Policy Intern with California Coastkeeper Alliance

Valerie K., Spring 2024

Hello! My name is Valerie, and I am a Junior pursuing my B.S. in Environmental Studies and Masters in Public Administration. This semester I worked with the California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA), an organization that unites local waterkeeper programs statewide to advocate for swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters. As a remote policy intern, I have had the opportunity to support a variety of projects that require my assistance in data analysis, policy research, and writing in the form of white papers, memorandums, and briefers.  

Exploring various bodies of water  

I have weekly check-ins with my supervisor, Sean Bothwell who is the CCKA Executive Director, in which I obtain more clarification on project backgrounds, updates, and expectations. My first assignment was to do a stakeholder analysis on water departments who support salmon and steelhead restoration projects, which was helpful to Mr. Bothwell in his outreach efforts. A larger project that I took on was to research and compose a memorandum about the disproportionate impact of water pollution from agriculture in the Central Valley. The facts that I found were used in a petition the organization filed against the EPA. Another assignment that I am working on is about ocean acidification in Oregon and Washington, in which CCKA is hoping to highlight states with better water quality regulations to advocate for California to meet those standards. 

Overall, the many projects that I have taken part in have been impactful in larger environmental efforts in California waters. They are also greatly aligned with the work that I hope to achieve in my future career within environmental justice policy.