STUDENT PROGRAMS
Get Involved and Make a Difference!
The State Water Boards offer exciting internship opportunities. If you are interested in mentoring with professionals whose mission is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California’s water resources, this is an opportunity for you.
The State Water Boards’ Internship Program offers both paid and non-paid internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students of all majors and backgrounds.
These programs are designed to provide students who have an interest in California’s water resources with practical, real-world experience. Our internships may qualify for academic credit and are coordinated between the student and school. Interns' hours vary and are dependent on the needs of the Water Boards and the intern.
If you are a student interested in water resources, an internship position with the Water Boards may be just what you are looking for.
Student Programs
Get Paid To Make A Difference!
The Water Boards are seeking undergraduate and graduate students to work with dedicated mentors on important issues including climate change, water conservation, drinking water, water quality, and groundwater. Visit CalCareers for opportunities.
To apply for a paid internship at the Water Boards, please submit the following:
- STD 678 Job Application
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Letter of Recommendation (1)
- Proof of Enrollment
- A Statement of Qualification (See job posting)
Have questions? Email internship@waterboards.ca.gov.
Intern with the Water Boards!
The Water Boards are seeking undergraduate and graduate talent of all majors and backgrounds who have an interest in California’s water resources. The Water Boards are responsible for monitoring water quality, ensuring safe drinking water, developing polices and permits to protect all uses of water, and providing financial assistance to protect the public and environment.
To apply for a nonpaid (volunteer) internship at the Water Boards, please submit the following:
- STD 678 Job Application
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Letter of Recommendation (1)
- Counties of interest
- Dates of availability
Email your internship application package to internship@waterboards.ca.gov.
Legal Internship with the Office of Chief Counsel (OCC)
The Office of Chief Counsel offers summer, fall, and spring externships. Application windows will be announced through law school career offices.
If you have questions, please contact Lauren Marshall at Lauren.Marshall@waterboards.ca.gov
Legal Internship with the Office of Enforcement (OE)
The Water Board’s Office of Enforcement seeks legal interns for Summer 2024. Legal interns will conduct legal research and writing related to water quality and water rights enforcement matters, interpret statutes and regulations, and prepare legal documents such as subpoenas, memoranda, reports, summaries, etc. Opportunities for telework within California may be available.
Prerequisite: We are only accepting applications from students currently attending law school.
To apply for an unpaid legal internship with the Office of Enforcement, submit the following to kailyn.ellison@waterboards.ca.gov:
- A cover letter
- A resume
- An unofficial transcript
- A writing sample (7 pages or less)
Applications must be received by December 31, 2023 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Current Opportunities for Students
To view a complete list of employment and internship opportunities, visit the CalCareers website.
The Division of Water Quality has an opening in Sacramento, CA for a Student Assistant-Engineering & Architectural Sciences position. To qualify for this position, the applicant must be enrolled in the engineering program. Depending upon availability of funding for the position, the selected candidate would be able to continue working in the Sacramento office until graduation.
Accepting applications now through November 27, 2023
The Division of Drinking Water has an opening in San Bernardino, CA for a Student Assistant-Engineering & Architectural Sciences position. To qualify for this position, the applicant must be enrolled in the engineering program. Depending upon availability of funding for the position, the selected candidate would be able to continue working in the San Bernardino office until graduation.
Applications must be received by December 1, 2023 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The Division of Drinking Water has an opening in Fresno, CA for a Scientific Aid in the Drinking Water Field Operations Branch in the Visalia District.
Accepting applications now through December 4, 2023
The Central Valley Region has an opening in Redding, CA for a Scientific Aid. The selected candidate will assist with work that provides regulatory oversight of a wide variety of activities that post a threat to the region’s surface and ground water.
Accepting applications now through December 7, 2023
The Regional Water Quality Control Board has an opening in San Diego, CA for a Student Assistant-Engineering & Architectural Sciences position in the Site Restoration and Waste Management Unit. The Student Assistant participates in various phases of a planned training program; learns policies, procedures and techniques of the Unit; under close supervision, perform meaningful tasks which are valuable and necessary to the Unit, such as preparing scale drawings, tracing details, compiling reference data and making or checking computations. To qualify for this position, the applicant must be enrolled in the engineering program. Depending upon availability of funding for the position, the selected candidate would be able to continue working in the Sacramento office until graduation.
Accepting applications now through December 7, 2023
The Water Board’s Office of Enforcement seeks legal interns for Summer 2024. Legal interns will conduct legal research and writing related to water quality and water rights enforcement matters, interpret statutes and regulations, and prepare legal documents such as subpoenas, memoranda, reports, summaries, etc. Opportunities for telework within California may be available.
Applications must be received by December 31, 2023 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
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“It’s because of the formative opportunities internships have provided me that I’m excited to see the Water Boards develop a focused program,” said State Water Resources Control Board Member E. Joaquin Esquivel. “Like many sectors, the water sector is facing a tidal change as retirements multiply and challenges filling critical positions grow. I see this program as a first step to greater engagement by the Boards in workforce development challenges sector wide.
“Although it’s a benefit for us as an agency to have new bright minds at the Boards, the program is designed first and foremost to meet the needs of the students,” Esquivel said. “The work at the Water Boards is diverse, demanding and crucial to so many Californians. With a successful initial cohort, I’m hopeful the program will continue to expand the number of paid opportunities in future years."
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Contact Information
If you have questions regarding internship and volunteer opportunities, please contact internship@waterboards.ca.gov.
If you have questions regarding employment opportunities, please contact recruitment@waterboards.ca.gov.
Connie Bi-On, Outreach Coordinator
1001 I Street, 18th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Jagbir Mavi, Recruitment Unit Manager
1001 I Street, 18th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
