Sarah Kessler, Cfm Email & Phone Number

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

As an Environmental Specialist with the City of Clearwater, my responsibilities are extensive and include an excessive number of acronyms. Although my position is in the Engineering Department, I work with almost all departments throughout the City and the public. I also manage a small Environmental Division staff. My main focus is surface water quality; I manage the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit and address water quality issues from the residents. In addition, I am a project manager for Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) assessment projects and other water quality improvement projects, including dredging, planting, and installation of pollution control boxes.As the City's Community Rating System (CRS) coordinator, I am proficient in CRS's operation, prerequisites, and credited activities, as well as assembling and coordinating documentation for modifications, verification visits, and recertifications.Through my interactions with Public Utilities and Parks & Recreation Departments, I conduct site assessments and write environmental reports. I am the City's Beach Liaison for residents and businesses on Clearwater Beach; I am responsible for responding to issues with sand dunes, sea turtles, beach nesting birds, and other environmental issues as they occur. I also review development plans for compliance with wetlands, environmental setbacks, and erosion & sedimentation protection measures. Active member of the following associations:-Florida Floodplain Managers Association-Association of State Floodplain Managers-Florida Stormwater Association-Florida Beach and Shore Preservation AssociationCity of Clearwater representative at: -Tampa Bay Estuary Program-Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council's Agency on Bay Management-Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Nitrogen Management Consortium-Tampa Bay CRS Working Group-Pinellas County's Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Group

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

My responsibilities as an Environmental Scientist included by were not limited to conducting environmental assessments and endangered species surveys for a variety of projects for airports, roadways, boating facilities, land development, and utility corridors. I became familiar with the required format of PD&E and NEPA documents.

Avon Park Air Force Bombing Range, Avon Park, Florida

My main responsibilities including the monitoring of invasive plant populations and oversight of their treatment and removal. In addition, I also had the opportunity to participate in control burns, endangered plant and animal species surveys, and woodpecker bandings.

Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

The Garden Shop contained not only plants, but also books and decorations for a home garden. As a garden shop assistant, I became proficient in retail skills like customer service and inventory as well as essential skills to maintain the plant inventory, like propagation.