Lake, Stream & Wetland Ecology

Program Overview

We believe that humans can live sustainably with our aquatic resources, ensuring plentiful clean water for future human generations while also supporting the ecosystems that we value and that support our recreation, businesses, and industries. Our teams develop tools and techniques that help society move into this sustainable future, characterizing, measuring and documenting the improvements made along the way. We also provide research, methods development, new technologies, and analysis services to support this vision and our clients.

Program Goals

Develop science-based tools, materials and technologies to assess and protect our water resources, and restore them if degraded.

Unique Strengths, Expertise and Capabilities

Our interdisciplinary team of experts in data science and the fundamental biological and chemical aquatic sciences work together to develop various applications for natural and engineered aquatic systems, including aquatic ecosystem restoration, water treatment and remediation, and water quality monitoring and management. By incorporating an understanding of natural environmental processes, science and engineering fundamentals, we apply a systems-based approach to develop holistic solutions to pressing environmental problems.

Research Labs

Featured Video

Staff

Profile Lucinda Johnson
Senior Research Fellow
Pat Schoff headshot
Research Associate
Valerie Brady headshot
Sr. Research Associate, Aquatic Ecologist, Interim Water Research Group Leader
Profile Elizabeth Alexson
Associate Research Scientist, Aquatic Ecology
Head and shoulders photo of a women
Aquatic Scientist
Profile David Burge
Phytoplankton Associate Scientist
Head and shoulders image of Meijun Cai
Research Technical Manager, Environmental Engineer
Aquatic Scientist
Head and shoulder picture of a woman.
Senior Research Program Manager, Environmental Engineer
Profile Devin Edge
Environmental Analytical Chemist
Chris Filstrup headshot
Applied Limnologist
Malachi Granmo headshot
Research Staff Scientist, Aquatic Scientist
Profile Bob Hell
Principal Laboratory Technician
Jerry Henneck headshot
Senior Research Scientist
Profile Maddie Homstad
Senior Laboratory Technician
Profile Paul Jeffrey
Research Technician, Aquatic Ecologist
Igor Kolomitsyn headshot
Research Associate
Head and shoulder picture of a woman.
Research Associate
Profile Kari Pierce
Research Technician, Aquatic Ecologist
Profile Euan Reavie
Sr. Research Associate
Profile Leah Schleppenbach
Principal Laboratory Technician, Aquatic Ecologist
Bridget Ulrich headshot
Aqueous Geochemist
Head and shoulders photo of a man
Researcher Staff Scientist
Profile Holly Wellard Kelly
Aquatic Scientist

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Fascination with tiny diatoms keeps NRRI scientist exploring water world.

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Project models St. Louis River estuary rip currents to decrease drowning risks.

A man takes wire nets out of a box in a storage area.

NRRI technicians travel far and wide to get the data that informs the research. 

A woman sits at a lab bench in front of microscope

A winding path leads aquatic scientist to study water’s tiniest inhabitants

Scientists kneel and use water sampling equpment next to a small hole in lake ice.

For 30-plus years, the Central Analytical Lab has informed research and agency monitoring programs with the highest standards of quality.

Two people standing on rocky outcrop next to Lake Superior collecting water.

NRRI completes field study of environmental impact of road salt alternative, starts lab study of grit alternatives.

A woman stands near water holding a fish.

Love of outdoors keeps field work at the core of research technician’s role.

A man stands on a short ladder with lake in background looking at long verticle tube

Lake sediment sampling reveals historical air quality on Iron Range

Woman stands at far end of large boat with Lake Guardian printed in large letters on the bow.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $3 million to NRRI in June to fund monitoring of the bottom of the food chain in the Great Lakes.

Valerie Brady stands among fall leaves outdoors

Aquatic ecologist’s career wades into streams and shorelines to understand freshwater resources

Media Coverage