Minnesota Water Research Digital Library
Minnesota Water Research Digital Library
Water Research Inventory Database
The Minnesota Water Research Digital Library (MnWRL) is a user-friendly, searchable inventory of water research relevant to Minnesota. It includes both peer-reviewed articles as well as white papers and reports. The Library provides 'one-stop' access to all types of water research.
The Minnesota Water Research Digital Library is now fully functional and available online. Currently it is populated with over 3,100 diverse scientific research articles and project reports. Clean Water funds will be used to continue populating and managing the database in partnership with other state agencies and organizations. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will provide support and training for partner organizations and conduct intensive outreach to Minnesota's water research communities as well as the general public.
What is the status of the project?
In 2018, changes were made to the MnWRL website to enhance the user experience with a wide range of search and filter tools. Visitors can browse by categories, find recently added or featured items, and do an advanced search using document descriptors and full document text.
This project established a centralized digital library of articles on water research in or relevant to Minnesota. The digital library gives water resource professionals, researchers, funders and the public quick access to a wealth of information that was previously scattered or hard to find. Users are able to search for literature on a wide range of water topics and submit water research reports to be shared with others.
MnWRL increases research accessibility and coordination and ensures full utilization of decades of water research that supports Minnesota’s groundwater and surface water assessment, protection and restoration activities.
Organizing information about research projects in a single place will make it easier to find results and coordinate research efforts.
In 2011, a project advisory committee was formed. This committee provided input on questions regarding the scope of material to be included and the types of searchable attributes in the Digital Library. During 2011, a high-level design was completed, including a data model and more than 100 draft screens (windows) for data entry, public searches, and database reporting and maintenance.
In 2012, the data model was refined and the highest priority screens were developed. A preliminary, non-public version of the Water Research Digital Library was tested in the fall. In 2013, the Digital Library was populated with a "starter-set" of articles.
In the spring of 2014, MnWRL was made available online. An ongoing program of comprehensive, targeted outreach efforts will ensure that water planners, landowners, researchers, and citizens throughout Minnesota know about this resource. While the project to establish the Digital Library concluded in 2014, the MDA and partner organizations will continue to build, maintain and improve it overtime.
In 2016, MnWRL staff at MDA developed a partnership agreement template, met with potential state agency and academic partners, and secured a partnership internally with the Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division for curation and entry of publications and data. In 2014 a Steering Team representing diverse organizations and stakeholders was organized to provide guidance on planning and operations of MnWRL. The Steering Team continues to meet quarterly to discuss work plans, promotion, partnership policies, and scope policies.
M.L. 2023: (e) $40,000 the first year and $40,000 the second year are for maintenance of the Minnesota Water Research Digital Library. Costs for information technology development or support for the digital library may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted
- Number of PDF downloads
M.L. 2023: (e) $40,000 the first year and $40,000 the second year are for maintenance of the Minnesota Water Research Digital Library. Costs for information technology development or support for the digital library may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted
- Number of PDF downloads
The following numbers are cumulative from FY18 through FY24. As of June 30, 2024 the Minnesota Water Research Digital Library has:
- 3,840 publications (diverse research articles and scientific reports)
- 32,700 website visitors
- 5,046 PDF downloads
(e) $40,000 the first year and $40,000 the second year are for maintenance of the Minnesota Water Research Digital Library. Costs for information technology development for support for the digital library may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2026.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted
- Number of PDF downloads
(e) $40,000 the first year and $40,000 the second year are for maintenance of the Minnesota Water Research Digital Library. Costs for information technology development for support for the digital library may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2026.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted
- Number of PDF downloads
(e) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. Costs for information technology development or support for this research inventory database may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2024.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted
- Number of PDF downloads
M.L. 2019: (e) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. Costs for information technology development or support for this research inventory database may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2024.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
The following measures are reported cumulatively, as of 11/12/2020:
- 3,251 publications are available online
- 13,918 visitors have visited the site
- 13,031 searches were conducted
- 3,871 publications were downloaded
M.L. 2017: (f) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. Costs for information technology development or support for this research inventory database may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
Please see the most recent fiscal year for up to date information.
M.L. 2017: (f) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. Costs for information technology development or support for this research inventory database may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
As of January 3, 2019:
- 2915 publications available
- Estimated number of website visitors:
- Since inception: Total = 10,001
- 2018: Total = 1500
- Estimated number of search sessions:
- Since inception: 11,458
- 2018: 2957
- Estimated Number of pdf downloads:
- Since inception: 3576
- 2018: 614
M.L. 2015: (f) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. Costs for information technology development or support for this research inventory database may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
Please see the most recent fiscal year for the most up to date information.
M.L. 2015: (f) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. Costs for information technology development or support for this research inventory database may be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
For Fiscal Year 2016:
- Number of publications: 1,393
- Number of website visitors
- New visitors: 2,561
- Total visitors: 2,885
- Number of search sessions conducted: 2,885
- Number of PDF downloads: 535
M.L. 2013: (f) $100,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. Any information technology development or support or costs necessary for this research inventory database will be incorporated into the agency's service level agreement with and paid to the Office of Enterprise Technology. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
For Fiscal Year 2015:
- Number of publications: 1,376
- Number of website visitors
- New visitors: 2,590
- Total visitors: 3,419
- Number of search sessions conducted: 3,423
- Number of PDF downloads: 639
• Buffalo-Red Watershed District Board
• Freshwater Society
• Metropolitan Council
• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
• Minnesota Corn Growers
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Minnesota State University Water Resource Center
• Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
• Pelican River Watershed District
• U.S. Geological Survey - Minnesota Water Science Center
• University of Minnesota Libraries
• University of Minnesota Water Resources Center
• Washington County Conservation District
* this is a voluntary steering committee, not a board
M.L. 2013: (f) $100,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. Any information technology development or support or costs necessary for this research inventory database will be incorporated into the agency's service level agreement with and paid to the Office of Enterprise Technology. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
In FY14, MDA staff completed development and performance testing of the MnWRL website and populated the website with diverse water research publciations. The website went live with over 1,000 articles searchable by the public. MDA staff also established a diverse Steering Team to help guide MnWRL’s long-term growth and maintenance.
- Number of publications (1,361)
- Estimated number of website visitors (2,257)
- Estimated number of search sessions conducted (1,219)
- Estimated number of new webiste visitors (679)
- Number of article downloads (396)
• EOR Inc.
• Houston Engineering
• Keiser & Associates LLC
• Metropolitan Council
• Minnesota Agricultural Water Resources Center
• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
• Minnesota Corn Growers
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Minnesota State University Water Resource Center
• Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
• Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District
• U.S. Geological Survey - Minnesota Water Science Center
• University of Minnesota Department of Applied Economics
• University of Minnesota Department of Soil Water & Climate
• University of Minnesota Libraries
• University of Minnesota Water Resources Center
• USDA Agricultural Research Service
• Washington County Conservation District
* this is a voluntary advisory committee, not a board
M.L. 2011: (f) $175,000 the first year and $175,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
Please see the most recent fiscal year for the most up to date information.
M.L. 2011: (f) $175,000 the first year and $175,000 the second year are for a research inventory database containing water-related research activities. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
Please see the most recent fiscal year for up to date information.
M.L. 2009: (d) $695,000 the first year and $1,570,000 the second year are for research, pilot projects, and technical assistance related to ways agricultural practices contribute to restoring impaired waters and assist with the development of TMDL plans.
- Number of publications
- Number of website visitors
- Number of search sessions conducted:
- Number of PDF downloads
Please see the most recent fiscal year for up to date information.