PLENARY: The Cuyahoga River: From Flame to Fame

Bill Zawiski has been employed by the Ohio EPA since 1989 and is currently the Water Quality Group supervisor in the Ohio EPA's Division of Surface Water, Northeast District. The division ensures compliance with the federal Clean Water Act and works to increase the number of water bodies that can be safely used for swimming and fishing. The division issues permits to regulate wastewater treatment plants, factories, and storm water runoff; and develops comprehensive watershed plans aimed at improving polluted streams.

Trained as a biologist, Zawiski has taken an active role in the movement to remove dams to improve the quality of rivers. Bill has coauthored several professional publications on dams and water quality. As the water quality group supervisor, he works on projects throughout northeast Ohio. He has also worked on numerous Total Maximum Daily Load assessments in the district office.

Zawiski also taught environmental regulation and water resources at the University of Akron. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from the university.