CalTrout News
Get to know CalTrout’s spring 2025 Policy Interns – Matt Okamoto and Cole Barlow, two born-and-bred Californians who are jumping headfirst into the world of environmental policy! What drives college students to tackle California's complex water challenges? For Matt, it was his internships at the EPA and House of Representatives. For Cole, it was multiple family trips to California’s untouched waters and a desire to protect the places he loves.
Both are already working on critical projects including Los Angeles County water diversion research, Santa Clara River restoration funding, and Floodplain Forward Coalition work. Dive into our Q&A below to discover what sparked their environmental journeys and how they're working to protect the waters we call home.
Matthew Okamoto (left) and Cole Barlow (right), CalTrout's Spring Policy Interns 2025
Welcome to CalTrout, Matt and Cole – we are so excited to have you on board! To start us off, where do you consider home and where are you attending college?
Matt: California is home. I was born and raised in San Ramon and am currently a senior at UC Davis. I'm majoring in environmental policy analysis and planning, and minoring in philosophy.
Cole: I’m also a California native attending Chapman University in Southern California and studying political science and environmental policy.
What sparked your interest in policy work? Are there any specific areas you’re most interested in exploring during your internship?
Matt: I’ve always wanted to end up in the environmental space, particularly as it relates to wildlife and fish. Last year I interned in Washington, D.C. at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the House of Representatives, which gave me a taste of the policy side of this work. I’ve come to realize that science and policy go hand in hand to drive change.
I'm particularly excited about natural resource management and wildlife conservation, more specifically, water and land management. Emerging environmental issues like microplastics and PFAS are particularly pressing areas of concern for me.
Cole: To be honest, I was not initially drawn to policy. When considering next steps after college, I thought I might want to attend grad school for biology or science. The thought process slowly evolved, and I realized policy is one of the most effective ways to create meaningful change and protect the things I love about California, including its natural environments and recreational spaces.
How did you first hear about and get involved with CalTrout?
Matt: I discovered CalTrout while searching for internships. The organization immediately impressed me, from the mission to the hands-on restoration.
Cole: CalTrout has been a huge part of my family’s lives for years. I've been fortunate to accompany my dad on several CalTrout trips, where I experienced some of California’s most beautiful untouched landscapes, including fishing on the McCloud River.
Unlike many other environmental and climate-focused NGOs that primarily conduct research, CalTrout takes a hands-on approach. I wanted to be part of an organization using science to drive real-world action.
What do you hope to learn or accomplish during your internship?
Matt: I hope to gain a better understanding of the legislative process, particularly from a lobbying perspective. I'm looking forward to learning about the ins and outs of a nonprofit organization and how they collaborate with state and federal agencies.
Cole: I’d love to learn more about how policy moves through the state legislature. So far, I’ve gotten a great crash course on the bills CalTrout is supporting and sponsoring. I hope that talking with professionals in the space will help shape my interests and career path. The primary goal is to learn and experience as much as possible with CalTrout!
What will you be working on over the next few weeks/months? What are you most excited to work on?
Matt: I’ll be developing a white paper focused on the impact of fire policy on anadromous fish populations. Additionally, there is $800 million needed to complete restoration on the Lower Santa Clara River. Cole and I are conducting research to determine which legislatures would make the most sense to author this request and identify grants to draw from.
I’ll also be working with Kam Bezdek, CalTrout’s Policy Associate, on Green California, which is a network of over 100 groups with similar environmental, justice, and health agendas working together to advocate around issues concerning California’s natural resources. I’ll be supporting her with drafting, agendas, analyzing bills, and seeing firsthand how professionals react to a dynamic, ever-changing landscape. There will also be an in-person advocacy day at the Capitol which sounds amazing and during which we will separate into teams and practice lobbying. Lastly, I’ll be working on a separate white paper on anadromous fish populations.
Cole: In addition to the funding project Matt mentioned, I’m working on a white paper focusing on LA County water diversions from 1908 to the present day – history that is essential to understanding California’s current water policies. I also just finished working with Kam and the Floodplain Forward Coalition (FFC) team to help them organize a tour for the Pacific Salmon Foundation and First Nations of the FFC’s work in the Sacramento Valley. The tour was a knowledge-exchange focused on the coalition’s collaborative work to reactivate floodplains in the Sacramento Valley, as a model for them to take back to Canada for potential implementation. It was an incredible opportunity to learn from each other and discuss different approaches to tackling similar challenges.
Were there any surprises during your first few days here?
Matt: I had no idea the extent to which communication is a challenge at the federal level. Especially recently, there has been a lot of confusion around changing policies and what that means for organizations and agencies. I've been very impressed by how the CalTrout Policy team continues to navigate these challenges
Cole: I've been surprised by the complexity and scope of CalTrout’s work and the competitive nature of environmental funding. There’s so much happening behind the scenes that I was unaware of, particularly regarding the availability and allocation of financial resources.
Do you have a favorite memory tied to a California body of water?
Matt: My favorite water memories are mostly tied to my love for marine life. As a certified scuba diver, I've had the opportunity to see marine life across the world, such as in the Philippines. However, my most memorable experience was diving in Monterey Bay where—despite the freezing water—I got to explore beautiful kelp forests. You probably won’t be surprised to know that my favorite movie is "Finding Nemo."
Cole: On Christmas Day, two years ago, I escaped the hubbub of holiday setup to surf Ocean beach with head-high barrels and a beautiful seaglass green backdrop.
We are thrilled to have Matt and Cole joining us as integral players on our Policy team this spring! Thank you for helping us get important work done across the state.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the Ishiyama Foundation, who has been a long-time supporter of CalTrout’s Legal and Policy Team and whose generosity has enabled us to expand our internship program over the last four years.
