Heather Heckathorn

Her career with the USGS has focused on the water quality of groundwater and surface water. In support of New Jersey’s extensive water-quality networks, Heather has worked to ensure these networks of long-term discrete data and long-term continuous water-quality monitors are maintained with a high standard of efficiency, quality, and impartiality producing unbiased, high-quality data for water-quality investigations.  

Recent investigations include determining variations of concentrations of water-quality constituents throughout New Jersey, Sediment Oxygen Demand, antibiotic resistance, assessments of nutrient loads, and monitoring harmful algal blooms in lakes and reservoirs. She helps guide the focus of several hydrographers and advises on best practices for superior data collection, review, and publication of water-quality data.  

Her current interests include monitoring and assessing contaminants of emerging concern including, but not limited, to microplastics, PFAS, and harmful algal blooms and using novel approaches to monitor a variety of water-quality characteristics.