photo view of a slice of a stream photo showing water trickling over rocks to create a small waterfall.

Decorative water drop divider ABOUT WQG Our Mission and History

The North Carolina State University (NCSU) Water Quality Group is a multidisciplinary team that analyzes and conducts natural resource management programs with an emphasis on nonpoint source (NPS) pollution policy, assessment, and control technologies.

Since 1980, the group has been involved in water quality project evaluation, watershed assessment, stream restoration, BMP implementation and education in cooperation with USDA, US EPA, state and local agencies.

The mission of the NCSU Water Quality Group is to enhance NCSU's water quality programs by acting as a center for water quality information and technical assistance on natural resources and waste management, with an emphasis on NPS pollution issues from agriculture, forestry, urban land uses, construction, and on-site wastewater systems. The activities of the NCSU Water Quality Group improve the effectiveness and increase the benefits derived from research and extension efforts at North Carolina State University by facilitating inter-departmental and inter-institutional cooperative efforts to understand and address environmental problems.

The NCSU Water Quality Group is a component of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at North Carolina State University.
Areas of Expertise

  • Planning and evaluation of watershed scale nonpoint source control projects
  • Water quality monitoring and modeling for nonpoint source control projects
  • Analyzing trends in water quality and land treatment data
  • Publishing of technical information for use by a variety of audiences, including policy makers, natural resource professionals, and citizens
  • Conducting training programs and workshops for water quality professionals