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.
Latest Journal Issue
#181—August 2024
Central Topic:
Open Submission Issue
UCOWR News & Announcements
Sticky:UCOWR Board of Directors Student Representative
June 11, 2025 – General
Graduate Student Representative to the UCOWR Board The UCOWR Board seeks graduate student input. Nominate a talented student today! This student representative to the UCOWR Board 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 […]
UCOWR National Water Webinar: Public Health Applications for Water Resources By Dr. Anna Gitter
April 16, 2025 – General
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY and UNIVERSITIES COUNCIL ON WATER RESOURCES PRESENT Public Health Applications for Water Resources By Dr. Anna Gitter Date: Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 Time: 12pm – 1pm central time Location: Microsoft Teams Webinar This virtual event is free and open to the public. Click here to reserve your spot today. Dr. Anna Gitter […]
Connect with UCOWR’s Network of Water Extension and Engagement Professionals
April 15, 2025 – General
Extension and outreach programs play a critical role in addressing on-the-ground water resource issues at a range of scales, local to national. It is estimated that about a quarter of UCOWR’s membership holds responsibilities related to outreach education, and that number is growing. Click on the UCOWR Extension Flyer to learn more about connecting with […]
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
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 (8 copies for small organizations, 16 for medium organizations, 32 for large organizations and 64 for very large organizations).
- Discount on registration fee for our dynamic UCOWR/NIWR Annual Conference featuring career development, skill building, and research exposure for all your organization’s staff.
- Connection to a growing network of over 65 institutions nationwide who are leading the way in water research, education, and policy.
- Opportunity to be recognized for outstanding career achievements through our prestigious annual awards and scholarships.
Membership rates:
Small Organizations (1–99 employees):
- Annual: $600
- 2-years: $1150
- 3-years: $1650
Medium Organizations (100–999 employees):
- Annual: $1350
- 2-years: $2600
- 3-years: $3750
Large Organizations (1000–9999 employees):
- Annual: $2700
- 2-years: $5200
- 3-years: $7500
Very Large Organizations (10000+ employees):
- Annual: $5400
- 2-years: $10400
- 3-years: $15000
Membership is based on the July 1 – June 30 fiscal year.
For additional information call UCOWR at 618-536-7571 or email ucowr@siu.edu.
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.
- Discount on registration fee 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 be recognized for outstanding career achievements through our prestigious annual awards and scholarships.
Individual Membership Dues
- Domestic: $135
- Foreign: $165
