Summer Internship in Water Resources Planning & Policy- Water Res. Specialist/Restoration Engineer

Summer Internship in Water Resources Planning & Policy- Water Res. Specialist/Restoration Engineer

Valley Water

Salary: $28.27 Hourly

Job Type: Internship/Temporary Worker

Job Number: 00271-SI

Location: CA, CA

Department: Watersheds Summer Internship Program

Closing: 2/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY!

Summer Internship in Water Resources Planning & Policy - Water Resources Specialist / Restoration Engineer

Location: Valley Water Headquarters (5750 Almaden Expy. San Jose, CA)

1 Internship Available!

OVERVIEW

Do you want to make a difference in your community while also gaining priceless career experience? Do you want to expand your network and build your resume while learning about the water industry? If so, a summer internship with Valley Water may be the best choice for you! Join us and use your talents to help maintain safe and clean water for a healthy environment.

Our Commitment:

We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship.

About Valley Water:

Valley Water is a public agency with an operating and capital budget of $964 million, and over 900 employees. With headquarters in San Jose, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.

About Next Gen Career Pathway's Summer Internships:

The 2026 College Summer Internship Program offers students nationwide a chance to gain practical experience while exploring careers in the water industry. Each intern will have a Valley Water staff mentor and will receive professional development training, participate in networking events, and prepare a capstone presentation at the end of the program. Although some positions in the program will follow a hybrid format, with a mix of in-office and remote work based on business needs, other roles may require interns to work on-site full-time in a lab, office, or field setting, as specified in the job postings.

About The Water Resources Planning & Policy Unit:

The Water Resources Planning and Policy Unit conducts long-range and project planning for watersheds, manages and reports on Valley Water's response to climate change, and collaborates with regional partners to promote a coordinated approach to water resources stewardship. Long-range planning efforts include watershed asset management, the Watershed Master Plans (formerly One Water), the Climate Change Action Plan, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan. Project planning includes Valley Water's stewardship projects, which include voluntary restoration projects, FAHCE-related projects, mitigation projects, and Safe Clean Water fish passage and habitat improvement projects. The unit is responsible for implementation of Safe Clean Water Priority D4, Fish Passage and Habitat Improvement, which includes fish passage and habitat enhancement projects and fish barrier removal prioritization studies.

Under D4, our team is supporting or leading the development and implementation of fish passage improvement projects (Ogier Ponds Creek/Lake Separation and Moffett Fish Ladder) and five aquatic habitat improvement projects (e.g., Live Oak Reach Restoration on Coyote Creek and gravel augmentation and large wood installation on Uvas Creek) and completing a suite of studies to identify and prioritize fish passage impediments along steelhead streams in Santa Clara County.

The intern selected for this role will gain hands-on experience supporting a real-world fish passage and watershed study while working with professional engineers, biologists, environmental scientists, and consultants. Additionally, interns will gain exposure to applied hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, sediment transport, and GIS analysis along with the development of technical, analytical, and field skills relevant to water resources careers.

INTERNSHIP LOCATION STATUS: This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite. For hybrid work, intern must perform their work in the state of California within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in (San Jose, California) by their start date.

Required License or Certificate

DESIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will have some experience or a strong desire to learn the following:

- Students pursuing a degree in environmental science, environmental studies, environmental engineering, environmental chemistry, hydrology, civil engineering, or a similar field.

- Experience with or interest in learning data analysis, statistics, and/or GIS.

- An interest in learning about river restoration, sediment transport, regulations, and permitting.

- Interested in the practice of river engineering, fluvial geomorphology, and sediment transport.

- Experience with or interest in learning AutoCAD Civil 3D, HEC-RAS, Microsoft Excel, and Word.

- Coursework completed, in progress, or on track to complete in Physical Science, Environmental Science, Hydrology, GIS, Climate Science, Geomorphology, Chemistry, and Technical Writing.

- Prior hands-on experience is beneficial but not required; training and mentorship will be provided.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND INTERNSHIP TASKS (Representative duties include, but are not limited to):

- Supporting a Fish Passage Barrier Prioritization Study through data collection, analysis, and documentation

- Assisting with GIS-based spatial analysis and mapping

- Supporting hydraulic and hydrologic analyses

- Assisting with plan review, site data interpretation, and basic modeling

- Compiling, organizing, and analyzing data

- Preparing figures, tables, and technical summaries for reports in a variety of applications, e.g. Word, Excel, GIS, Civil 3D, etc.

- Assisting with technical writing and documentation

- Participating in field work, including walking within and around creeks, channels, and other waterways to collect observations and site information

- Collaborate with consultants to complete assigned tasks

- Perform other related tasks that support program and project goals.

FIELD WORK REQUIREMENTS

- Ability to walk for extended periods on uneven terrain

- Willingness to work within and around waterways and creek channels

- Ability to follow safety protocols during field activities

Selection Process

ELIGIBILITY:

- Undergraduate applicants must be enrolled in an accredited community college or college/university and have completed at least two full-time years of study (i.e., entering their third/rising third or fourth year) by Fall 2026, or have graduated within the past six months.

- Graduate applicants must be enrolled in an accredited graduate program at a college or university in Fall 2026 or have completed their degree within the past six months.

- Proof of enrollment will be required prior to the start of the assignment.

- Applicants must be able to work full-time (40 hours/week) during the College Summer Internship Program.

- Only applicants who have not participated in a Valley Water College Summer Internship Program before will be considered.

- Valley Water requires interns to work within 150 miles of the Valley Water office they are to report to by their start date. The intern must perform their work in the State of California, not more than 150 miles from Valley Water's Headquarters' (5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA, or Valley Water's Sacramento Office: 1121 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento, CA) for the duration of their internship.

- Selected candidates must pass a pre-employment screening process, which includes reference and background/criminal checks.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applications will be accepted February 2 through February 15, 2026.

To apply, applicants must submit the following through the online application system:

- A fully completed online Employment Application with all required questions answered. We encourage applicants to share details about relevant work experience, academic projects, volunteer activities, and/or extracurricular involvement.

- Complete the supplemental questions in the job application with detail and honesty. These questions help us better understand your interests and experiences. If you are applying to multiple internships, please tailor your answer to every internship you are applying for. Please ensure your supplemental responses are specific to each internship job posting. Do not indicate "see resume" as a response to any of the questions.

- Resumes and cover letters are optional but are helpful and appreciated by the Mentors reviewing the applications. Please label and include these documents in the "Attachments" section.

- Former participants in Valley Water's Summer Internship or Water Works Program are not eligible to apply.

To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/scvwd/jobs/5206476/summer-internship-in-water-resources-planning-policy-water-res-specialist-res

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