Thursday, September 18, 2025By Blake JacksonThe University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) has been awarded $324,944 from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin to support seven water quality projects the university is leading or partnering in. This funding is part of more than $4.2 million allocated in the 2026-27 state budget to enhance water education and research programs, with the goal of strengthening Wisconsin’s water workforce. “The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin shows the power of our universities when we come together to address Wisconsin’s needs,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. Additional funding will back new efforts such as a river studies course, PFAS research, water quality assessment tools, and peatland-focused projects. “The Freshwater Collaborative has helped campuses develop innovative statewide courses, programs and research collaborations over the past five years,” said Marissa Jablonski, executive director of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.