Jennifer T Wilson
Jennifer Wilson is a Science and Quality Assurance Section Chief in Austin, TX.
Jennifer oversees a team of specialists that provide science support and quality assurance for staff in the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center. She was the Central Texas Hydrologic Studies section chief from 2016 to 2021 where she led a group of scientists and researchers that worked primarily in water quality, water use, and geophysics. Before then, she was a project manager for a wide variety of water-quality projects. She studied water quality in groundwater and surface water plus sediment-associated contaminants in lakes, reservoirs, streams, and stormwater runoff. She was part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) Contaminated Trends in Lake Sediments Project that collected and analyzed sediment cores from over 130 lakes/reservoirs across 37 states in the U.S. from 1992 to 2014.
Education and Certifications
Jennifer earned an MS in Geological Sciences in 2001 and a BS in Geological Sciences in 1995 both from the University of Texas at Austin.
Affiliations and Memberships*
Licensed by the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists, 2003 to present.
Honors and Awards
In 2013, Jennifer was a recipient of the DOI and USGS Environmental Achievement Award.
Science and Products
Major and trace elements in 35 lake and reservoir sediment cores from across the United States, 1994-2001
Response to comment on “Parking lot sealcoat: An unrecognized source of urban polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons”
Effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the chemistry of bottom sediments in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA
Concentrations, loads, and yields of particle-associated contaminants in urban creeks, Austin, Texas, 1999-2004
Distribution and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls in Woods Inlet, Lake Worth, Fort Worth, Texas, 2003
Parking lot sealcoat: An unrecognized source of urban polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and major and trace elements in simulated rainfall runoff from parking lots, Austin, Texas, 2003
Immunoassay screening of sediment cores for polychlorinated biphenyls, Devil's Swamp Lake near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2004
Collection, analysis, and age-dating of sediment cores from 56 U.S. lakes and reservoirs sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1992-2001
Occurrence of and trends in selected sediment-associated contaminants in Caddo Lake, East Texas, 1940-2002
Occurrence, trends, and sources in particle-associated contaminants in selected streams and lakes in Fort Worth, Texas
Chemical quality of water, sediment, and fish in Mountain Creek Lake, Dallas, Texas, 1994-97
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 43
Major and trace elements in 35 lake and reservoir sediment cores from across the United States, 1994-2001
This report presents data on major and trace element concentrations in sediment cores collected from 35 lakes and reservoirs during 1994-2001. The lakes and reservoirs are located in or near 18 major urban areas across the United States and provide a geographically diverse coverage of urban land use for the country as well as some reference settings. Vertical intervals of the cores were analyzed fAuthorsPeter C. Van Metre, Barbara Mahler, Jennifer T. Wilson, Edward CallenderResponse to comment on “Parking lot sealcoat: An unrecognized source of urban polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons”
No abstract available.AuthorsBarbara Mahler, Peter C. Van Metre, Jennifer T. Wilson, T. J. Bashara, D. A. JohnsEffects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the chemistry of bottom sediments in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA
The effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the subsequent unwatering of New Orleans, Louisiana, on the sediment chemistry of Lake Pontchartrain were evaluated by chemical analysis of samples of street mud and suspended and bottom sediments. The highest concentrations of urban-related elements and compounds (e.g., Pb, Zn, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and chlordane) in bottom sediments exceAuthorsP. C. Van Metre, A. J. Horowitz, B.J. Mahler, W.T. Foreman, C. C. Fuller, M.R. Burkhardt, K. A. Elrick, E. T. Furlong, S. C. Skrobialowski, J.J. Smith, J.T. Wilson, S.D. ZauggConcentrations, loads, and yields of particle-associated contaminants in urban creeks, Austin, Texas, 1999-2004
Concentrations, loads, and yields of particle-associated (hydrophobic) contaminants (PACs) in urban runoff in creeks in Austin, Texas, were characterized using an innovative approach: large-volume suspended-sediment sampling. This approach isolates suspended sediment from the water column in quantities sufficient for direct chemical analysis of PACs. During 1999-2004, samples were collected afterAuthorsB.J. Mahler, P. C. Van Metre, J.T. Wilson, A.L. Guilfoyle, M.W. SunvisonDistribution and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls in Woods Inlet, Lake Worth, Fort Worth, Texas, 2003
Woods Inlet is a flooded stream channel on the southern shore of Lake Worth along the western boundary of Air Force Plant 4 in Fort Worth, Texas, where elevated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in sediment were detected in a previous study. In response, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force, conducted a study in 2003 to map the extent of elevated PCB conceAuthorsRichard E. Besse, Peter C. Van Metre, Jennifer T. WilsonParking lot sealcoat: An unrecognized source of urban polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a ubiquitous contaminant in urban environments. Although numerous sources of PAHs to urban runoff have been identified, their relative importance remains uncertain. We show that a previously unidentified source of urban PAHs, parking lot sealcoat, may dominate loading of PAHs to urban water bodies in the United States. Particles in runoff from parking loAuthorsB.J. Mahler, P. C. Van Metre, T. J. Bashara, J.T. Wilson, D. A. JohnsConcentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and major and trace elements in simulated rainfall runoff from parking lots, Austin, Texas, 2003
Samples of creek bed sediment collected near seal-coated parking lots in Austin, Texas, by the City of Austin during 2001–02 had unusually elevated concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To investigate the possibility that PAHs from seal-coated parking lots might be transported to urban creeks, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Austin, sampled runoff aAuthorsBarbara Mahler, Peter C. Van Metre, Jennifer T. WilsonImmunoassay screening of sediment cores for polychlorinated biphenyls, Devil's Swamp Lake near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2004
Devil’s Swamp Lake near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, constructed by dredging in 1973 in Devil’s Swamp along the Mississippi River, is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This study investigated the possible historical contribution of PCBs from a hazardous-chemical disposal facility by way of a wastewater drainage ditch that operated from 1971 to 1993. Six sediment cores from the lake anAuthorsPeter C. Van Metre, Jennifer T. WilsonCollection, analysis, and age-dating of sediment cores from 56 U.S. lakes and reservoirs sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1992-2001
The U.S. Geological Survey Reconstructed Trends National Synthesis study collected sediment cores from 56 lakes and reservoirs between 1992 and 2001 across the United States. Most of the sampling was conducted as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. The primary objective of the study was to determine trends in particle-associated contaminants in response to urbanization;AuthorsPeter Van Metre, Jennifer T. Wilson, Christopher C. Fuller, Edward Callender, Barbara MahlerOccurrence of and trends in selected sediment-associated contaminants in Caddo Lake, East Texas, 1940-2002
Bottom-sediment cores were collected from four sites in Caddo Lake in East Texas during May 2002 for analyses of radionuclides (for age dating), organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and major and trace elements, and to describe the occurrence and trends of these sediment-associated contaminants. The Goose Prairie Creek and Harrison BAuthorsJennifer T. WilsonOccurrence, trends, and sources in particle-associated contaminants in selected streams and lakes in Fort Worth, Texas
Several lakes and stream segments in Fort Worth, Texas, have fish consumption bans because of elevated levels of chlordane, dieldrin, DDE, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This study was undertaken to evaluate current loading, trends, and sources in these long-banned contaminants and other particle-associated contaminants commonly found in urban areas. Sampling included suspended sediments atAuthorsPeter C. Van Metre, Jennifer T. Wilson, Glenn R. Harwell, Marcus O. Gary, Franklin T. Heitmuller, Barbara MahlerChemical quality of water, sediment, and fish in Mountain Creek Lake, Dallas, Texas, 1994-97
The occurrence, trends, and sources of numerous inorganic and organic contaminants were evaluated in Mountain Creek Lake, a reservoir in Dallas, Texas. The study, done in cooperation with the Southern Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command, was prompted by the Navy’s concern for potential off-site migration of contaminants from two facilities on the shore of Mountain Creek Lake, the Naval AAuthorsPeter C. Van Metre, S.A. Jones, J. Bruce Moring, B.J. Mahler, Jennifer T. Wilson - Science
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government