The National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) is a nationwide network of 54 Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) Program Institutes based at leading universities and colleges across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. As a volunteer-led organization, NIWR collaborates closely with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to administer WRRA funding, driving critical water research, education, and outreach efforts.

Through strategic partnerships, NIWR helps attract and match non-federal funding, maximizing federal investments in local water resource research. By fostering scientific innovation, community engagement, and workforce development, NIWR plays a vital role in addressing the nation’s most pressing water challenges.