Staff Feature – The Aquatic Monitoring & Management Field Team

November 30, 2020

During a regular year, the Aquatic Monitoring & Management field team works non-stop collecting samples in the field across the TRCA jurisdiction. These samples include water quality samples, fish, aquatic insects, and habitat measurements.  This is no small task as the team has worked through long days carrying heavy equipment on their backs, inclement weather including extreme heat and cold (they sample throughout the winter!), wavy boat rides that would make most people seasick, very early morning and late night shifts, and a variety of pests such as red ants.  Well, this year was no different – with the introduction of COVID-19, the Aquatic Monitoring team has had to make a number of adjustments to continue their hard work in the field while following COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Aquatic Monitoring & Management team monitors fish and aquatic insect communities along with their habitats within streams, inland lakes, and Lake Ontario. The data is collected as part of the Regional Watershed Monitoring Program and the Lake Environmental Monitoring Program, as well as pre and post-construction monitoring and regulatory compliance monitoring. The information garnered from this work is used to assess the aquatic health of our watersheds and Lake Ontario and also contributes to scientific research, the control of invasive species, and provides valuable information about the success of both TRCA’s and partner’s restoration projects.

Clockwise from top: Jeff Vandenberg, Samantha Everson, Liz Petrov, Mark Szonda, Sam Burr, Justin Chan, Osamah Ali, and Don Little

The Aquatic Monitoring field team consists of: Brian Graham, Brynn Coey, Don Little, Jeff Vandenberg, Jessica Fang, Liz Petrov, Marco Haust, Mark Szonda, Matthew Frashchetti, and Samantha Everson.  This year, the team was assisted by: Angela Mills, Devan Bruce, Eilish Neilly, Jared Skeath, Joshua Ward, Justin Chan, Kirstin Pautler, Laura Salazar, Lori Swider, Michelle Place, Osamah Ali, Ryan Scott, Samuel Burr, and Stephanie Vegotsky.

A big thank you to everyone for being team players and for your dedication, patience, flexibility and hard work despite the difficult circumstances during the pandemic.

Clockwise starting from the back: Sam Burr, Liz Petrov, Devan Bruce, Samantha Everson, Jared Skeath, Justin Chan, Lori Swider, Eilish Neilly, Michelle Place, and Angela Mills