Jill Csekitz
jcsekitz@tceq.state.tx.us
- Aquatic Scientist
Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program,
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Austin TX, 78753
Office: 512-239-3136
- M.S. Environmental Science, University of North Texas -1999
- Thesis: “Monitoring Watershed Health in the Upper Trinity River Basin, North Central Texas”. Assessment of watershed health through in situ Asiatic Clam (Corbicula fluminea) biomonitoring, habitat evaluation, and spatial analysis using geographical information systems (GIS).
- B.A. Environmental Science, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania - 1995
- Teaching Assistant Courses:
Biology (non-majors)
Botany
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy - Research Assistant Projects:
Risk assessment of biological and ecological effects of pesticides on aquatic communities
Effects of integrated pest management practices on aquatic plants - Other Responsibilities at UNT:
Aquatic Biology Instructor, Elm Fork Environmental Education Center
Growing up in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania provided ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and discovery. I often hiked and fished the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, home to the Middle Delaware National Scenic River. It was not hard to develop a natural curiosity and appreciation of the intrinsic value of aquatic environments through these early experiences.
My academic pursuits at Mansfield and North Texas opened doors to develop my interests and gain hands-on experience in a variety of fields, from Aquatic Entomology to Geographic Information Systems. This inter-disciplinary approach provided an invaluable foundation to draw from and prepared me well for a career in water resource management.
Currently I am a senior Aquatic Scientist for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in the Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program (SWQM). We coordinate water quality monitoring through partnerships with TCEQ regional offices, river authorities, and other participating state and federal agencies. The data we collect is used to prepare assessments mandated through sections 305(b) and 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, support regulatory permits, and provide data for local decision makers. Some projects I have worked on include:
- Development of SAS-based assessment tools to produce the 305(b) Assessment and 303(d) List of Impaired Waters for the SWQM Program;
- Implementation of a statewide network to continuously monitor water quality parameters in real-time;
- Management of field projects in the Brazos river basin to collect needed information in support of water quality management programs and restoration efforts.
In my free time I play drums in local bands around Austin, the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World”. I also enjoy commuting by bicycle, cooking, and sports (especially football!).
