Michael Cruikshank

Michael is a certified hydrogeologist with more than a decade of technical and project management experience.

Michael brings technical expertise in hydrogeologic basin analysis, water resource planning and evaluating water quality. He has managed projects in large stakeholder environments and assisted in the development of groundwater and surface water models that are used to make important water resource management decisions. His technical experience includes hydrologic data analysis, piezometric data collection and interpretation, production and monitoring well installation, well design, aquifer testing and analysis, managing field data collection programs, GIS applications, data management, data visualizations and report graphics.

On a personal note

It is a great time in California’s history to be working in the field of hydrogeology and water resource engineering with the passing and implementation of the historic Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). In addition to SGMA, the One Water approach that all water has value and should be managed in a sustainable, inclusive, and integrated way brings hydrogeologists and engineers together. I am passionate about sustainable water management and having a positive impact on the world through my daily work.

I knew from an early age that I wanted to pursue a career in science. As a child, when it would rain, I would race to the flood control channel near my house and watch the water rush through the culvert under the street to the other side of the channel and reflect on how fast and powerful water is. In my professional career I have spent quite a bit of time trying to estimate how much precipitation recharges groundwater basins through natural infiltration and artificial recharge.

My wife and I live in Orange County and stay busy raising three children. We love spending time exploring the outdoors with our family and weekend BBQs.