Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Water Resources Engineering Solutions
Stetson Engineers has been a dedicated leader in water resources engineering since 1957, specializing in civil engineering, surface water, groundwater, and water rights solutions across the western United States. Our team combines decades of specialized expertise with cutting-edge technology to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions for complex water challenges. As an independent, employee-owned firm, we uphold traditional professional standards, prioritizing client needs and ethical practices. Our long-term client relationships and industry recognition reflect our commitment to quality service and technical excellence. We have contributed to landmark water rights cases, provided technical advisory services for state and federal agencies, and maintained a legacy of innovation established by founder Thomas Stetson.Our staff includes licensed engineers, hydrologists, and geologists with deep experience in municipal, tribal, and federal water projects. We support sustainable water management through services like watershed restoration, flood control, and recycled water engineering. Our reputation as experts is reinforced by awards, peer recognition, and contributions to shaping western water law. We fund the Thomas M. Stetson Scholarship to advance groundwater research and education. With offices in California, Oregon, and Colorado, we serve diverse clients including tribes, water districts, and federal agencies.
Services
Civil Engineering Design
Flood Management
Indian Country Services
Reservoir Operations
Water Quality Programs
Watershed Restoration
Expert Witness Support
GIS Services
Groundwater Evaluation
Irrigation Engineering
Details
- Year established: 1957
Highlights and features
- We offer 65+ years of specialized expertise in water resources engineering.
- Our team includes licensed engineers and hydrologists with deep technical knowledge.
- We maintain long-term client relationships through ethical professional practices.
- We combine cutting-edge technology with proven engineering methodologies.
- Our staff has contributed to landmark water rights cases and federal projects.
Services
Civil Engineering Design
Stetson Engineers provides full lifecycle civil engineering design and construction management for water systems. Our services include project concept development, preliminary design, permitting, construction documentation, and administration. We specialize in water storage, distribution networks, pump stations, and drainage systems. Our engineers apply technical expertise to deliver cost-effective infrastructure solutions meeting regulatory requirements.
Flood Management
We offer hydraulic analysis and flood management solutions for watershed-scale and localized projects. Our team designs stormwater control systems incorporating Low Impact Development practices. Using advanced modeling tools, we develop flood mitigation plans that balance environmental protection with development needs. Services include inundation mapping and emergency action plan preparation required by California law.
Water Rights Consultation
Stetson Engineers provides expert water rights consulting services for federal, state, and tribal clients. Our staff has testified in landmark Supreme Court cases and participates in water quantification efforts. We assist with surface and groundwater rights adjudication, interstate compacts, and settlement negotiations. Our expertise includes Practicably Irrigable Acreage standards and Winters Doctrine applications for tribal water rights.
GIS Services
Our GIS experts develop spatial analysis tools for water resources management. Services include groundwater storage modeling, watershed delineation, and water rights mapping. We create custom web mapping applications and relational databases to help clients visualize hydrological data. Our team combines 20+ years of GIS experience with water resources expertise to support decision-making processes.
Groundwater Evaluation
We conduct comprehensive groundwater resource assessments across the western United States. Our services include basin evaluations, well drilling and testing, and hydrogeologic modeling. Staff specialists analyze aquifer characteristics and groundwater flow patterns to support sustainable management. We provide technical support for groundwater recharge projects and contamination studies.
People
Stephen Johnson
President/CEO
Licensed civil engineer with 45+ years experience managing water resources projects. Specializes in water rights quantification and municipal water supply issues. Supervises technical staff and maintains client relationships for major California water districts.
Stephen Reich
Principal Engineer
Civil engineer with expertise in water system economics and valuation. Leads technical teams for water supply projects and litigation support. Specializes in developing recycled water operation models and negotiating water rights settlements across the southwestern United States.
Joe DeMaggio
Principal Engineer
Agricultural engineer specializing in irrigation systems and tribal water rights. Testified in multiple state and federal water rights proceedings. Manages infrastructure projects for Native American reservations including dam design and hydraulic structure implementation.
Jean Moran
Hydrogeologist
Certified hydrogeologist with 20+ years experience in groundwater modeling and aquifer characterization. Leads regional water supply model development. Expertise includes seawater intrusion analysis and evapotranspiration impacts on groundwater basins.
Allan Richards
Principal Engineer
Civil engineer specializing in water measurement and court-appointed watermaster duties. Provides consultation on water diversion reporting and metering systems. Manages drinking water infrastructure design projects including treatment plants and distribution networks.
Questions
What geographic areas do Stetson Engineers serve?
We primarily serve the western United States, including California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, and Washington. Our projects span tribal lands, municipal water districts, and federal agencies across these regions.
What engineering services does Stetson specialize in?
We focus on water resources engineering including civil design, groundwater evaluation, flood management, water rights consulting, and GIS mapping services. Our expertise addresses both infrastructure development and regulatory compliance needs.
How does Stetson handle complex water rights issues?
Our staff includes experts with decades of experience in water rights adjudication, interstate compacts, and tribal negotiations. We provide technical support for litigation and settlement agreements based on established legal frameworks like the Winters Doctrine.
What makes Stetson Engineers unique in the industry?
As one of California's oldest independent engineering firms, we combine 65+ years of water resources expertise with employee-owned commitment. Our staff includes recognized experts who've shaped western water law and policy through landmark projects.
Can Stetson assist with federal water projects?
Yes, we have extensive experience working with federal agencies including the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service, and Department of Justice. Our team manages multi-year contracts for water infrastructure and environmental compliance projects.
