Delivering trusted groundwater consulting, water resource management, and engineering solutions that help California communities, agencies, and businesses manage water sustainably.
Innovative groundwater engineering, hydrogeology, and water resource solutions for public agencies, utilities, and private clients.
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Groundwater resources projects are becoming increasingly complex. We identify pertinent issues to develop strategies that will effectively and efficiently complete your project.
For over 40 years, we’ve delivered exceptional consulting and engineering solutions, successfully completing 3,000+ projects while actively managing more than 150 projects for clients across diverse industries.
Our work reflects our commitment to quality and performance
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Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers (LSCE) was founded in 1980 in acknowledgement of California’s increasing reliance on groundwater resources and with an understanding of the unique skills required to meet the needs of water resource managers and water users.
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Engineering innovative groundwater solutions for a sustainable future. Connect with our experts to start your next project.
Founder
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Project Title: Solano County and Solano Subbasin Technical Support, Data Management, and Monitoring Infrastructure
Project Description:
LSCE has provided a wide range of water resources and groundwater technical support to Solano County and the Solano County Water Agency for over 20 years and has worked for the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies in the Solano Subbasin since 2017 in securing grant funding and developing and implementing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan. LSCE’s roles have included development and maintenance of a comprehensive monitoring program and data management system, development and updating of a local integrated hydrologic model, pilot testing and evaluation of the feasibility of recharge project concepts, and preparation of reports and other submittals for compliance with SGMA. Prior to supporting SGMA-related efforts, LSCE conducted investigations to improve understanding of deep regional aquifer systems through construction of new groundwater and subsidence monitoring facilities and development of geologic cross sections and other hydrogeologic conceptualization work. These efforts provided critical data, analytical tools, and decision support to improve basin characterization, regulatory compliance, and long-term groundwater sustainability. Unique aspects of LSCE’s work in Solano County include the long-standing coordination with multiple entities involved in managing water resources in the County and integration of advanced deep aquifer and subsidence monitoring facilities together with data management systems to develop a robust understanding of conditions to support management efforts and stakeholder outreach and education.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Mojave Groundwater Basin
Project Description:
LSCE is currently serving as a technical expert on behalf of Victorville Water District with regard to matters relating to adjudication of Mojave Groundwater Basin. The Mojave Groundwater Basin underwent a groundwater basin adjudication process in the 1990s and a Judgement was entered in 1996. LSCE was retained in 2024 to assist with providing review, comments, and other technical support related to ongoing Court filings by the Watermaster and various other parties to the basin adjudication. The work involves attending Watermaster meetings/workshops and Court hearings, technical analysis of various issues that arise, preparation of Declarations, and general legal support.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Annual Reporting and Support Services for Santa Maria Valley Management Area
Project Description:
LSCE is currently serving as the Basin Engineer for Santa Maria Valley Management Area (SMVMA). The Santa Maria Groundwater Basin underwent a groundwater basin adjudication process in the early 2000s and is currently managed as three separate areas. LSCE has served as the Basin Engineer for the largest management area, the Santa Maria Valley Management Area (SMVMA), since 2008. A detailed and comprehensive annual report is prepared every year for submittal to the Court that summarizes SMVMA climatic conditions, surface water conditions (discharge and water quality), reservoir operations (storage and releases), groundwater conditions (water levels and quality), water requirements, water supplies, and water disposition. In accordance with the Court Stipulation, an evaluation is made each year to determine whether or not the SMVMA is experiencing a severe water shortage per the four criteria established by the Court. A public presentation is made each year with findings from the annual report, and the final report is submitted to the Court. LSCE also provides a range of support services for SMVMA, including special studies and assistance with compliance related to various reporting requirements.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Hydrogeologic Evaluation and Groundwater Resource Optimization
Project Description:
Since 2016, LSCE has provided comprehensive hydrogeologic and engineering support to Meadowbrook Dairy in the Indian Wells Valley, one of California’s most technically and politically complex groundwater basins. The work has focused on maintaining reliable agricultural operations while navigating SGMA compliance and evolving basin management requirements. LSCE has sited, designed, and overseen installation of high-capacity production wells and dedicated monitoring wells in structurally complex alluvial and volcanic formations, supported by detailed aquifer and step-drawdown testing to evaluate transmissivity and long-term performance.
Groundwater quality evaluations have been central to the effort, including detailed analyses of nitrate and PFAS to assess regulatory thresholds, treatment implications, and operational suitability. LSCE also evaluated the feasibility of using brackish groundwater to supplement steam production at Coso Geothermal, including water chemistry compatibility and infrastructure considerations. Recharge feasibility using episodic flood flows from the Los Angeles Aqueduct was assessed through integration of surface geophysics, downhole logging, and aerial datasets to characterize stratigraphy, permeability, and mounding response.
In parallel, LSCE has served as a technical advisor during development and implementation of the basin’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan, including review of water budgets, sustainable yield assumptions, pumping allocations, and interconnected surface water analyses. LSCE has also provided litigation support related to sustainable yield determinations and groundwater management actions, delivering independent technical evaluation and expert analysis to support defensible basin management decisions.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Groundwater Flow and Solute Transport Modeling for SGMA Compliance
Project Description:
LSCE provided hydrogeologic modeling services to support Westlands Water District’s compliance with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. LSCE developed a basin-wide numerical groundwater flow and solute transport model to evaluate historical and future impacts of groundwater pumping on groundwater levels, water quality, aquifer storage, surface water interactions, and land subsidence. The modeling effort integrated hydrogeologic data across more than 600,000 acres and quantified groundwater conditions and water budgets extending back to the 1950s. The model was used to evaluate long-term management scenarios, including changes in climate and land use, and to assess the effectiveness of projects and management actions. Results supported preparation of the District’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan and associated technical documentation, with ongoing updates incorporating new monitoring data to reduce uncertainty.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Central Valley Dairy Representative Groundwater Monitoring Program
Project Description:
Since 2007, LSCE has provided technical expertise to the California dairy community and has served as the technical program manager for the Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring Program since 2010. LSCE conceptualized, designed, and implemented a pioneering representative groundwater monitoring program as an alternative to site specific monitoring required under the 2007 Dairy General Order. The program was ultimately approved by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and fundamentally changed how agricultural non point source groundwater impacts are regulated under the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. The monitoring network includes 443 dedicated monitoring wells installed on 42 dairies from Redding to Bakersfield and was designed to be representative of more than 1,400 dairies statewide. Extensive field investigations and data analysis demonstrated that lagoons and corrals contribute a relatively small portion of total nitrogen loading to groundwater, shifting regulatory focus toward manured cropland management. The program has resulted in substantial cost savings for the dairy industry while providing regulators with defensible, high quality groundwater data.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Groundwater Technical Support
Project Description:
Since 2008, LSCE has provided groundwater technical support to multiple agricultural coalitions to support compliance with California’s Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program groundwater requirements. LSCE prepared Groundwater Quality Assessment Reports, Groundwater Quality Management Plans, and Groundwater Quality Trend Monitoring Workplans to characterize hydrogeologic conditions, land use, and vulnerability of areas to groundwater quality impacts from agricultural activities. The work included delineation of High Vulnerability Areas and development of representative, prioritized groundwater monitoring networks using statistical and hydrogeologic analyses. LSCE continues to support numerous agricultural coalitions with groundwater quality monitoring, analysis, and reporting involving evaluation of long-term trends in groundwater quality. A key aspect of LSCE’s role includes translating complex groundwater data into actionable management strategies and regulatory deliverables for diverse agricultural stakeholders.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Municipal Well Replacement and Rehabilitation Program Support
Project Description:
LSCE has provided groundwater engineering services to San Jose Water since the 1980s, supporting long-term management of the utility’s municipal well system in the Santa Clara Valley. Beginning in 2005, LSCE assisted San Jose Water with a comprehensive program to retire, rehabilitate, and replace an aging inventory of more than 100 municipal wells. Since 2006, LSCE has supported the installation of over 35 new wells in highly constrained urban environments, where siting, permitting, and construction require careful coordination. Services have included site-specific hydrogeologic investigations, well design, permitting, construction oversight, and testing. A recent highlight includes the McLaughlin Station, San Jose Water’s first new multi-well station in more than a decade, which provided opportunities to evaluate alternative well construction materials and performance.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Well Program
Project Description:
Surface water from Folsom Reservoir is the primary supply for the City of Roseville, and to improve drought resilience the City initiated an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) program to store treated surface water underground during wet periods for recovery in dry years. As part of the LSCE–Carollo–ASR Systems team, LSCE led hydrogeologic evaluation and ASR well design from feasibility through construction, including basin-scale screening and detailed assessment of six candidate sites. LSCE evaluated aquifer transmissivity, storage, groundwater gradients, and water quality compatibility to ensure injection and recovery targets could be achieved while protecting native groundwater resources. Constructability considerations were integrated early, and selected sites advanced through preliminary and final design, including casing and screen configuration, interval targeting, gravel pack specifications, and performance criteria supported by analytical testing protocols. LSCE prepared construction and testing documents, supported permitting and bidding, and provided field oversight to maintain design intent through drilling, development, and step-rate injection and recovery testing. In 2023, two ASR wells were completed and met or exceeded City objectives for capacity and water quality, establishing scalable infrastructure that strengthens Roseville’s long-term conjunctive use and climate-adaptive water supply strategy.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Watsonville Municipal Well Siting and Development
Project Description:
LSCE conducted a well siting study for the City of Watsonville to address water supply reliability issues caused by saltwater intrusion and water quality exceedances in existing municipal wells. The project evaluated regional hydrogeology, groundwater levels, and water quality data to identify favorable locations and formation intervals for new groundwater supply wells. Based on the study findings, LSCE completed a site-specific investigation at the Roache Road site, including test hole drilling, monitoring well construction, and water quality testing. LSCE designed a new municipal production well with a target capacity of 1,800 gpm, prepared regulatory documentation, and provided permitting, bidding, and construction oversight services. A key outcome of the project was confirmation that the completed well exceeded capacity goals while meeting all water quality objectives, allowing the City to proceed without originally anticipated treatment infrastructure.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Groundwater Supply and System Planning Support
Project Description:
LSCE has provided engineering and hydrogeologic services to the Town of Discovery Bay for more than 25 years, supporting a groundwater-only water supply system drawing from multiple freshwater and brackish aquifers. LSCE’s work has focused on understanding local hydrogeologic conditions and developing solutions that protect water quality, improve system reliability, and support long-term planning. Services have included groundwater investigations, municipal well siting and design, construction oversight, treatment system design, and distribution system analysis. A key component of this work has been site-specific investigations to identify productive freshwater zones and design wells that meet both yield and water quality objectives. LSCE also serves as the Town’s District Engineer, providing ongoing planning, regulatory compliance, and asset management support.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Multi-District Engineering Support and River Island Surface Water Treatment Plant
Project Description:
LSCE serves as the longstanding engineering consultant for Del Oro Water Company, an investor-owned utility operating over 20 water districts throughout California that rely on both groundwater and surface water supplies. LSCE provides comprehensive engineering support to multiple Del Oro water districts serving predominantly rural and mountainous communities, with services ranging from planning and regulatory assistance to design and construction management. A recent representative project includes the design, construction management, and permitting of a new 700 gpm (1 MGD) surface water treatment plant for Del Oro’s River Island District in Tulare County. LSCE prepared and submitted the State Revolving Fund application to support project financing and provided construction management services through completion in 2024. The project improved treatment capacity, storage, and operational reliability for the district.
Key Project Features:
Treated water and backwash storage design
Project Title: Well and Pump Station Design for Winters Highlands Development
Project Description:
LSCE has provided hydrogeologic and engineering services to the City of Winters for more than 30 years, supporting the City’s municipal water supply system. As part of the Winters Highlands Subdivision, LSCE assisted the City and the developer with the design, bidding, and construction management of a new municipal well and 1,800 gpm pump station to supplement the City’s water supply. The project included site improvements, a standby emergency generator, and a CMU pump station building housing pumping, electrical, and disinfection systems. Preliminary water quality data identified elevated hexavalent chromium, and LSCE incorporated provisions for future treatment into the pump station layout and infrastructure. Well construction was completed in 2022, with pump station construction anticipated to be completed in 2027.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Arsenic Treatment and Groundwater Supply Improvements
Project Description:
LSCE has supported the Wild Wings County Service Area public water system in Yolo County for more than 20 years, including the original design of the system’s supply, storage, pumping, and distribution facilities. As groundwater quality conditions evolved, LSCE led planning, evaluation, and design efforts to address rising arsenic concentrations in multiple wells. Services included feasibility analyses, treatment technology evaluation, pilot testing coordination, and full design of a centralized arsenic treatment system. LSCE advanced the project through final design and continues to provide construction management support. In parallel, LSCE supported the development of a new municipal supply well and pump station to address declining groundwater levels and improve long-term system reliability.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Sutter Shores Municipal Wells and Pump Station Project
Project Description:
LSCE provided planning, design, and construction support for two new municipal groundwater supply wells and associated treatment facilities serving the Sutter Shores community in Reigo, California. The project was developed to provide a reliable local groundwater supply capable of meeting community demands while addressing naturally occurring water quality constituents present in the aquifer. LSCE also prepared the construction plans, technical specifications, and engineer’s cost estimates for the aboveground arsenic and iron/manganese groundwater treatment facilities project rated to 2000 gpm (3 MGD) and coordinated closely with State regulatory agencies and environmental permitting subconsultants throughout the planning and design process. The treatment facilities project scope includes supporting chemical feed, electrical, instrumentation, and backup power systems. During construction, LSCE supported the owner through bidding assistance, submittal and RFI review, and oversight of well construction, pump installation, and performance testing to verify that the completed facilities met the design intent and operational requirements of the water system.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Well 2 Arsenic Treatment Evaluation and Design
Project Description:
LSCE was engaged by the Rural North Vacaville Water District to evaluate and implement options to address elevated arsenic levels in Well 2, which had been limited to emergency use due to regulatory changes. LSCE worked closely with the District and system operator to evaluate blending, well modification, new well construction, and treatment alternatives. Based on site constraints, water chemistry, system demand, and operational considerations, LSCE identified and advanced an arsenic treatment solution for the existing well. LSCE led a competitive vendor evaluation process and performed a life-cycle cost comparison of treatment technologies. The selected adsorption-based treatment approach was validated through bench-scale pilot testing and ultimately designed by LSCE, with construction completed in 2023.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Drinking Water System Evaluation and Demand Analysis
Project Description:
LSCE assisted the City of Dixon with a comprehensive evaluation of its drinking water system to assess operational performance, future demands, and system adequacy. The City’s system serves approximately 4,100 service connections through multiple wells, storage facilities, and booster pump stations. LSCE analyzed historical water use and projected near-term and buildout demands using customer class data and General Plan land use assumptions. System capacity evaluations included groundwater supply, storage, pumping, and fire flow analysis using the City’s hydraulic model. The evaluation identified system deficiencies, deferred maintenance needs, and provided recommendations to support capital planning and long-term system reliability.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Groundwater Supply and System Planning Support
Project Description:
LSCE has provided engineering and hydrogeologic services to the Town of Discovery Bay for more than 25 years, supporting a groundwater-only water supply system drawing from multiple freshwater and brackish aquifers. LSCE’s work has focused on understanding local hydrogeologic conditions and developing solutions that protect water quality, improve system reliability, and support long-term planning. Services have included groundwater investigations, municipal well siting and design, construction oversight, treatment system design, and distribution system analysis. A key component of this work has been site-specific investigations to identify productive freshwater zones and design wells that meet both yield and water quality objectives. LSCE also serves as the Town’s District Engineer, providing ongoing planning, capital improvement project design and construction management, regulatory compliance, and asset management support.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Groundwater Sustainability Plan Development and Implementation Support
Project Description:
LSCE led development and adoption of five Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for the Corning, Antelope, Los Molinos, Red Bluff, and Bowman Subbasins, serving as the primary technical advisor to the respective GSAs. LSCE prepared historical and projected water budgets, defined Sustainable Management Criteria for all six SGMA sustainability indicators, evaluated Management Actions and Projects, and developed long-term implementation and funding strategies to ensure regulatory compliance. The team also supported development of equitable, legally defensible fee structures, including landowner assessments and well-based pumping fees.
Following adoption, LSCE has continued supporting implementation by expanding groundwater and surface water monitoring networks, improving SGMA data management and QA/QC protocols, and addressing key data gaps. LSCE has advanced recharge feasibility studies and pilot projects, including Flood-MAR and Ag-ASR supported by surface geophysics (AEM, TtEM), isotope analyses, and detailed hydrogeologic investigations to evaluate recharge pathways and mounding response. These efforts provide a defensible technical framework for recharge enhancement, demand management, well mitigation, and long-term basin sustainability through 2030.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Solano Subbasin SGMA Technical Support, Data Management, and Monitoring Infrastructure
Project Description:
LSCE has provided water resources and groundwater technical support to the Solano County Water Agency for over 20 years and has supported the Solano Subbasin GSAs since 2017 with development and implementation of the Solano Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan. LSCE’s role includes development and maintenance of a comprehensive data management system, preparation of annual SGMA reports, and development and updating of the Solano Integrated Hydrologic Model to evaluate groundwater and surface water conditions. In parallel, LSCE conducted field investigations in northern Solano County to improve understanding of deep regional aquifer systems through construction of new groundwater and subsidence monitoring facilities. These efforts provided critical data, analytical tools, and decision support to improve basin characterization, regulatory compliance, and long-term groundwater sustainability. A unique aspect of the project is the integration of advanced data systems, deep aquifer monitoring, and public-facing tools to support both technical analysis and stakeholder transparency.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Groundwater Sustainability Planning and SGMA Implementation Support
Project Description:
LSCE has partnered with Napa County since 2008 to support a variety of groundwater management efforts in the County including through local implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Work has focused on establishing a strong technical foundation for sustainable groundwater management through groundwater and surface water monitoring, hydrogeologic characterization, groundwater modeling, water budget analysis, and policymaking. LSCE supported the preparation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Napa Valley Subbasin, including developing a sustainable yield estimate and determining criteria for sustainable groundwater management. LSCE has conducted detailed analyses of groundwater-surface water interactions and stream depletion in the Napa Valley. The team also developed Countywide data management systems, monitoring networks, and public-facing tools to support transparent decision-making. Ongoing stakeholder engagement and annual SGMA reporting continue to support adaptive groundwater management.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Madera and Chowchilla Subbasins GSP Development and Groundwater Monitoring Program
Project Description:
Since 2017, LSCE has supported Madera County and the Chowchilla Water District with development, implementation, monitoring, and annual reporting for the Madera and Chowchilla Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plans. Services have included securing grant funding, developing hydrogeologic conceptual models and numerical hydrologic models, preparing water budgets, and evaluating projects and management actions to achieve groundwater sustainability. A major component of this effort was the planning, design, and construction of a large-scale multi-completion groundwater monitoring network, funded through State grants, to address data gaps and support SGMA compliance. LSCE installed 62 dedicated monitoring wells at 24 sites, with depths ranging from 30 to 950 feet below ground surface, designed to monitor groundwater conditions above and below the Corcoran Clay and support monitoring for SGMA compliance. Due to the scale of the project and geographic extent, LSCE recommended and coordinated the use of two drill rigs operating simultaneously to maintain the schedule and budget. LSCE continues to provide technical support through GSP implementation, annual reporting, data management, and stakeholder coordination.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project
Project Description:
LSCE serves as a member of the Hydrogeologic Working Group (HWG), providing technical oversight for extensive field investigations and groundwater modeling to evaluate potential impacts from proposed coastal production wells that would be designed to provide feedwater to a desalination plant. The work includes the development and implementation of a comprehensive work plan involving borings, clustered multi-depth monitoring wells, and testing of a full-scale 2,000 gpm beach production well. LSCE has performed technical analyses and numerical groundwater modeling in conjunction with HWG members to assess potential effects on inland production wells and seawater intrusion conditions in the Salinas Valley. LSCE is also serving as an expert witness in regulatory and legal proceedings before the State Water Resources Control Board and a judge related to the proposed desalination project. This work is ongoing and supports long-term groundwater sustainability and regulatory decision-making.
Key Project Features:
Project Title: Westside Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Development and Implementation
Project Description:
Since 2015, LSCE has provided comprehensive technical support to Westlands Water District to support compliance with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act for the Westside Subbasin. LSCE led the development of the hydrogeologic conceptual model and a basin wide integrated groundwater flow and solute transport model to support preparation and implementation of the Westside Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan. LSCE authored the GSP, which was approved by the California Department of Water Resources in 2022, and has continued to support GSP implementation through annual reporting, amendments, and periodic evaluations. The work supports groundwater allocation decisions, evaluation of projects and management actions, subsidence management, and long term sustainability planning across more than 600,000 acres.
Key Project Features:
