The Water Resources Center staff and leadership are proud to share the strategic plan to guide our work and collaborations over the next several years.
The purpose of the plan is twofold. For our partners, it communicates the range of work we do and our specific niche at the nexus of water, land, and people. In doing so, we hope to spark conversations about how we can collaborate to address the range of water issues facing the state. For our staff, it provides a framework for their programs and activities and serves a guide for planning our work across the spectrum of research, education, outreach, training, and Extension. As many of you know, the Center started developing this plan in the fall of 2016. A significant part of the process was gathering input from a range of external stakeholders, University partners, and our own staff. The plan and its content reflect the range of feedback that we received.
Each goal includes a selection strategies for achieving it, metrics that we will use to measure progress, and programs and projects to highlight our current work.
As you read the strategic plan, we hope that you can identify opportunities to collaborate with our partners, both within and outside of the University. The plan is intentionally short and is meant to be a document that our stakeholders and staff can return to as they consider how to advance our goals over the next several years. Our activities and programs will use this document to guide their work, and we hope to work with our partners across the state to build on our strong foundation of technical expertise and community connections.
Research
Lead and enable innovative problem-driven research, building a trusted knowledge base to inform water resources management in Minnesota and beyond.
As a member of the National Institutes for Water Resources, the WRC is charged with conducting and supporting peer-reviewed research that responds to pressing water resources issues. The WRC has supported dozens of projects to help Minnesota researchers launch new lines of work, training the next generation of water scientists in the process. As an interdisciplinary institute, a core function of the WRC is to assemble and coordinate cross-cutting teams of experts to address multifaceted problems. These collaborations of WRC scientists, University of Minnesota faculty and research staff, and outside partners have earned major support from sponsors such as the National Science Foundation.
Key strategies
- Leverage the WRC's location within the University of Minnesota system to prioritize multidisciplinary research that supports practice and policy
- Connect researchers with complementary expertise to pursue compelling opportunities
- Channel funding streams to develop lasting, high impact collaborations involving WRC researchers and University faculty
- Develop and deploy research-enabling capabilities, such as project and data management
Metrics
- Number of affiliated research faculty and scientists
- Diversity and quantity of research collaborations
- Publications and grants
- Citations of WRC researchers
Selected programs and projects
- Stormwater Research and Technology Projects
- Assessment of Stormwater Best Management Practices
- Sustainable Food Energy and Water Systems in Cultivated Regions
- Minnesota Office for Soil Health
- Onsite Sewage Treatment Program
- Contaminants of Emerging Concern Risk Assessment and Management
- Remote Sensing of Water Quality
- Harmful Algal Blooms and Lake Health
Convey
Convey results of water-related research in Minnesota and beyond, working in partnership with University of Minnesota faculty and other organizations.
Water resource practitioners across the state need access to University research in formats that are useful to their work. Many WRC projects aim to produce science-based resources to support policy-makers, local watershed planners, engineers, and more. The newly-created Minnesota Office for Soil Health is dedicated to building the soil health knowledge base of local conservation staff and agricultural professionals. Other examples of our work include the Fields to Streams publication, case studies detailing phosphorus management in dairy systems, and training resources for users of the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework. We partner closely with the Extension Water Resources Team to provide training and support for local water resource leaders, communities, and professionals across the state.
Key strategies
- Leverage the WRC's location within the University of Minnesota system to disseminate high quality scientific information to support practice and policy
- Build the capacity of researchers and educators to clearly and effectively share scientific information with end users
- Expand collaborations and improve coordination among water-related Extension activities to provide high-quality programs across the state
Metrics
- Number and diversity of water-related Extension activities and collaborations
- Website and social media analytics
- Feedback from participants and users of WRC products
- Number of publications for practitioners
- Citations of publications for practitioners
Selected programs and projects
- Fields to Stream Handbook
- Watershed Education Program
- Non-point Education for Municipal Officials
- Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework: Training and Evaluation Projects
- Minnesota Office for Soil Health
- Conservation Drainage Projects
- Stormwater U
- Harmful Algal Blooms and Lake Health
Train
Invest in Minnesota’s clean water future by developing the current and next generation of water resources professionals.
A diverse range of professionals are responsible for Minnesota water resources, including researchers and educators; private engineers, consultants, and lawyers; local government planners, technicians, and managers; farmers and other land managers; and utility managers ranging from private septic system installers to city drinking water suppliers. All of these people need high quality and ongoing training. The Water Resources Center is a premier provider of training, certification, and education programs for audiences within Minnesota and across the country. Through the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program, Wetlands Delineation Certification Program, Watershed Specialists Training, and Extension programming, the Center offers a range of research-based workshops, curriculum, and outreach to professionals, communities, and other individuals. The WRC also administers the Water Resources Science graduate program, the largest interdisciplinary program at the University of Minnesota.
Key strategies
- Expand and foster innovation in research-based training, certification, and Extension programs through new modes of delivery and increased coordination with external partners
- Create professional development opportunities for students and build relationships with potential employers
- Support the WRS program through funding for student fellowships and research
Metrics
- Number and diversity of training participants
- Participation by WRS students and WRC staff in professional development activities
- Number of students with WRC support for research or fellowships
- Placement rate of WRS graduates
Selected programs and projects
- Onsite Sewage Treatment Program
- Wetland Delineator Certification Program
- Watershed Specialist Training Program
- Minnesota Office for Soil Health
- Conservation Applications of LiDAR
- MASWCD Webinars
- Minnesota Water Resources Conference
Connect
Connect diverse stakeholders, including underrepresented voices, to generate new insights across fields of knowledge and enable innovation along the spectrum from research to practice.
Addressing the complexity of water issues demands diverse approaches and a strong, inclusive network of relationships. The WRC fosters connections across disciplines and communities by sponsoring the annual Minnesota Water Resources Conference, which recently brought together 700 practitioners and researchers from across the state. Further connections are forged each year through numerous WRC-sponsored events including conferences, symposia, and lectures. Beyond events, we connect stakeholders through efforts such as the Minnesota Office for Soil Health and the Minnesota Stormwater Research Council. Through these events and organizations, we build stronger connections across the state, bringing together diverse audiences from a range of backgrounds: rural and urban, agricultural and natural resources, and beyond.
Key strategies
- Continue to strengthen and promote the annual Minnesota Water Resources Conference
- Engage underrepresented Minnesotans in water issues
- Formalize partnerships and expand connections within the University across its research, education, outreach, and Extension activities
- Increase collaboration and capacity building with external organizations that reflect a range of water users and sectors
Metrics
- Number and diversity of collaborations facilitated by the WRC
- Number of WRC sponsored events and attendance
- Diversity of content and attendance at WRC-sponsored events
- Feedback from event attendees
Selected programs and projects
- Minnesota Water Resources Conference
- Minnesota Office for Soil Health
- Minnesota Stormwater Research Council
- Contaminants of Emerging Concern Risk Assessment and Management
- Watershed Education Program
- Non-point Education for Municipal Officials
- Climate Adaptation Conference
- Water Resources Assembly and Research Symposium
Communicate
Maximize the impact and visibility of the Water Resources Center across the state and within the University through robust communication.
Through outlets such as Minnegram and Confluence, the WRC communicates the results of cutting-edge research to both technical and lay audiences, shares training and educational opportunities, and builds a network of water resource professionals. Minnegram is a quarterly newsletter that highlights the work of the Center’s staff, researchers, and affiliated faculty for a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Confluence provides information for the University of Minnesota’s water community by focusing on funding and professional development opportunities, awards, and events of interest to the University of Minnesota’s water community.
Key strategies
- Proactively communicate the scope, activities, and value of the WRC to key constituencies
- Amplify water-related research, outcomes, and activities at the University
- Increase the visibility of student work
Metrics
- Website and social media analytics
- Media mentions
- Newsletter subscribers
- Participation in state and national policy discussions
- Funding from new sources
- Incoming requests for information
Selected programs and projects
- Confluence
- Minnegram
- Water Resources Assembly and Research Symposium
- WRC Reports