Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Ecosystem Science Division

Water quality research

Through the Center for Limnology, CIRES scientists research nutrient dynamics and food webs in lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Our work assists water managers in preserving natural aquatic ecosystems and maintaining safe drinking water supplies for Colorado communities. From estimating the effects of fertilizers on watershed nitrogen yield to identifying the processes involved in denitrification—the removal of nitrogen compounds from a system—our research is helping build a greater understanding of biogeochemical cycles in freshwater environments.