Program in Water Resources

Salmon River at Riggins Idaho

Become a leader in solving global water challenges

The Water Resources Graduate Program is a university-wide interdisciplinary hub connecting more than 70 faculty members across 15 departments and seven colleges. It cultivates scientifically knowledgeable policymakers and politically aware scientists, through M.S. (thesis and applied non-thesis), Ph.D. and concurrent J.D. degrees in three specialized tracks: engineering and science; science and management; and law, management and policy.

By bridging physical, biological, social and legal dimensions of water, you will collaborate with faculty, industry professionals and stakeholders to develop creative, sustainable solutions to regional and global challenges. Your custom academic program combines foundational coursework in interdisciplinary research methods and regional water seminars with high-demand analytical tools, preparing you to become an effective practitioner and communicator in multidisciplinary teams. Guided by a faculty committee from across the university, you will build breadth and depth through an original thesis, applied project or dissertation that directly informs water resources management.

Graduate degrees

Questions? Contact Timothy Link, director of water resources graduate program at tlink@uidaho.edu or 208-885-9465.

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U of I graduate student and faculty member conduct ecohydraulic research in an experimental flume.

Water resources engineering and science option, M.S.

This option enables students to receive an engineering degree in topics that include ecohydraulics, floodplain restoration, irrigation efficiency, water treatment, sensor development and groundwater management.

Explore M.S. degree
Graduate student Dinesh Gulati (right) and Assistant Professor Meetpal Kukal do water research at McKellip Sod Farm in Nampa, ID Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Water resources engineering and science option, Ph.D.

This option enables students to receive an engineering degree in topics that include ecohydraulics, floodplain restoration, irrigation efficiency, water treatment, sensor development and groundwater management.

Explore Ph.D. degree
College of Natural Resources Emma Arman MACHINE feature story

Water resources science and management option, M.S.

This option enables students to receive a science degree in topics that include aquatic ecology, fluvial geomorphology, surface and groundwater hydrology, ecohydrology and water quality.

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Katie Theissen is a College of Science math student who is working with biologists crunching data that could prevent quagga mussel infestations in Idaho.

Water resources science and management option, Ph.D.

This option enables students to receive a science degree in topics that include aquatic ecology, fluvial geomorphology, surface and groundwater hydrology, ecohydrology and water quality.

Explore Ph.D. degree
Marina Steiner, a graduate student in the M.S. Water Resources, Science and Management program is photographed at the TerraGraphics International Foundation office in Moscow, ID March 5, 2025. For her research project, she is partnering with TerraGraphics International Foundation (TIFO) to address drinking water contamination in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan.

Water resources law, management and policy option, M.S.

This option enables students to receive degree in topics that include water, environmental, public lands, Tribal, and agricultural policy and law, economics and history.

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The University of Idaho President’s Tour, hosted by the CNR Advisory Board, at the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) in McCall, ID on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

Water resources law, management and policy option, Ph.D.

This option enables students to receive degree in topics that include water, environmental, public lands, Tribal, and agricultural policy and law, economics and history.

Explore Ph.D. degree
University Communications and Marketing Statewide tour 2020

Water resources concurrent J.D.

The water resources graduate program enables students to complete a concurrent M.S./J.D. in four years and a Ph.D./J.D. in six years.

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Water resources faculty advisors

The Water Resources Program brings together more than 70 faculty members representing seven colleges and 15 departments.

Biological Sciences

  • Jacob W. Bledsoe

    Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Aquaculture 

  • Jan U.H. Eitel

    Associate Professor

  • Melinda Ellison

    Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Range Livestock and Sheep

  • Matt Falcy

    Associate Professor of Biometrics and Assistant Unit Leader, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

  • Tara Hudiburg

    Professor of Ecosystem Ecology

  • Tracey N. Johnson

    Director of Research, Rinker Rock Creek Ranch Associate Professor

  • Jason W. Karl

    Professor of Rangeland Ecology, and Harold F. and Ruth M. Heady Endowed Chair of Rangeland Ecology

  • Zachary Kayler

    Associate Professor

  • Brian Kennedy

    Professor of Fishery Biology and Ecology

  • Dennis Scarnecchia

    Professor of Fisheries Science and Management

  • Brian Small

    Professor of Fish Physiology, Director of the Aquaculture Research Institute

  • Lee Vierling

    Professor Emeritus of Natural Resources and Society

  • Frank Wilhelm

    Professor of Limnology, Department Head, Associate Director, Center for Research on Invasive Species

  • Eric Winford

    Interim Director of the Rangeland Center, Research Assistant, Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Management 

Education

  • Karla Eitel

    Director, McCall Field Campus; Professor of Place-Based Environmental Education

  • Jim Ekins

    Area Extension Educator in Water Education

  • Brant G. Miller

    Professor

  • Mike "Woody" Wood

    IWRRI Operations and Outreach Coordinator

Law

  • Dylan Hedden-Nicely

    Professor of Law

  • Marie Kellner

    Assistant Clinical Professor of Law

  • Jerrold Long

    Professor of Law

  • Jessica Mckinlay

    Assistant Professor of Law

  • Richard Seamon

    Margaret Schimke Distinguished Professor of Law

Physical Sciences

  • Richard Allen

    Research Faculty

  • Timothy Bartholomaus

    Associate Professor

  • Emily Bedwell

    Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Irrigation Technology

  • Claudio Berti

    Director/State Geologist, IGS

  • Gianluca Blois

    Assistant Professor

  • Erin Brooks

    Professor

  • Randall Brooks

    Associate Dean and Director of University of Idaho Extension

  • Lide Chen

    Professor and Extension Specialist in Waste Management Engineering

  • Alexandra Clark

    Hydrogeologist

  • Erik R. Coats

    Sorenson Family Endowed Professor in Water Resources

  • Mario De Haro-Martí

    Extension Educator in Dairy and Livestock Environmental Education

  • Jerry P. Fairley

    Professor

  • Fritz Fiedler

    Professor

  • Paul Gessler

    Professor of Remote Sensing and Geospatial Ecology

  • Robert Heinse

    Department Head and Professor of Soil and Water Systems

  • Karen Humes

    Professor

  • Kendra Kaiser

    Director of Idaho Water Resources Research Institute and Assistant Professor

  • Meetpal Kukal

    Assistant Professor of Hydrologic Science and Water Management

  • Jeff Langman

    Associate Professor

  • Johnny (Liujun) Li

    Assistant Professor

  • Timothy E. Link

    Professor of Hydrology; Director, Water Resources Graduate Program

  • Laurel Lynch

    Associate Professor

  • Robert Mahler

    Professor

  • Amin Mirkouei

    Associate Professor

  • James Moberly

    Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering

  • Greg Moller

    Professor

  • Angel Monsalve

    Assistant Professor

  • Russell Qualls

    Associate Professor and Idaho State Climatologist

  • Jae Hyeon Ryu

    Professor

  • Daniel Strawn

    Professor

  • Michael S. Strickland

    Professor

  • Clifford S. Swanson

    Assistant Professor

  • Daniele Tonina

    Professor, Co-Director, Center for Ecohydraulics Research

  • Andrew W. Tranmer

    Associate Research Professor

  • Margaret "Meg" Wolf

    IWRRI Assistant Director

  • Elowyn Yager

    Professor, Co-Director, Center for Ecohydraulics Research

  • Meng Zhao

    Assistant Professor

Planning and Design

  • Andrew Kliskey

    President’s Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Resilient Communities, Idaho EPSCoR Director

  • Erich Seamon

    Adjunct Faculty of Environmental Design

  • Jaap Vos

    Professor of Planning and Natural Resources; Director of the Environmental Science Program; Department Head

Social Sciences

  • Lilian Alessa

    Professor of Environmental Design, Co-Director of the Center for Resilient Communities

  • Dianne Baumann

    Associate Professor of Anthropology

  • Mary Engels

    Associate Professor

  • Kristin Haltinner

    Professor of Sociology

  • Lorie Higgins

    Professor and Extension Specialist in Sociology

  • Katherine Himes

    Director

  • Leontina Hormel

    Professor of Sociology

  • Alyssa Kreikemeier

    Assistant Professor of History

  • Felix Liao

    Associate Professor

  • Alexander Maas

    Associate Professor

  • Travis Paveglio

    Professor of Natural Resource Sociology 

  • Dilshani Sarathchandra

    Professor of Sociology

  • Manoj K. Shrestha

    Professor of Political Science and Public Administration

  • Shanny Spang Gion

    Assistant Professor of Tribal Water

  • Philip Stevens

    Associate Professor of Anthropology, Director of American Indian Studies

  • Patrick Wilson

    Associate Professor of Natural Resource Policy

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