Chelsea McDonald
Clean Water Defense Campaign Manager
Chelsea McDonald is the Clean Water Defense Campaign Manager and joined the team in 2024. Chelsea works with a wide range of stakeholders to defend and enforce clean water laws, standards and permits, and fight against the ever-growing threats to clean and safe water.
Growing up in a small town in Colorado, Chelsea learned from an early age not only the value of water as a resource, but also its role as a foundational part of communities.
"Everyone should have access to water for drinking or recreating in, and they shouldn't have to wonder what else is in it"
Prior to joining Waterkeeper Alliance, Chelsea worked at the Department of Justice in the Environment and Natural Resources Division, and as a staffer in the United States Senate. In 2023, she received her J.D. from Georgetown Law, as a graduate of their evening program. She received her B.A. from Lake Forest College in Political Philosophy, Sociology and Anthropology.
Outside of work, Chelsea can be found walking her dog in New York City's Central Park or visiting new National Park sites.