​​Orange County Coastkeeper 

Marine Restoration Internship

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Host: Orange County Coastkeeper is a clean water organization whose mission is to protect swimmable, drinkable, fishable water and promote watershed resilience throughout our region. The Marine Restoration Department is focused on restoring local ecosystems to be more resilient to threats, particularly climate change. 

​Location: Costa Mesa (map); Fieldwork throughout Orange County 

Format: In-person

Internship Dates:  June 3 - August 16, 2024

Stipend: $8,000 

Time Commitment: The internship is a full-time, 11-week commitment. Hours may occasionally include long days in the field (10-12 hours) and weekend days. Over the 11 weeks, the intern may take up to five days off for personal reasons, vacation, or illness. If participation is less than 100%, the stipend will be prorated.

Position Description and Responsibilities: Orange County Coastkeeper has partnered with local universities and organizations to restore Eelgrass and Olympia Oysters in Newport Bay, Alamitos Bay, and soon-to-be Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, all located in Southern California. Eelgrass (Zostera spp.) meadows are a federally protected habitat due to the physical and biological ecosystem benefits it provides. As a physical buffer to wave action, Eelgrass reduces erosion as well as causes sediment deposition to rebuild what might otherwise be lost. Biologically, Eelgrass is a nursery habitat for many species of invertebrates and fish, including commercially important species. Olympia Oysters (Ostrea lurida) provide unparalleled water filtration capabilities as well as acting as another physical barrier to wave action that increases sedimentation. Additionally, Olympia Oysters are food for many species, including both marine and avian. We use these ecosystem engineers to create Living Shorelines which are ecologically useful habitats that protect our coast. The restoration and monitoring of these species take different forms at different locations, including but not limited to transplanting of eelgrass, creating oyster beds, creating Shell Strings, and collecting biological and human use data from restoration sites.

In addition, the Marine Restoration Department has been an integral part of passing Assembly Bill 655, which bans the sale, trade, transporting, and transferring of any Caulerpa species within the state. Caulerpa is a highly invasive green algae that has invaded our local ecosystems in the past and currently. As this bill goes into effect on January 1, 2024, Orange County Coastkeeper plans to continue to communicate with the public about this threat and aid in any way to the successful removal of the genus from the state.

One (1) internship is available to work with Orange County Coastkeeper’s Marine Restoration Department on their Living Shoreline work, as well as the organization as a whole, to learn about clean water education, advocacy, and research. The intern will be expected to contribute to field data collection, restoration project management, as well as contributing to the growth of the department. 

Specific duties will be discussed and established at the start of the internship, based on the intern’s experience and interests as well as the Marine Restoration Department’s needs. 

NOTE: Scientific diving is NOT required for placement in this internship. However, if you are a current AAUS-certified scientific diver, you may have the opportunity to participate in SCUBA eelgrass monitoring and/or mapping. Non-divers will be able to assist in this work from the boat.

​Preferred Experience and Capabilities: This internship will require excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills. Experience with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Dropbox is desired. Experience with outreach and education, previous field data collection and monitoring, and grant writing is a plus. Interns must have the ability to multitask in a team-oriented process while taking initiative and working independently.  

Skills Gained:  At the conclusion of this internship, the Marine Restoration Intern will gain hands-on marine restoration experience, should be well-versed in Living Shorelines and the species that can be used to create them, and have a deeper understanding of the threats and needs for restoration on the local scale. The intern will gain experience with Eelgrass and Olympia Oysters as well as fish, invertebrates, and avian species that use these habitats. The intern will gain transferable skills in data collection and management, as well as an increased ability to synthesize scientific information for a wide range of audiences. 

Eligibility/Requirements: Applicants must be able to communicate effectively, work independently, and hold a professional demeanor for staff, partners, volunteers, and the public. Interested applicants should be self-starters and dependable for attendance even off-site as well as early in the morning. Travel will be required throughout Orange County and Long Beach, as well as into estuarine, coastal, and marine habitats, including onto our vessel. Much of marine restoration work is physically demanding, including the need to be able to lift and carry 50 lbs, bend over, squat, and/or carry research materials through muddy, occasionally wet shorelines, as well as be able to board and travel on a small vessel. Applicants who have physical limitations must request reasonable accommodations.  Applicants are also subject to general eligibility requirements​​.

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