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Kevin Schmidt

Kevin Schmidt is a Research Geologist at the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. Kevin received a MSc and a PhD in Geological Sciences from the University of Washington. Since joining the USGS in 1989, he has devoted his career to studying geomorphology and Quaternary studies and specializes in landslide geology and geologic mapping. 

Kevin researches geomorphic processes and rates ranging from slope stability and erosion in post-fire steeplands to Quaternary tectonic deformation. He uses Quaternary geologic mapping to elucidate research topics in the contexts of geologic and tectonic evolution, hydrologic routing and storage, vegetation cover and root reinforcement, and landscape recovery from disturbance.

Presently, his research focuses on interpreting the geologic history of Channel Islands National Park.

 

Professional Experience

  • 1989-1991, 1997-Current, Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Geological Sciences, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, 1999

  • M.Sc., Geological Sciences, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, 1994

  • B.Sc., Geology and Geophysics, Univ. of California, Berkeley, 1989

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • 2013-present, ecorisQ- International Association for Natural Hazard Risk Management, U.S. Federal Liaison

  • 1999-present, Geological Society of America

  • 1991-present, American Geophysical Union

  • National Park Service

  • California Geological Survey

Science and Products

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Colored map of Quaternary geology of Santa Cruz Island

GeoMapping for Integrated Science

This project uses geologic and geomorphic mapping in the context of societally relevant problems in the Earth’s critical zone. Leveraging interdisciplinary research ties and interagency collaborations, it utilizes remote sensing data, corroborated with field observations, to determine i) the spatial distribution of geomorphic processes and ages of Quaternary deposits in the context of active...
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Earthquake Hazards Program, Landslide Hazards Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Earthquake Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
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GeoMapping for Integrated Science

This project uses geologic and geomorphic mapping in the context of societally relevant problems in the Earth’s critical zone. Leveraging interdisciplinary research ties and interagency collaborations, it utilizes remote sensing data, corroborated with field observations, to determine i) the spatial distribution of geomorphic processes and ages of Quaternary deposits in the context of active...
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Root thread strength, landslide headscarp geometry, and observed root characteristics at the monitored CB1 landslide, Oregon, USA

This data release supports interpretations of field-observed root distributions within a shallow landslide headscarp (CB1) located below Mettman Ridge within the Oregon Coast Range, approximately 15 km northeast of Coos Bay, Oregon, USA. (Schmidt_2021_CB1_topo_far.png and Schmidt_2021_CB1_topo_close.png). Root species, diameter (greater than or equal to 1 mm), general orientation relative to the s
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National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Field measurements of rainfall and soil moisture data used to support understanding of infiltration and runoff following the 2007 Canyon Fire, Malibu, CA, USA

This data release includes information used to support interpretations of relations between precipitation and soil moisture for a U.S. Geological Survey post-fire monitoring array installed near Malibu, CA following the 2007 Canyon fire. The 3 datasets are: 1) a time series of precipitation from three tipping bucket rain gages in individual files (Schmidt_2020_CANVQRG1.csv, Schmidt_2020_CANVQRG2.c
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National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Filter Total Items: 38

From data to interpretable models: Machine learning for soil moisture forecasting

Soil moisture is critical to agricultural business, ecosystem health, and certain hydrologically driven natural disasters. Monitoring data, though, is prone to instrumental noise, wide ranging extrema, and nonstationary response to rainfall where ground conditions change. Furthermore, existing soil moisture models generally forecast poorly for time periods greater than a few hours. To improve such
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, National Innovation Center

Comparing root cohesion estimates from three models at a shallow landslide in the Oregon Coast Range

Although accurate root cohesion model estimates are essential to quantify the effect of vegetation roots on shallow slope stability, few means exist to independently validate such model outputs. One validation approach for cohesion estimates is back-calculation of apparent root cohesion at a landslide site with well-documented failure conditions. The catchment named CB1, near Coos Bay, Oregon, USA
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

When hazard avoidance is not an option: Lessons learned from monitoring the postdisaster Oso landslide, USA

On 22 March 2014, a massive, catastrophic landslide occurred near Oso, Washington, USA, sweeping more than 1 km across the adjacent valley flats and killing 43 people. For the following 5 weeks, hundreds of workers engaged in an exhaustive search, rescue, and recovery effort directly in the landslide runout path. These workers could not avoid the risks posed by additional large-scale slope collaps
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Landslide Hazards Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Volcano Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Volcano Science Center

Implementation plan for the southern Pacific Border and Sierra-Cascade Mountains provinces

IntroductionThe National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) is publishing a strategic plan titled Renewing the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program as the Nation’s Authoritative Source for Modern Geologic Knowledge (Brock and others, in press). The plan provides a vision, mission, and goals for the program during the years 2020–2030, which are:Vision.—Create an integrated, three
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National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Renewing the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program as the Nation’s authoritative source for modern geologic knowledge

This document presents the renewed vision, mission, and goals for the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP). The NCGMP, as authorized by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-285, 106 Stat. 166 and its reauthorizations), is tasked with expediting the production of a geologic database for the Nation based on modern geologic maps and their supporting d
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National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Influence of pre-existing structure on pluton emplacement and geomorphology: The Merrimac plutons, northern Sierra Nevada, California (USA)

In much of the western Cordillera of North America, the geologic framework of crustal structure generated in the Mesozoic leaves an imprint on later plutonic emplacement, subsequent structural setting, and present landscape morphology. The Merrimac plutons in the northern Sierra Nevada (California, USA) are a good example of the influence of pre-existing structure at a larger scale. This paper upd
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National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Ten-million years of activity within the Eastern California Shear Zone from U-Pb dating of fault-zone opal

Reconstructions of long-term fault activity are essential for understanding both the mechanisms controlling fault behavior and accurate earthquake hazard assessments. Increasing evidence for temporal variations in strain accumulation suggests non-uniform strain rates over a range of historic to geologic timescales. The paucity of long-term records of fault activity has limited our ability to resol
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Characterizing the catastrophic 2017 Mud Creek Landslide, California, using repeat Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry

Along the rugged coast of Big Sur, California, the Mud Creek landslide failed catastrophically on May 20, 2017 and destroyed over 400 m of scenic California State Highway 1. We collected structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry data using airborne platforms that, when combined with existing airborne lidar data, revealed that the area exhibited significant topographic change and displacement befo

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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Landslide Hazards Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Hunting for landslides from Cascadia's great earthquakes

No abstract available.
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National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Control of landslide volume and hazard by glacial stratigraphic architecture, Northwest Washington state, USA

Landslide volumes span many orders of magnitude, but large-volume slides tend to travel farther and consequently can pose a greater hazard. In northwest Washington State, USA, a landscape abounding with landslides big and small, the recent occurrence of the large-volume and tragically deadly State Route 530 (Oso) landslide is a stark reminder of the hazards associated with glacial terraces lining
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Landslide Hazards Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Analysis of the age and paleomagnetic orientation of the Broadwell Mesa Basalt, Bristol Mountains, CA

To add to the regional paleomagnetic data documenting block rotation in eastern California, we determined the age and paleomagnetic rotation of the Broadwell Mesa basalt, a basalt in the Bristol Mountains, CA as part of an effort to constrain the timing and rotation of blocks adjacent to the fault. The east-striking sinistral Broadwell Mesa fault cuts and separates the basalt into two outcrops. An
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Active tectonics of the northern Mojave Desert: The 2017 Desert Symposium field trip road log

The 2017 Desert Symposium field trip will highlight recent work by the U.S. Geological Survey geologists and geophysicists, who have been mapping young sediment and geomorphology associated with active tectonic features in the least well-known part of the eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ). This area, stretching from Barstow eastward in a giant arc to end near the Granite Mountains on the south
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
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LA Times story about Big Sur landslide features quotes, imagery from USGS

USGS geologists Jon Warrick and Kevin Schmidt are quoted in a November 9, 2017 Los Angeles Times story.

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USGS Monitors Huge Landslides on California's Big Sur Coast, Shares Information with California Department of Transportation

On May 20, 2017, more than 2 million cubic meters of rock and dirt—enough to fill a line of dump trucks nearly a thousand miles long—collapsed down...

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Science and Products

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government