategies to improve resilience of stormwater infrastructure

Join the growing list of watersheds, cities, and private businesses that are supporting this work on an annual basis. Use the online form to indicate your organization’s financial support or contact the Council by email at [email protected]

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Annual reports

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Currently accepting research proposals on urban stormwater ponds. The full RFP can be found on our funding opportunities page.  

Annual meeting and other resources

Save the date: July 18, 2024 8am - 4pm  

More details will be available in June.