The Center for Limnology. Global leadership, local impact.
The discipline of Limnology in North America was founded at UW-Madison in the 1890s. After 130 years, the Center for Limnology remains a globally-recognized leader in the field. Our faculty and researchers lead cutting-edge research programs in limnology, aquatic ecology, fisheries, and ecosystem science. Our work aims to understand the world’s aquatic ecosystems, and to inform and inspire their stewardship.
Our core research mission is closely integrated with training the next generation of freshwater leaders – we train graduate students (MS and Ph.D.) through Freshwater and Marine Sciences and Integrative Biology graduate programs. We engage with diverse partners, and share our knowledge and research with a wide range of audiences and users. Field facilities at the Hasler Laboratory for Limnology in Madison, WI and Trout Lake Station in Boulder Junction, WI support our researchers and students, as well as the larger freshwater research community.
Research at the Center for Limnology
Aquatic Invasive Species
What are the impacts of invasive species in lakes and rivers, and what management strategies are effective?
Global Limnology
How are lakes around the world responding to human impacts and global environmental change?
Carbon Cycling
What is the role of lake and river ecosystems in global carbon cycling?
High-tech Limnology
Can we use new technologies and knowledge-guided machine learning to better monitor, model, and manage lakes?
Fish and Fisheries
How can we manage inland and marine fisheries in a rapidly changing world?
Water Quality
How do climate change, pollutants, changing land use, food web perturbations, and other factors influence water quality?
News
An ambitious (and arduous) whole-lake experiment leads to some interesting responses from walleye and yellow perch. Read the latest from CFL Water Blogged to learn more!
Read more
Events
Zoology 911 Wednesday Seminar
Join us in person at Water Science Engineering Lab (across from Hasler Laboratory of Limnology) or on Zoom (see link on webpage) for weekly seminar.
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Sep17
Zoo 911 Wednesday Seminar @ 12:05 pm - 12:55 pm
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Oct02
Science on Tap Minocqua Michael Cramer, The Importance of Deer Mice and their Many Roles in Forest Ecosystem @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
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Oct16
Water Rocks! @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Nov04
2025 Water@UW-Madison's Fall Art & Science Poster @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
By The Numbers (2024)
$15.1M
Active Research Grants
50+
Research Watercraft
24
Graduate Students and Postdocs
54
Undergraduate Research Experiences
46+
Peer Reviewed Publications
2000+
Community Members Engaged in Outreach
The Center for Limnology is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Our Hasler Laboratory and Trout Lake Station facilities were built before the Americans with Disabilities Act and are not fully ADA accessible. If you have questions about accommodations to participate in any outreach or department event, please email or call Monet Hutchins at the Hasler Lab (monet.hutchins@wisc.edu or 608-262-2009) or Gretchen Gerrish at Trout Lake Station (ggerrish@wisc.edu or 608-890-4763).
“Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background—people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.” ~ UW President Charles Van Hise, 1904