Jaime Kostelnik is a geologist in the Landslide Hazards Program in Golden, CO
Professional Experience
Geologist, USGS, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Golden, CO (2020-Present)
Senior Geologist/Petrographer, Weatherford Laboratories, Golden, CO (2011-2020)
Geologist, Pennsylvania Geological Survey, Pittsburgh, PA (2002-2011)
Education and Certifications
Graduate Certificate, GIS, University of Denver, Denver, CO (2021)
M.S., Geology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH (2001)
B.S, Geology, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA (1999)
Science and Products
Columbia River Gorge Landslides
Extreme rainfall during two atmospheric river events in January 2021 and January 2022 triggered a series of debris flows in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. The flows had significant impacts, including multiple highway closures and one fatality. This story map highlights rainfall data and observations of debris flow deposits by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)...
Northern and Central California Debris Flows - January 2021
An atmospheric river (AR) moved into California late on the evening of January 26, 2021, bringing intermittent heavy rainfall that resulted in flooding, debris flows, and heavy snowfall at high elevations.
Cameron Peak, Colorado, Fire: Flooding and Debris Flows - July 20, 2021
On Thursday, August 13, 2020, at approximately 1:45 PM MDT, the Cameron Peak fire was reported in steep, rugged terrain 15 miles southwest of Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, near Cameron Pass. The fire spread rapidly due to extreme temperatures, strong winds, and high fuel loads. The largest wildfire in Colorado history, the Cameron Peak fire burned 845 square kilometers (sq km) on the Arapaho and...
Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, Flooding and Debris Flows: 2021
Summer storms on the Grizzly Creek burn area have resulted in repeated flooding and debris flows that are having enormous impacts in Glenwood Canyon. This Story Map collection summarizes the June and July events.
Bond Fire Debris Flows, California: January 25 and 28, 2021
On Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at approximately 10:15 PM PST, the Bond wildfire ignited in Orange County, California, burning partially within the Cleveland Forest, near Silverado Canyon just north of the area burned by the October 2020 Silverado fire. The fire burned 27 square kilometers (sq km) prior to containment on December 10, 2020 (CalFire). Fuels were primarily chaparral, brush, and tall...
Tadpole Fire Debris Flows, New Mexico: July and September 2020
On Saturday, June 6, 2020 at approximately 1:45 PM MDT, the Tadpole wildfire ignited in the Gila National Forest, approximately 19 kilometers (km) north of Silver City, Grant County, New Mexico. The fire burned 45 square kilometers prior to containment in early July, 2020 (Inciweb). Fuels were primarily timber with grass understory, brush, and chaparral. The Brush, Bringham, and Bighorn fires in...
Woodbury Fire, Arizona Debris Flows - September 2019
On Saturday, June 8, 2019 at approximately 1:30 PM MST, the Woodbury wildfire ignited approximately 8 kilometers (km) northwest of Superior, Arizona. The 7th largest wildfire in Arizona’s recorded history, the fire burned 501 km2 prior to containment on July 15, 2019. The fire occurred within the Superstition Wilderness of the Tonto National Forest. The wilderness area extends from the...
Emergency Assessment of Post-Fire Debris-Flow Hazards
Estimates of the probability and volume of debris flows that may be produced by a storm in a recently burned area, using a model with characteristics related to basin shape, burn severity, soil properties, and rainfall. Wildfire can significantly alter the hydrologic response of a watershed to the extent that even modest rainstorms can produce dangerous flash floods and debris flows. The USGS...
Science and Products
- Science
Columbia River Gorge Landslides
Extreme rainfall during two atmospheric river events in January 2021 and January 2022 triggered a series of debris flows in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. The flows had significant impacts, including multiple highway closures and one fatality. This story map highlights rainfall data and observations of debris flow deposits by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)...Northern and Central California Debris Flows - January 2021
An atmospheric river (AR) moved into California late on the evening of January 26, 2021, bringing intermittent heavy rainfall that resulted in flooding, debris flows, and heavy snowfall at high elevations.Cameron Peak, Colorado, Fire: Flooding and Debris Flows - July 20, 2021
On Thursday, August 13, 2020, at approximately 1:45 PM MDT, the Cameron Peak fire was reported in steep, rugged terrain 15 miles southwest of Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, near Cameron Pass. The fire spread rapidly due to extreme temperatures, strong winds, and high fuel loads. The largest wildfire in Colorado history, the Cameron Peak fire burned 845 square kilometers (sq km) on the Arapaho and...Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, Flooding and Debris Flows: 2021
Summer storms on the Grizzly Creek burn area have resulted in repeated flooding and debris flows that are having enormous impacts in Glenwood Canyon. This Story Map collection summarizes the June and July events.Bond Fire Debris Flows, California: January 25 and 28, 2021
On Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at approximately 10:15 PM PST, the Bond wildfire ignited in Orange County, California, burning partially within the Cleveland Forest, near Silverado Canyon just north of the area burned by the October 2020 Silverado fire. The fire burned 27 square kilometers (sq km) prior to containment on December 10, 2020 (CalFire). Fuels were primarily chaparral, brush, and tall...Tadpole Fire Debris Flows, New Mexico: July and September 2020
On Saturday, June 6, 2020 at approximately 1:45 PM MDT, the Tadpole wildfire ignited in the Gila National Forest, approximately 19 kilometers (km) north of Silver City, Grant County, New Mexico. The fire burned 45 square kilometers prior to containment in early July, 2020 (Inciweb). Fuels were primarily timber with grass understory, brush, and chaparral. The Brush, Bringham, and Bighorn fires in...Woodbury Fire, Arizona Debris Flows - September 2019
On Saturday, June 8, 2019 at approximately 1:30 PM MST, the Woodbury wildfire ignited approximately 8 kilometers (km) northwest of Superior, Arizona. The 7th largest wildfire in Arizona’s recorded history, the fire burned 501 km2 prior to containment on July 15, 2019. The fire occurred within the Superstition Wilderness of the Tonto National Forest. The wilderness area extends from the...Emergency Assessment of Post-Fire Debris-Flow Hazards
Estimates of the probability and volume of debris flows that may be produced by a storm in a recently burned area, using a model with characteristics related to basin shape, burn severity, soil properties, and rainfall. Wildfire can significantly alter the hydrologic response of a watershed to the extent that even modest rainstorms can produce dangerous flash floods and debris flows. The USGS... - Multimedia
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