Water Resources Research Act Program

The Water Resources Research Act Program, authorized by section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, is a Federal-State partnership which:

  • Plans, facilitates, and conducts research to aid in the resolution of State and regional water problems
  • Promotes technology transfer and the dissemination and application of research results
  • Provides for the training of scientists and engineers through their participation in research
  • Provides for competitive grants to be awarded under the Water Resources Research Act

The state water resources research institutes (WRRI) authorized by the Act are organized as the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR). NIWR cooperates with the USGS to support, coordinate and facilitate research through the Annual Base Grants, National Competitive Grants, Coordination Grants, and in operating the NIWR-USGS Student Internship Program. Visit the Application Information page to learn more about these grant opportunities.

If you're looking for a USGS collaborator or want to talk more about our ongoing science in your area, please contact us!

The Institutes

There are 54 Water Resources Research Institutes or Centers, one in each of the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.

The Water Resources Research Institute for each state or territory is located at its "1862" land-grant university or at another college or university designated by the governor or state legislature. The Institute in Guam is a regional institute serving Guam, The Federated States of Micronesia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Institute in Hawaii also serves American Samoa.

The National Institutes for Water Resources Directory is available for download in pdf format.

Alabama

Auburn University Water Resources Center
Auburn University
1090 South Donahue Drive
Auburn, Alabama 36849-5431

Dr. Eve Brantley, Director
brantley@auburn.edu
Phone: (334) 844-3927
Fax: (334) 844-4462

Alaska

Water and Environmental Research Center
University of Alaska-Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-5860

Dr. Nicole Misarti, WERC Director
nmisarti@alaska.edu
Phone: (907) 474-7789
Fax: (907) 474-7041

Arizona

Water Resources Research Center
The University of Arizona
350 N. Campbell Ave.
Tucson, Arizona 85721

Dr. Sharon Megdal, Director
smegdal@email.arizona.edu
Phone: (520) 621-9591
Fax: (520) 792-8518

Arkansas

Arkansas Water Resources Center
University of Arkansas
Engineering Hall 203
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701

Dr. Brian E. Haggard, Director
haggard@uark.edu
Phone: (479) 575-2879
Fax: (479) 575-2846

California

California Institute for Water Resources
University of California
1111 Franklin Street, Rm. 10206
Oakland, California 94607

Dr. Erik Porse, Director
eporse@ucanr.edu
Phone: (530) 240-2612
Fax: (530) 832-8612

Colorado

Colorado Water Center
Colorado State University
E-102 Engineering Building
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1033

Dr. John Tracy, Director
John.tracy@colostate.edu
Phone: (970) 491-6880
Fax: (970) 491-1636

Connecticut

Connecticut Institute of Water Resources
The University of Connecticut
W. B. Young Building, Room 308
1376 Storrs Road, U-18
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-4018

Dr. Michael Dietz, Director
michael.dietz@uconn.edu
Phone: (860) 486-2436
Fax: (860) 486-5408

Delaware

Water Resources Center
University of Delaware
DGS Annex-261 Academy Street
Newark, Delaware 19716

Dr. Gerald J. Kauffman, Director
jerryk@udel.edu
Phone: (302) 831-4929
Fax: (302) 831-4934

District of Columbia

Water Resource Research Institute
University of the District of Columbia
College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences
4200 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Bldg. 42 Room 215C
Washington, District of Columbia 20008

Tolessa Deksissa, Ph.D., Director
tdeksissa@udc.edu
Phone: (202) 274-5273
Fax: (202) 274-7016

Florida

Water Resources Research Center
University of Florida
365 Weil Hall
P.O. Box 116580
Gainesville, Florida 32611-6580

Dr. Kirk Hatfield, Co-Director
khatf@ce.ufl.edu
Phone: (352) 392-9537 ext 1441
Fax: (352) 392-3394

Dr. Mark Newman, Co-Director
markn@ufl.edu
Phone: (352) 392-9537 ext 1518
Fax: (352) 392-3394

Georgia

Georgia Water Resources Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
790 Atlantic Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0355

Dr. Aris P. Georgakakos, Director
ageorgak@ce.gatech.edu
Phone: (404) 894-2240
Fax: (404) 894-2677

Guam

Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific
University of Guam
303 University Drive
Mangilao, Guam 96923

Dr. Ross Miller, Interim Director
millerr@triton.uog.edu
Phone: (671) 735-2145
Fax: (671) 734-8890

Hawaii

Water Resources Research Center
University of Hawaii
2540 Dole Street, Room 283
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822

Dr. Thomas Giambelluca, Director
thomas@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 956-7847
Fax: (808) 956-5044

Dr. Tao Yan, Associate Director
taoyan@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 956-7848
Fax: (808) 956-5044

Idaho

Idaho Water Resources Research Institute
University of Idaho
1031 N. Academic Way, Rm 216
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814

Dr. Bradley Ritts, Acting Director
ritts@uidaho.edu
Phone: (208) 885-1146
Fax: (208) 885-6431

Illinois

Illinois Water Resources Center
University of Illinois
391 NRB, MC-650
615 East Peabody Drive
Champaign, Illinois 61820

Dr. Yu-Feng Lin, Director
yflin@illinois.edu
Phone: (217) 300-2101

Indiana

Indiana Water Resources Research Center
Purdue University
195 Marsteller Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907

Dr. Keith Cherkauer, Director
cherkaue@purdue.edu
Phone: (765) 496-7982
Fax: (765) 496-2422

Iowa

Iowa Water Center
Iowa State University
Department of Agronomy
3212 Agronomy Hall
Ames, Iowa 50011-1010

Dr. Rick Cruse, Director
rmc@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-7850
Fax: (515) 294-3163

Kansas

Kansas Water Resources Institute
Kansas State University Research and Extension
44 Waters Hall
Manhattan, Kansas 66506

Dr. Susan Metzeger, Director
smetzger@k-state.edu
Phone: (785) 532-0393
Fax: (785) 532-2023

Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute
University of Kentucky
233 Mining and Mineral Resources Building
Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0107

Dr. Jason Unrine, Director
jason.unrine@uky.edu
Phone: (859) 257-3655
Fax: (859) 323-1049

Louisiana

Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute
Louisiana State University
3418G Patrick F. Taylor Hall
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803

Dr. Frank Tsai, Director
ftsai@lsu.edu
Phone: (225) 578-4945
Fax: (225) 578-5043

Maine

Maine Water Resources Research Institute
University of Maine
Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research
102 Norman Smith Hall
Orono, Maine 04469-5710

Dr. David Hart, Director
david.hart@maine.edu
Phone: (207) 581-3257
Fax: (207) 581-3320

Maryland

Maryland Water Resources Research Center
University of Maryland
Civil and Environmental Engineering
1173 Glenn L. Martin Hall
College Park, Maryland 20742

Dr. Kaye L. Brubaker, Director
kbru@umd.edu
Phone: (301) 405-1965
Fax: (301) 405-2585

Massachusetts

Water Resources Research Center
University of Massachusetts
209 Ag Engineering Bldg
250 Natural Resources Rd
Amherst, Massachusetts 01003

Dr. Timothy Randhir, Director
randhir@eco.umass.edu
Phone: (413) 545-3969

Marie-Francoise Hatte, Associate Director
mfhatte@umass.edu
Phone: (413) 545-5531

Michigan

Institute of Water Research
Michigan State University
101A Manly Miles Building
1405 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, Michigan 48823-5243

Dr. Dana M. Infante, Interim Director
infanted@msu.edu
Phone: (517) 432-7232
Fax: (517) 353-1812

Dr. Jeremiah Asher, Assistant Director
asherjer@msu.edu
Phone: (517) 432-5586
Fax: (517) 353-1812

Minnesota

Water Resources Center
University of Minnesota
173 McNeal Hall
1985 Buford Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108

Dr. Jeffrey M. Peterson, Director
jmpeter@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 624-9282
Fax: (612) 625-1263

Mississippi

Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute
Mississippi State University
Mailstop 9601
Bost Extension Building, Rm 404
Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-9601

Dr. Larry J. Krutz, Director
jkrutz@ext.msstate.edu
Phone: (662) 588-8974
Fax: (662) 325-8407

Missouri

Missouri Water Resources Research Center
University of Missouri-Columbia
E2509 Laferre Hall
Columbia, Missouri 65211

Dr. Baolin Deng, Director
dengb@missouri.edu
Phone: (573) 882-4638
Fax: (573) 884-2766

Montana

Montana Water Center
Montana State University
Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
Bozeman, Montana 59715

Dr. Stephanie Ewing, Director
stephanie.ewing@montana.edu
Phone: (406) 994-5247
Fax: (406) 994-1774

Nebraska

Nebraska Water Center
University of Nebraska
Daugherty Water for Food Institute
2021 Transformation Dr., Ste. 3220, P.O. Box 886204
Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-6204

Dr. Chittaranjan Ray, Director
nwcdirector@unl.edu
Phone: (402) 472-3305
Fax: (402) 472-3610

Nevada

Nevada Water Resources Research Institute
Division of Hydrologic Sciences
Desert Research Institute
2215 Raggio Parkway
Reno, Nevada 89512

Charles Russell, Director
chuck.russell@dri.edu
Phone: 702-862-5486
Fax: 702-862-5427

New Hampshire

NH Water Resources Research Center
University of New Hampshire
114 James Hall
56 College Road
Durham, New Hampshire 03824

William H. McDowell, Director
bill.mcdowell@unh.edu
Phone: (603) 862-2249
Fax: (603) 862-4976

Michelle Daley, Associate Director
michelle.daley@unh.edu
Phone: (603) 862-2341
Fax: (603) 862-4976

New Jersey

New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute
Rutgers University
Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
14 College Farm Road
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901

Dr. Christopher C. Obropta, Director
obropta@envsci.rutgers.edu
Phone: (848) 932-5711
Fax: (732) 932-8644

New Mexico

New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute
New Mexico State University
Box 30001
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8001

Dr. Alexander G. ("Sam") Fernald, Director
afernald@nmsu.edu
Phone: (575) 646-4337
Fax: (575) 646-6418

New York

New York State Water Resources Institute
Cornell University
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
1123 Bradfield Hall
Ithaca, New York 14853-1901

Dr. Brian Rahm, Director
bgr4@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 254-7163
Fax: (607) 255-2106

North Carolina

NC Water Resources Research Institute
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 7912
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695

Dr. Susan White, Director
snwhite3@ncsu.edu
Phone: (919) 513-1145
Fax: (919) 515-7095

Dr. John Fear, Deputy Director
jmfear@ncsu.edu
Phone: (919) 515-9104
Fax: (919) 515-7095

North Dakota

North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute
North Dakota State University
Department #2890
P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, North Dakota 58108-6050

Dr. Xinhua Jia, Director
xinhua.jia@ndsu.edu
Phone: (701) 231-6453
Fax: (701) 231-6185

Ohio

Ohio Water Resources Center
The Ohio State University
311 Hitchcock Hall
2070 Neil Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1275

Dr. Linda Weavers, Co-Director
ohiowrc@osu.edu
Phone: (614) 292-4061
Fax: (614) 292-3780

Dr. John Lenhart, Co-Director
ohiowrc@osu.edu
Phone: (614) 688-8157
Fax: (614) 292-3780

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Water Resources Center
Oklahoma State University
110 Noble Research Center
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-6010

Dr. Kevin Wagner, Director
kevin.wagner@okstate.edu
Phone: (405) 744-7093

Oregon

Institute for Water and Watersheds
Oregon State University
210 Strand Agriculture Hall
Corvallis, Oregon 97331-3906

Dr. Todd Jarvis, Interim Director
Todd.Jarvis@oregonstate.edu
Phone: (541) 737-4032
Fax: (541) 737-1887

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center
The Pennsylvania State University
304 Forest Resources Building
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802

Dr. Andrew Warner, Director
atwarner@psu.edu
Phone: (814) 863-6441
Fax: (888) 865-8454

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Water Resources and Environmental Research Institute
University of Puerto Rico
P.O. Box 9040
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00681-9040

Dr. Walter Silva Araya, Director
walter.silva2@upr.edu
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext 2134
Fax: (787) 832-0119

Rhode Island

Water Resources Center
University of Rhode Island
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
318 Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering
2 East Alumni Avenue
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881

Dr. Vinka Oyanedel-Craver, Director
craver@uri.edu
Phone: (401) 874-2784
Fax: (401) 874-2786

South Carolina

South Carolina Water Resources Center
Clemson University
509 Westinghouse Rd.
Pendleton, South Carolina 29670

Dr. Jeffrey S. Allen, Director
jsallen@clemson.edu
Phone: (864) 646-2145
Fax: (864) 656-4780

South Dakota

South Dakota Water Resources Research Institute
South Dakota State University
Agricultural Experiment Station
AE 107, Box 2120
Brookings, South Dakota 57007-1496

Dr. John McMaine, Director
john.mcmaine@sdstate.edu
Phone: (605) 688-5141
Fax: (605) 688-4917

Dr. Rachel McDaniel, Assistant Director
rachel.mcdaniel@sdstate.edu
Phone: (605) 688-5669
Fax: (605) 688-4917

Tennessee

Tennessee Water Resources Research Center
The University of Tennessee
600 Henley St., Suite 311
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4134

Dr. John S. Schwartz, Director
jschwart@utk.edu
Phone: (865) 974-7721
Fax: (865) 974-1838

Mr. Tim Gangaware, Assistant Director
gangwrrc@utk.edu
Phone: (865) 974-2151
Fax: (865) 974-1838

Texas

Texas Water Resources Institute
Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources
2260 TAMU
College Station, Texas 77843-2260

Dr. T. Allen Berthold, Interim Director
allen.berthold@ag.tamu.edu
Phone: (979) 314-2467
Fax: (979) 845-0662

Utah

The Utah Center for Water Resources Research
Utah State University
8200 Old Main Hill
Logan, Utah 84322-8200

Dr. David Tarboton, Director
dtarb@usu.edu
Phone: (435)-797-3172
Fax: (435) 797-3663

Vermont

Vermont Water Resources and Lake Studies Center
The University of Vermont
George D. Aiken Center for Natural Resources
81 Carrigan Drive
Burlington, Vermont 05405

Dr. Anne Jefferson, Director
Anne.Jefferson@uvm.edu
Fax: (802) 656-8683

Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands Water Resources Research Institute
University of the Virgin Islands
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802

Dr. Kristin Wilson, Director
kristin.wilson@live.uvi.edu
Phone: (340) 693-1392

Virginia

Virginia Water Resources Research Center
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
210 Cheatham Hall, MC 0444
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0001

Dr. Stephen Schoenholtz, Director
schoenhs@vt.edu
Phone: (540) 231-0711
Fax: (540) 231-6673

Washington

State of Washington Water Research Center
Washington State University


Jonathan Yoder, Director
Professor, School of Economic Sciences
P.O. Box 646210
Hulbert 203b
Pullman, Washington 99164-6210
yoder@wsu.edu
Phone: (509)-335-8596
Fax: (509) 335-1590

West Virginia

West Virginia Water Research Institute
West Virginia University
Box 6064
Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6064

Dr. Paul Ziemkiewicz, Director
pziemkie@wvu.edu
Phone: (304) 293- 6958
Fax: (304) 293-7822

Melissa O’Neal, Assistant Director
moneal@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: (304) 293-7006

Wisconsin

Water Resources Institute
The University of Wisconsin-Madison
1975 Willow Drive - 2nd Floor
Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1177

Dr. James P. Hurley, Director
hurley@aqua.wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-0905
Fax: (608) 262-0591

Wyoming

Office of Water Programs
The University of Wyoming
Department 4309
1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie, Wyoming 82071

Mr. Greg Kerr, Director
rrek@uwyo.edu
Phone: (307) 766-6656

Annual Reports

To obtain an annual report, first select a year from the Year menu. The available reports for that year will then appear in the Reports menu.


To obtain annual reports for 2017 and earlier, please send us a request with the year and Institute you want.

News and Events

WRRA 5-year Evaluation Covering Fiscal Years 2016-2020
June 7, 2023

The WRRA 5-year evaluation report covering fiscal years 2016-2020 is currently in process and is due by 5:00 pm ET on August 15, 2023. Your Institute should have received an email from us with the files needed to complete the evaluation. If you did not, please contact us as soon as possible at gs-w.wrri.web.team@usgs.gov.

Sponsored Research of the National Institutes for Water Resources
May 17, 2023

The latest issue of the Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education (JCWRE) features important water research by researchers and students studying at The National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) and The Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) institutions of higher learning. This research was supported by USGS WRRA 104b and 104g grants.

DOI Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policy Change
December 15, 2022

The Department of Interior has issued new guidelines for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). In particular, all UAS operated under DOI operational control, including cooperator aircraft, must have a current OAS-36U DOI UAS Data Card or letter of authorization issued by the Office of Aviation Services. Please review the updated OPM-11 documentation for detailed information if you are submitting a budget or proposal that includes UAS.

Status, Opportunities, and Priorities for 2020-2030

Water Resources Research Act Program—Current Status, Development Opportunities, and Priorities for 2020–30 was released on 24 November 2021. This report presents a 10-year vision for the WRRA Program that the USGS Water Resources Mission Area and 54 State water resources research institutes can use to help solve the Nation’s water problems.

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Contact Us: If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the WRRA Program team at gs-w.wrri.web.team@usgs.gov.