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CONFERENCE REGISTRATION Water. Place. People. Conference Details 2025 UCOWR/NIWR Conference 2025 Registration is Now Open! June 3 - 5 in Minneapolis, MN
Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR)

Linking water leaders of today,
developing water leaders of tomorrow

The Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) was founded in 1964 as an expansion of the Universities Council on Hydrology.  UCOWR is a consortium of academic institutions and affiliates invested in water resources research, education, and outreach. Our inclusive organization values membership from research universities, undergraduate institutions, tribal colleges, historically black colleges and universities, and Hispanic-serving institutions.

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Latest Journal Issue

#181—August 2024

Central Topic:

Open Submission Issue

UCOWR News & Announcements

Sticky:Board Election Information

November 1, 2024 – General

Call for Nominations for UCOWR Board of Directors November 1, 2024 Nominate a colleague or yourself  for one of  three open positions. Last day to submit is Friday, December 13, 2024. Help lead UCOWR and the water resources profession into the future! Service on the Board of Directors of UCOWR is a fantastic leadership opportunity […]

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Sticky:Board of Directors Graduate Student Position

November 1, 2024 – General

 Graduate Student Position  The UCOWR Board seeks graduate student input. Nominate a talented student today! This position provides graduate students a voice in UCOWR planning and governance. Particularly, the student member will add a valuable perspective toward promoting greater student involvement in our annual conference. Nominations for this student position on the Board will follow […]

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USGS National Water Availability Assessment webinar

March 31, 2025 – Events

Webinar: USGS National Water Availability Assessment Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST Location: Microsoft Teams Webinar Join the USGS Water Resources Mission Area for a briefing on the National Water Availability Assessment, a pioneering scientific overview of water availability across the conterminous United States. This new assessment is the […]

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Texas A&M AgriLife Research Assistant Professor in Sustainable Urban Water

March 18, 2025 – Jobs

The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas Water Research Institute (TWRI) are seeking a highly motivated and visionary Assistant Professor in Sustainable Urban Water Management. The appointment is a 12-month based position with 75% research and 25% extension. The candidate is expected to lead at the forefront of innovation and technology, particularly in the realm […]

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Minnesota Water Resources Director

January 22, 2025 – Jobs

Minnesota is accepting applications for the Minnesota Water Resources Director. The director will provide strong intellectual leadership and guidance for the WRC, and will work to advance the Center’s research, extension, and education to the very forefront of Water Resource Centers worldwide, while maintaining a strong emphasis on water issues of importance to Minnesota. The […]

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UCOWR President 2024- 2025

Jeffrey Peterson – UCOWR 2024-2025 Board President

We warmly welcome our UCOWR 2024-20254 Board President, Dr. Jeffrey Peterson. Jeff is the Director of the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center and is also a professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the university. He has served on the UCOWR Board of Directors since July 2020, and was the Chair for our 2020 Conference, cancelled due to the pandemic. Not to be discouraged, he has actively served on the board ever since and is chairing the conference planning committee for our 2025 UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference. Happily, the June 2025 annual conference brings us full circle to our chosen 2020 location - the beautiful University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

In the Spotlight

Dr. Ximing Cai—University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Ximing Cai receives our 2024 Warren A. Hall Medal, UCOWR's prestigious lifetime achievement award. Dr. Cai is widely recognized for his remarkably multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving in water resources systems, leading to significant advances in water-related research, modeling, policy, and management practices in the U.S. and internationally.

UCOWR Membership

Membership Benefits Include:

  • Reduced publication fees and access to the Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education, the only peer-reviewed water resource journal focused on applied research, policy, education, and extension.
  • Discounts for our dynamic UCOWR/NIWR Annual Conference featuring career development, skill building, and research exposure.
  • Connection to a growing network of over 65 institutions nationwide who are leading the way in water research, education, and policy.
  • Opportunity to serve as a UCOWR delegate and have a voice in the governance of UCOWR (1 lead delegate and up to 7 additional voting delegates).
  • Eligibility to make nominations for UCOWR Board of Directors.
  • Eligibility to make nominations for annual UCOWR Awards.
  • Opportunity to be recognized for outstanding career achievements through our prestigious annual awards and scholarships.
  • Advertisement of graduate assistantships and other student opportunities via our website.

Membership can be purchased in four levels:

  • Annual: $600
  • Two years: $1150
  • Three Years: $1650
  • Permanent: $12,000

Membership is based on the fiscal year: July 1 – June 30.

For additional information, call UCOWR at (618) 536-7571 or email ucowr@siu.edu.

Academic Institution Membership Form