Loheide Named NGWA 2026 Darcy Distinguished Lecturer

The National Ground Water Association and Groundwater Foundation has selected Steven Loheide as the 2026 Darcy Distinguished Lecturer.

Loheide, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will travel throughout 2026 to present his lecture at university and groundwater industry events across the country and abroad.

Established in 1986, the Henry Darcy Distinguished Lecture Series in Groundwater Science fosters interest and excellence in groundwater science and technology throughout the groundwater industry.

Loheide’s research focuses on the interactions between ecological and hydrological processes in natural and built systems with special attention to the role of groundwater. He will present two lectures throughout the year: “Trees are Groundwater Stakeholders Too” and “Groundwater Recharge Regimes are in Flux.”

Groundwater is a critical resource that provides a reliable source of drinking water for people around the world, enables irrigation for agriculture and supports a variety of ecosystems. However, Loheide says it’s often out of the public mind because it’s underground and out of sight.

“As a result, we have not always recognized the unintended consequences of how we live on the land or how we use our water,” he says. “I am looking forward to being an ambassador of groundwater science and sharing the process of how we as researchers come to learn more about groundwater and its interactions with society and ecosystems. I’m hopeful that the Darcy Lectureship will facilitate discussions on how we can improve our understanding of this key resource, advance groundwater science, and become better stewards of our resources for future generations.”

The Darcy Distinguished Lecture is named for Henry Darcy of France for his 1856 investigations that established the physical principle upon which modern groundwater hydrogeology is based.

For more information about the Darcy Lecture series, visit: https://www.ngwa.org/events-and-education/groundwater-lecture-series.