Matt O’Malley

Why do you volunteer with Coastkeeper? I love this organization and its people. As a former San Diego Coastkeeper staff member, I’m grateful I can continue to contribute to the success of this incredible team. Volunteering allows me to follow their work closely and offer any insights, info, or strategies that might be helpful.
Fun fact: I helped write the book “Blood Struggle” authored by Charles Wilkinson, and spent my summers in the early 90s working on environmental health programs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
What do you wish everyone knew about Coastkeeper? San Diego Coastkeeper is the most effective and efficient water-related advocacy organization in our region, bar none. From the courtrooms to the classrooms, and from the canyons to the coast, they are the tip of the spear in fighting for solutions to our inland and marine water challenges.
I want to see a world where: those responsible for crimes against the environment are actually held accountable for their actions and injustices.

For 25 years, Matt has served his community as a public interest environmental attorney and advocate, achieving several major milestones including the successful negotiation of the City of San Diego’s Pure Water Cooperative Agreement, an agreement between the City and NGOs to produce nearly on half of the City’s drinking water by 2035 through recycling while drastically reducing wastewater discharges into the ocean.

Matt has a deep knowledge of ocean and coastal resource law and policy, having previously served as Executive Director and Managing Attorney for San Diego Coastkeeper.  He is experienced in the Coastal Act, the Clean Water Act, CEQA, the Coastal Zone Management Act, and other laws and policies aimed at protecting California’s resources.  He also has deep knowledge of the issues facing the built and natural coastal environment and communities, including sea level rise, coastal erosion, and equitable access.  Since 2019 Matt has also served as an alternate commissioner on the California Coastal Commission, working to protect California’s coastal resources.