Dr. David P. Ahlfeld, P.E.

Professor

College of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Massachusetts Amherst 12A Marston Hall
130 Natural Resources Road
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: (413) 545-2681
Fax: (413) 545-2202  

E-Mail: ahlfeld@ecs.umass.edu

Full Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

• Groundwater flow and contaminant transport
• Adaptation of water resource systems to a changing climate
• Water resources engineering
• Systems analysis, mathematical modeling and numerical methods

Education

Ph.D. Civil Engineering, Princeton University, 1987.
M.A. Civil Engineering, Princeton University, 1985.
B.S. Environmental Resources Engineering, Humboldt State University - Arcata, CA, 1983.

Registration

Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Connecticut, #20058

Experience

• Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, September 2004 to present
• Graduate Program Director, Environmental Engineering Program, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, June 2000 to July 2004
• Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, January 1998 to August 2004
• Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, September 1994 to January 1998
• Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Connecticut, January 1988 to August 1994
• Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering and Operations Research, Princeton University, Spring semester 1987 and Spring semester 1988
• Research Associate, Department of Civil Engineering and Operations Research, Princeton University, September 1986 to June 1988

Recent Papers Published

B. Towler, A. Hoar and D. Ahlfeld. Ecohydrology and Fish Passage Engineering: Legacy of Denil
and the Call for a More Inclusive Paradigm. "Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management", vol DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000185, 2012.

D.P. Ahlfeld and Y. Hoque, "Impact of Simulation Model Solver Performance on Groundwater Management Problems",  Ground Water, Vol 46, no. 5 September-October 2008, pgs 716-726.

D.P. Ahlfeld and G. Baro-Montes, “Solving Unconfined Groundwater Flow Management Problems with Successive Linear Programming”,  Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, Vol. 134, No. 5, September 1, 2008.

David Pulido-Velazquez, David Ahlfeld, Joaquin Andreu, Andres Sahuquillo, “Reducing the computational cost of unconfined groundwater flow in conjunctive-use models at basin scale assuming linear behaviour: The case of Adra-Campo de Dalias”, Journal of Hydrology Volume 353, Issues 1-2, , 20 May 2008, Pages 159-174.

D.M.L. Mas and D.P. Ahlfeld, “"Comparing artificial neural networks and regression models for predicting fecal coliform concentrations." Hydrologic Sciences Journal, August 2007, vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 713-731.

Russell Adams, David Ahlfeld, and Ashmita Sengupta,  "Investigating the Potential for Ongoing Pollution from an Abandoned Pyrite Mine", Mine Water and the Environment (2007) 26: 2-13

D.W. Ostendorf, E.S. Hinlein, D.P. Ahlfeld and J.T. DeJong, “Calibrated models of deicing agent solids, pavement texture, and specific conductivity of highway runoff”, Journal of Environmental Engineering, December 2006, Vol. 132(12), pgs 1562-1571.

M.G. Kennedy, D.P. Ahlfeld, D.P. Schmidt, J.E. Tobiason, “Three Dimensional Modeling for Estimation of Hydraulic Retention Time in a Reservoir”, Journal of Environmental Engineering, September 2006, Vol 132 (9), pgs 976-984.

Ahlfeld, D.A., Barlow, P.M., and Mulligan, A.E., 2005, GWM-A ground-water management process for the U.S. Geological Survey modular ground-water model (MODFLOW-2000): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1072, 124 p.

D.P. Ahlfeld, “Nonlinear Response of Streamflow to Groundwater Pumping For A Hydrologic Streamflow Model”, Advances in Water Resources, January 2004, Vol 27, pgs 349-360.

D.P. Ahlfeld and M. Minihane, “Storm Flow from First Flush Precipitation in Stormwater Design”, Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, July/August 2004, 130(4), pp 269-276. 

D. P. Ahlfeld, A. Joaquin, J.E. Tobiason and D. Mas, “Case Study: Impact of Reservoir Stratification on Interflow Travel Time”,   Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, December 2003,  Vol 129, No. 12, pp. 966-975.

Barlow, P.M., D.P. Ahlfeld, and D.C. Dickerman, “Conjunctive-Management Models for Sustained Yield of Stream-Aquifer Systems”, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, January-February 2003, Vol. 129, No. 1, pgs 35-48.

Recent Conference Proceedings

M. A. Laverty, D. P. Ahlfeld, J. E. Tobiason, “Three-dimensional numerical modeling of hydrodynamics and transport in the Wachusett Reservoir”, Proc. Of World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, ASCE, Providence, RI, May 16-20, 2010

C. L. Stauber, J.E. Tobiason, B. Sojkowski and D.P. Ahlfeld, “Two-Dimensional Modeling of Contaminant Spills to a Drinking Water Supply Reservoir”, Proc. Of World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, ASCE, Providence, RI, May 16-20, 2010

Kelcy Adamec, Richard N. Palmer, Austin Polebitski, David Ahlfeld, Scott Steinschneider, Brian Pitta, Casey Brown, “Evaluation of Climate Change Impacts to Reservoir Operations within the Connecticut River Basin”, Proc. Of World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, ASCE, Providence, RI, May 16-20, 2010

D.P. Ahlfeld and G. Baro-Montes, “Alternative Groundwater Management Algorithms for a Large-Scale Transient Problem”, Proc. of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, American Society of Civil Engineers, Tampa, FL, May 15-19, 2007.

Ahlfeld, D.P. (2006), Comparison of Climate Model Precipitation Forecasts with North American Observations, in Proceedings of the XVI International Conference on Computational Methods in Water Resources, edited by Philip J. Binning Peter Engesgaard, Helge Dahle, George F. Pinder and William G. Gray. Copenhagen, Denmark, June, 2006.

P.M. Barlow, D.P. Ahlfeld and G.E. Granato, “A Simulation-Optimization Model for Evaluation of Ground-Water Development Options Constrained by Minimum Streamflow Requirements and Water-Supply Demands”, Proc. of MODFLOW and More 2006: Managing Ground Water Systems, May 2006, Golden, Colorado.

D.R. Buttrick, J.E. Tobiason and D.P. Ahlfeld, “Modeling as an Operational Tool for an Unfiltered Surface Water Supply”, Proc. Of Amer. Water Works Assoc. ACE, June 2005, San Francisco, CA.

D.P. Ahlfeld, “Algorithm for Groundwater Management Formulations with Head Dependent Boundary Conditions”,  Proc. of XV International Conference on Computational Methods in Water Resources, June, 2004, Chapel Hill, NC., Editors, C.T. Miller, M.W. Farthing, W.G. Gray, G.F. Pinder, pgs 1193-1200.

D.P. Ahlfeld, “Solving Mixed-Binary Optimization Problems for Groundwater Management”, Proc. of the World Water and Environmental Resources Congress, American Society of Civil Engineers, Philadelphia, PA, June 23-26, 2003.

Recent Research Contracts Funded

D. Ahlfeld, Support for 2012 National Conference on Engineering & Ecohydrology for Fish Passage (NOAA), May 1, 2012 - September 30, 2012, $10,000.

D. Ahlfeld, Support for 2012 National Conference on Engineering & Ecohydrology for Fish Passage (USFWS), May 1, 2012 - September 30, 2012, $10,000.

Support for National Conference on Engineering & Ecohydrology for Fish Passage (NOAA), March 1, 2011 - September 30, 2011, $10,000.

D. Ahlfeld, Expansion of GWM Capabilities to Include New Features, US Geological Survey, Office of
Groundwater, January 28, 2011 - January 29, 2012, $7,500.

J. Tobiason, D., Ahlfeld, M-H., Park, D. Reckhow, Water Quality in Massachusetts Reservoirs: 2010-
2012, $249,897.

D. Ahlfeld, R. Palmer, Graduate Education and Research for Fish Passage Engineering, June 15, 2010 - September 30, 2014, $95,000.

R. Palmer, C. Brown, D. Ahlfeld, “Evaluating Reservoir Operations and the Impacts of Climate Change in the Connecticut River Basin”, The Nature Conservancy, April 1, 2009-December 31, 2011,  $352,134.

D. Ahlfeld, “Expansion of GWM Capabilities to Include New Features”, US Geological Survey, Office of Groundwater, January 30, 2009-January 30, 2010, $35,000.

J. Tobiason, D. Ahlfeld, D. Reckhow, “Water Quality in Massachusetts Reservoirs: 2008-2010”, MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2010, $249,560.

D. Ahlfeld, “Expansion of GWM Capabilities to Include State Variables”, US Geological Survey, Office of Groundwater, January 30, 2008-January 30, 2009, $30,000.

D. Reckhow, J. Tobiason, P. Rees, D. Ahlfeld, “Water Quality in Massachusetts Reservoirs: 2006-2008”, MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2008, $422,464.

D. Ahlfeld, “Integration of the Ground Water Management (GWM) Process into MODFLOW-2005 and Expansion of GWM Capabilities”, US Geological Survey, Office of Groundwater, January 30, 2007-January 30, 2008, $15,000.

D. Ahlfeld, “Nowcasting Tools to Predict Bacterially – Induced Beach Closings at Boston Harbor Beaches”, Massachusetts Environmental Trust, 7/1/07-6/30/09, $30,735.

D. Ahlfeld, “Groundwater-Surface Water Interface”, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (subcontract through the University of Connecticut), July 1, 2002 - June 30, 2007, $300,000.

D. Ahlfeld, “Groundwater-Surface Water Interface II”, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (subcontract through the University of Connecticut), July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2007, $270,000.

D. Ahlfeld, “Groundwater-Surface Water Interface III”, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (subcontract through the University of Connecticut), July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2007, $289,430.

 D. Ahlfeld, “Groundwater-Surface Water Interface IV”, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (subcontract through the University of Connecticut), July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2007, $85,000.

R.F. Yuretich, S.J. Ergas, K.R.L. Nusslein, A. Feldman, D. Ahlfeld, “Biogeochemistry of FE(III) and sulfate reduction in extreme acidic environments”, National Science Foundation, January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2007, $1,587,615.

Long, S., J. Tobiason, D. Ahlfeld, D. Reckhow, P. Rees, “Watershed Management and Drinking Water Supply Research Instrumentation”,  National Science Foundation, January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2006, $450,049.

D. Ahlfeld, J. Tobiason, S. Long, P. Rees, D. Reckhow, “Water Quality in Massachusetts Reservoirs: FY 2004”, Metropolitan District Commission, July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004, $153,017.

D. Ahlfeld, J. Tobiason, S. Long, P. Rees, D. Reckhow, “Water Quality in Massachusetts Reservoirs: FY 2004”, Metropolitan District Commission, July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004, $153,017.

S. Long, J. Tobiason, P. Rees, D. Reckhow, D. Ahlfeld, “Water Quality in Massachusetts Reservoirs: 2004-2006”, MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2006, $464,378.

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