The Water Institute convenes interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder teams to address complex water challenges through collaborative, transformative research. Our work advances understanding of how terrestrial water systems connect with human, coastal, and atmospheric processes. By connecting and combining insights from multiple disciplines, we generate solutions to help people, ecosystems, and decision-makers in Florida and beyond.
By fostering a vibrant community of faculty, staff, students, and external partners, the Water Institute has become a knowledge leader in advancing sustainable, resilient, and equitable water future both locally and globally. We have and continue to partner with federal, state, and local agencies; water management districts; utilities; producers; and community stakeholders to ensure that our science makes a real and lasting difference.
Our Current Projects
Projects with the symbol are led/coordinated by the Water Institute, and projects with the symbol are facilitated/supported by the Water Institute.
() Investigating Dissolved Oxygen in the Upper Floridan Aquifer (FADOS)
This project explores dissolved oxygen in the Floridan aquifer and springs. Building on evidence that oxygen is the key regulator of springs health, and observations that oxygen in the aquifer varies in time and space, this three-year project explores the geological, chemical, and biological drivers of variation. By synthesizing existing well and spring data, developing models to understand and predict that variation, and designing citizen science sampling protocols to enhance monitoring, we will inform management actions relevant to protecting the aquifer and restoring Florida’s iconic springs.
() Conservation Hub for Economic Empowerment of Rural Stakeholders (CHEERS)
CHEERS aims to transform underused winter farmland in the Southeast U.S. into climate-smart systems that support both agriculture and the environment. By introducing value-added winter crops, the project seeks to boost income, protect soil and water, support pollinators, sequester carbon, and reduce nutrient runoff. It brings together farmers, Extension agents, industry, agencies, and researchers to co-create solutions and decision tools with the Water Institute supporting team integration and collaboration through facilitated meetings.
() Integrating Modeling Tools and Observations for Prediction and Management of Harmful Algal Blooms in the St. Lucie Estuary and Watershed (SLEW)
This project aims to develop a new, state-of-the-art decision system that allows water management districts to better predict and manage harmful algal blooms. To ensure that the project outcomes and products are trusted and useful, decision support tool end-users, tool developers, and project team members are engaging in a co-development process led by the Water Institute and UF/IFAS. Through ongoing working group meetings, the team has identified key knowledge gaps, aligned project capabilities with end-user needs, and iteratively integrated both user and scientific input into the tool’s development.
() BREWS: Beneficial Reuse of Wastewater and Solids: Overcoming Barriers and Identifying Opportunities
The 2024 cohort of the University of Florida Water Scholars Program will engage with different stakeholders to pioneer innovative and integrative solutions to water reuse challenges. These challenges include water quality, emerging contaminants, and risks to both human and ecosystem health across agricultural and urban systems. Spanning across different disciplinary fields, these efforts convene faculty and students from soil and water science, geochemistry, toxicology, health, STEM learning and science translation, resource economics, and other fields.
Our Flagship Projects
Past projects led by the Water Institute featuring interdisciplinary collaboration to solve complex water challenges.
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