The Water, Ecosystems, and People Group is led by Carolyn Voter and based in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

We also maintain ties with University of Delaware organizations (where Carolyn was an Assistant Professor from 2022-2026) including the department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, the Water Science and Policy graduate program, and The Delaware Environmental Institute.

Our Mission

Across the world, urban areas are expanding, agricultural demand is intensifying, and natural hazards pose an ever-present threat. To better characterize these challenges, we quantify and predict how water moves through our environment, interacting with ecosystems, communities, and built infrastructure. We do this using hydrologic models, data, and stakeholder engagement. We focus on identifying ways to more sustainably 1) manage water resources, 2) preserve ecosystem services, and 3) increase community resilience. We take pride in ensuring that our work is reproducible and thoughtfully communicated to a range of audiences.

Our Vision

Our goal is to produce solid science that is disseminated through scientific journals and conferences and that informs the decisions and actions of communities, regulators, and policymakers. As we do this science, we will also build welcoming communities in our lab, our university, and our local and professional communities.