UW-River Falls Receives State Funding for Water Quality Projects

ST. CROIX COUNTY, Wis. (WSCM) – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has received funding from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin for seven water quality projects.

The university will receive a total of $324,944 to continue seven water quality projects, some of which also involve partnerships with other Universities of Wisconsin campuses. According to a press release, the funding is a portion of over $4.2 million allocated in the 2026-2027 state budget to support water education and research programs.

The largest portion of the funding will go towards building collaborative freshwater programming at UW-River Falls and UW-Green Bay. Nearly $190,000 will be used to support students assessing water quality and monitoring stream conditions ahead of dam removal projects on the Kinnickinnic River. The funding will also support a freshwater science course with hands-on training and internships in water sampling and research.

Over $96,000 will go towards the Crop per Drop program, a collaborative research effort between UW-River Falls and UW-Stout. The program seeks to improve water use in dry bean production, giving students hands-on experience in precision agriculture and data science.

The remaining funding will go towards a three-week field hydrology course in the summer, an annual seminar evaluating water challenges across the state, and a freshwater field camp for high school students. UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Platteville will also be involved in some of those programs.

Universities of Wisconsin officials hope the program funding will allow students to help solve some of the biggest water challenges facing the state, like PFAS and nitrate contamination.

In the press release, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman said, “By expanding water-related degree programs and providing students with professional training opportunities, our universities are preparing future leaders while also strengthening Wisconsin’s economy, protecting our natural resources, and serving communities and industries throughout our state.”