Austeja Vaskeviciute Email & Phone Number

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Proficient in a variety of terrestrial investigations including standardized wildlife and vegetation surveys, Significant Wildlife Habitat assessments, targeted SAR surveys, and applying Ontario’s Ecological Land Classification (ELC) system. Works effectively in a multi-disciplinary team to deliver high-quality reports (e.g. Terrestrial Existing Conditions and Impact Assessments, Environmental Impact Studies, Natural Environment Screening Reports, etc.) in support of multiple infrastructure projects for the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO), Metrolinx and several Municipalities.

Key Project Experience:Henvey Inlet Wind Farm and Transmission Line, Parry Sound, Ontario.Led a team of environmental monitors and biologists overseeing the construction and remediation phases of the project and functioned as on-site point of contact for the staff, the client, and contractors for ecology and environmental permit compliance (environmental site assessment permit, Species at Risk Act permits, etc.). Conducted field assessments and micrositing of the transmission line on a pole-by-pole basis to establish mitigation requirements (i.e., delineation of wetlands, bat roost trees, tree inventories, reptile hibernacula and gestation sites, and other sensitive features). Developed field monitoring and remediation checklists and training on implementation, and trained contractor staff on ecological and regulatory requirements. Inspected and identified areas that required additional restoration during and after construction (i.e., stabilizing banks of streams and wetlands, assessing sediment and erosion control, etc.). Provided daily coordination of contractor staffing and scheduling to ensure productivity and to meet the client’s environmental compliance monitoring obligations. Worked with representatives from local First Nations communities to respond to and address concerns pertaining to permit requirements. Provided professional input to the client and the contractors about requirements related to reserve lands. Performed area searches for federally and provincially listed species-at-risk bats, birds, and reptiles.

Aurora, On

Performed wetland delineation and evaluations in the Aurora district utilizing the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES) for southern landscapes. Prepared and completed comprehensive wetland complex evaluation reports. Conducted line transects to complete rare flora inventories for 80 ha as part of multi-year assessment of the York Regional Forest

Peterborough, On

Extracted, amplified and analyzed DNA from tissue and environmental samples to survey various Ontario fish species, including endangered and invasive species

Biology Psychology Specialization, Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, And Population Biology

Activities and Societies: Successful completion of an undergraduate thesis investigating the evolutionary genetics of two maternal.

Graduate Certificate, Environmental Monitoring And Impact Assessment

Activities and Societies: Author of a successful Species at Risk Stewardship Fund proposal (awarded $17 000) to conduct population surveys.