Water Resources Management Program
The UW-Madison's Water Resources Management (WRM) Program provides an opportunity for students to approach water resources issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, emphasizing practical, hands-on experience. The program includes a required group practicum that mirrors the work of professional water resources managers and serves the needs of client groups. Besides enabling students to work outside the classroom on a "real world" problem, the annual practicum provides substantial benefits to Wisconsin communities and to the state.
Outcomes
Ten or more students graduate from the program per year. The annual practicum report is distributed to community clients. WRM workshop students and faculty members have worked closely with public officials and citizen groups throughout Wisconsin in preparing more than two dozen comprehensive local plans. These plans serve to protect and improve water quality, recreational opportunities and other public benefits from lakes, streams, and groundwater. Virtually all of these plans have been adopted and implemented. Although the WRM workshop undertakes a new project every year, the impacts of each project are usually long-term or permanent and may not be fully realized for several years. For example, students in 2006 assesed Monona Bay and identified and addressed management concerns about the bay and gathered specific information in regard to stormwater issues, water quality, biotic management, and public outreach. Building upon this research, the students assessed potential management strategies to address the issues identified and developed a set of recommendations based on the strategies with the most promise to improve conditions.
Focus Areas
Project Leader
Kenneth Potter
Chair, WRM Program
- School or College
- Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies