David F. Boutt

David F. Boutt is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He leads the Boutt Hydrology Group and holds several leadership roles, including Program Head of the 1-year Hydrogeology (MS) Program, Co-Director of the Environmental Science Program, and Major Coordinator for the Department of Geosciences.

His research focuses on the subsurface component of the hydrologic cycle, with an emphasis on groundwater recharge, discharge, and its contribution to streamflow and springs. He investigates regional water availability across geologic time and employs isotopic and geochemical tracers to understand hydrological processes.

• Lithium & Arid Hydrology: Studies hydrogeology of salar and brine systems in Chile, Argentina, and the U.S. Great Basin, focusing on lithium enrichment processes.
• North-East Hydrology & Climate Change: Assesses climate change impacts on New England’s hydrological cycle, including precipitation, evaporation, and subsurface storage.
• Isotopic & Geochemical Tracers: Uses environmental tracers to constrain residence times and isotopic composition of waters, supported by funding from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust.
• Advanced Groundwater Modeling: Applies quantitative models to test hydrological hypotheses and predict impacts such as saltwater intrusion and groundwater flooding.

His work has been featured in the Washington Post and Environmental Monitor, and he collaborates on international projects in Japan, Tobago, Chile, and Argentina. Research is funded by programs such as the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Project.

Dr. Boutt advises graduate students and leads a dynamic research group integrating fieldwork, modeling, and remote sensing. He is actively involved in academic leadership and research innovation.