Steven Loheide II, Ph.D., has been selected as the 2026 Darcy Distinguished Lecturer by NGWA and the Groundwater Foundation.
Loheide is currently Distinguished Professor of Water Resources Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, Freshwater and Marine Sciences and Water Resource Management at the University of Wisconsin — Madison.
In his role as Darcy Distinguished Lecturer, Loheide will be traveling throughout 2026 presenting his lecture at universities and groundwater industry events across the country and abroad.
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 be presenting 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 safe, reliable supply of drinking water to people across the United States and around the world; it enables irrigation that enhances our food security; and it supports ecosystems including streams and wetlands,” Loheide said.
“However, groundwater is underfoot and out of mind. As a result, we have not always recognized the unintended consequences of how we live on the land or how we use our water. 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.”
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. 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.
Click here for more information about the Darcy Lecture series.