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Mathematical models of the surface irrigation process are becoming standard tools for analyzing the performance of irrigation systems and developing design and operational recommendations. A continuing challenge to the practical use of these tools is the difficulty in characterizing required model inputs, namely soil and crop hydraulic properties. Numerous procedures have been suggested for estimation of those properties, but few are actually used in practice. Furthermore, users of these procedures often have only a limited understanding of the advantages and limitations of procedures, and the implications of the results. A Task Committee of the Irrigation and Drainage Council, Environmental & Water Resources Institute of ASCE examined the state of the science for the determination of soil and crop hydraulic properties for surface irrigation modeling and management. This paper summarizes some of their findings and other recent advances in this field.