Rich D. Koehler
NBMG Associate Director
Professor
Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering
University of Nevada, Reno
Business telephone: (775) 682-8763
Fax: (775) 784-1709
E-mail: rkoehler@unr.edu
Education
• PhD, University of Nevada, Reno, 2009
• MS, Humboldt State University, 1997
• BA, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1992
Areas of Expertise
• Neotectonics, paleoseismology, earthquake geology
• Quaternary geology, stratigraphy, geomorphology, soils
• Engineering geology, geologic hazard assessment
• Seismic source characterization
• Extensive field experience in Nevada, California, and Alaska
Professional Work Experience
• Associate Director (2025-date), Professor (2025-date), Associate Professor (2021-2025), Assistant Professor (2015-2020), Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, University of Nevada
• Senior Earthquake Geologist, State of Alaska, Dept. of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
(2009-2015)
• Research Assistant, Center for Neotectonic Studies (2004–2009)
• William Lettis & Associates, Inc., Walnut Creek, CA, Project Geologist (1999–2004)
• US Geological Survey, project paleoseismologist, Puget Sound, Wa (1998–2003)
Additional Information
A full list of publications, abstracts, technical reports (NEHRP), and other pertinent information can be found in my cumulative resume here.
A shortened curriculum vitae can be downloaded here.
Selected Publications
*indicates student working under my direction
*Pierce, I. and Koehler, R.D., (2023), 3D paleoseismology from iOS lidar and Structure from Motion
photogrammetry: a case study on the Dog Valley fault, California, Seismica, 2(1),
https://doi.org/10.26443/seismica.v2i1.208.
Pierce, I., Mukambayev, A., Abdrakhamatov, K., Rakhmedinov, E., Koehler, R.D., Marshall, N., and
Walker, R. (submitted), Assessment of Geothermal Resources in Kyrgyzstan and Southeast
Kazakhstan, Geothermics
Haeussler, P., Bender, A., Powers, P. Koehler, R.D., and Brothers, D., (submitted), Updating the crustal
seismic sources for the 2023 National Seismic Hazard Model for Alaska, American Geophysical
Union Monograph.
Koehler, R.D., 2022, Lidar mapping and field observations along the Mount Callaghan faults, central
Nevada, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File report 2022-10.
Hatem, A.E., Collett, C.M., Briggs, R.W., Gold, R.D., Angster, S.J., Field, E.H., Powers, P.M., and
Earthquake Geology Working Group, 2022, Simplifying complex fault geometries
for systems-level analysis: Earthquake geology inputs for the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model
2023, Scientific Data, v.9, p. 506.
*Chupik, C., Koehler, R.D., and Keen-Zebert, A., 2022, Quaternary mapping, and paleoseismic
investigation of the Warm Springs Valley fault, northern Walker Lane, Nevada- northern California,
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, v. 112, no. 1, 575-596.
Koehler, R.D., S. Dee, A. Elliott, A. Hatem, A. Pickering, I. Pierce, G. Seitz, 2021, Field response and
surface rupture characteristics of the 2020 M6.5 Monte Cristo Mountains earthquake, central Walker
Lane, Nevada: Seismological Research Letters, v. 92, 823-839.
Reger, RD., Hubbard, T.D., and Koehler, R.D., 2021, Surficial geology and geohazards in the Alaska
Highway Corridor, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Professional Report
124, 149 p., 18 sheets, scale 1:63,360.
Cabas, A., Beyzaei, C., Stuedlein, A., Franke, K.W., Koehler, R.D., Zimmaro, P., Wood, C., Christie, S.,
Yang, Z., and Lorenzo-Velazquez, C., 2021, Geotechnical lessons learned from the M7.1 2018
Anchorage Alaska earthquake, Earthquake Spectra.
*Chupik, C., Koehler, R.D., and Keen-Zebert, A., 2021, Quaternary mapping, and paleoseismic
investigation of the Warm Springs Valley fault, northern Walker Lane, Nevada- northern California,
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (accepted June 9, 2021).
*De Masi, C., Koehler, R.D., Dee, S., Keen-Zebert, A., 2021, Early development of strike-slip faulting:
Paleoseismic study along the Petersen Mountain fault, northern Walker Lane, Nevada, Journal of
Quaternary Science, v. 36, no. 3, p. 403-414.
Koehler, R.D., 2020, Assessment of potentially active faults in the northwestern Livengood
quadrangle, Alaska, State of Alaska, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Report of
Investigation, 2020-4, 35 p.
Pierce, I.*, Williams, A., Koehler, R.D., and Chupik, C., 2020, High resolution structure-from-motion
models and orthophotos of the southern sections of the 2019 Mw7.1 and Mw6.4 Ridgecrest,
earthquakes surface ruptures, Seismological Research Letters, 91, 4, 2124-2126.
Koehler, R.D., Reger, R.D., Spangler, E.R., and Hubbard, T.D., 2019, Assessment of geomorphology
and geologic hazards in the Parks Highway-Minto Flats-Dalton Highway infrastructure corridor: Cook
Inlet to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Report of
Investigation 2019-8, 82 p., 4 sheets.
Wong, I., Thomas, P., Koehler, R.D., and Lewandowski, N., 2019, Assessing the seismic hazards in
Jamaica incorporating geodetic and Quaternary fault data, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of
America, vol. 109, no. 2, pp. 716-731.
Anderson, J.G., Koehler, R.D., and 22 others, 2019, A seismic hazards overview of the urban regions
of Nevada: Recent advancements and research directions, Seismological Research Letters, v. 90, no
4, pp. 1577-1583.
Koehler, R.D., 2019, Active faulting in the North Valleys region of Reno, Nevada: A distributed zone
within the northern Walker Lane, Geomorphology special volume on paleoseismology,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2018.09.015
Koehler, R.D., and Chupik, C.M., 2018, Subsurface trenching investigation in support of the Barrick
Goldstrike N. Carlin Trend Structure Project, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report
18-2, 18 p.
Koehler, R.D., Carver, G.A., and Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission, 2018, Active faults and
Seismic Hazards in Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Miscellaneous
Publication MP 160, 59 p.
Koehler, R.D., Reger, R.D., Spangler, R.R., and Hubbard, T.D., 2018, Assessment of geomorphology
and geologic hazards in the Parks Highway-Minto Flats-Dalton Highway infrastructure corridor:
Cook Inlet to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Report of
Investigation 2018-7, 79 p.
Koehler, R.D., 2017, Castle Mountain fault, southcentral Alaska: Observations on slip partitioning
from lidar and paleoseismic trenching, pp. 206-209, In: Clark, K.J., Upton, P., Langridge, R., Kelly,
K., Hammond, K, 2017, Proceedings of the 8th International INQUA Meeting on Paleoseismology,
Active Tectonics, and Archeoseismology, Handbook and Programme, 13–16 November, 2017, Lower
Hutt (NZ): GNS Science Miscellaneous Series 110, 441 p., doi: 10.21420/G2H061
Koehler, R.D., 2016, Reconnaissance geologic observations along the Petersen Mountain fault zone
northwest of Reno, Nevada, U.S.A., In: McCalpin, J.P., and Gruetzner, C. (eds.), 2016, Proceedings
of the 7th International INQUA meeting on paleoseismology, active tectonics, and
archeoseismology, INQUA-TERPRO Commission, ISBN 978-0-9974355-2-8, Published digitally by
the Crestone Science Center, Crestone, CO 81131 USA, Guidebook No. 12.
Koehler, R.D., Reger, R.D., and Spangler, E., and Gould, A.I., 2016, Investigation of potentially
active tectonic faults along the route of the proposed ASAP pipeline, Livengood to Anchorage,
Alaska, State of Alaska, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation
2015-4, 71 p.
Koehler, R.D., Reger, R.D., Sicard, K., and Spangler, E., 2013, Yukon River bridge landslide: geologic
and Geotechnical Evaluation, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Preliminary
Interpretive Report, PIR 2013-6.
Koehler, R.D., and Woods, R-E, 2013, Paleoseismic and lidar investigations along the Cathedral
Rapids and Dot “T” Johnson faults, Interior Alaska: Report of Investigations 2013-4, Alaska,
Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys.
Koehler, R.D., 2013, Alaska’s Quaternary Faults and Folds (QFF): Digital Data Series DDS 3, Alaska
Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, AK, USA.
Koehler, R.D., Burns, P.A.C, and Weakland, J., 2013, Digitized faults of the Neotectonic map of
Alaska (Plafker and others, 1994), Miscellaneous Publication MP150, Alaska Division of Geological
& Geophysical Surveys.
Koehler, R.D., Mann, P., Prentice, C.S., Grandison-Wiggins, M., Bedford, B., and Brown, L., 2013,
The Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault in Jamaica: paleoseismology and seismic hazard, Bulletin of
the Seismological Society of America, v. 103, issue 2a, p. 971–983.
Koehler, R.D., and Carver, G.A., 2012, Active and potentially active faults along the Alaska Highway
corridor, Tetlin Junction to the Canada border, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys,
Preliminary Interpretive Report, PIR 2012-2.
Koehler, R.D., Farrell, R-E, Burns, P., and Combellick, R., 2012, Quaternary faults and folds of
Alaska: A digital database, Miscellaneous Publication MP 141, Alaska Division of Geological and
Geophysical surveys.
Koehler, R.D., and Wesnousky, S,G., 2011, Late Pleistocene regional extension rate derived from
earthquake geology of late Quaternary faults across Great Basin, Nevada between 38.50 and
400 N latitude, Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 123, no. 3-4, p. 631–650.
Koehler, R.D., and Reger, R.D., 2011, Reconnaissance evaluation of the Lake Clark fault, Tyonek
area, Alaska, Preliminary Interpretive Report 2011-1, Alaska Division of Geological and
Geophysical Surveys.
Koehler, R.D., and Mann, P., 2011, Field observations from the 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake:
Implications for seismic hazards and future post-earthquake reconnaissance investigations in
Alaska, Report of Investigations 2011-2, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys.
Koehler, R.D., Personius, S.F., Haeussler, P.J., Schwarz, D., and Seitz, G., 2011, A paleoseismic
study along the central Denali fault, Chistochina Glacier area, south-central Alaska, Report of
Investigation 2011-1, Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.
Witter, R.C., Briggs, R., Engelhart, S.E., Gelfenbaum, G., Koehler, R.D., Nelson, A., LaSelle, S.,
Corbett, R., and Wallace, K., 2018, Evidence for frequent large tsunamis that spans the boundary
between a locked and currently creeping Aleutian megathrust, Geological Society of America
Bulletin Nicolsky, D.J., Freymueller, J.T., Witter, R.C., Suleimani, E.N., Koehler, R.D., 2016,
Evidence for shallow megathrust slip across the Unalaska seismic gap during the great 1957
Andreanof Island earthquake, central Aleutian Islands, Alaska, Geophysical Research Letters.
Witter, R.C., Carver, G.A., Briggs, R., Gelfenbaum, G., Koehler, R.D., La Selle, S.P., Bender, A.,
Engelhart, S.E., and Hemphill-Haley, E., 2015, Unusually large tsunamis frequent a currently
creeping part of the Aleutian megathrust, Geophysical Research Letters, v. 43, Issue 1, p. 76–84.
Reger, R.D., Stevens, D.S.P., and Koehler, R.D., 2015, Surficial geology of the Tyonek area, south-
central Tyonek Quadrangle, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Report of
Investigations 2015-7, 38 p. 1 sheet, scale 1:63,360. doi 10.14509/29471
Christophersen, A., Litchfield, N., Berryman, K, Thomas, R., Pagani, M., Henshaw, P., Wyss, B.,
Wallace, L., Ries, W, Hayes, G., Haller, K., Toshikazu, Y., Koehler, R.D., Clark, D.,
Wolfson-Schwehr, M., Boettcher, M., Villamor, P., Horspool, N., Ornthammarath, T., Zuniga, R.,
Langridge, R., Stirlig, M., Goded, T., Basili, R., Stein, R., Costa, C., Yeats, R., 2015, Development
of the Global Earthquake Model’s neotectonic fault database, Natural Hazards.
Witter, R.C., Briggs, R.W., Engelhart, S.E., Gelfenbaum, G., Koehler, R.D., and Barnhart, W., 2014,
Little late Holocene strain accumulation and release on the Aleutian megathrust below the
Shumagin Islands, Alaska, Geophysical Research Letters, 41.
Bemis, S., Carver, G.A., and Koehler, R.D., 2012, The Quaternary thrust system of the Northern
Alaska Range, Geosphere, v. 8, no. 1, p. 1–10, doi: 10.1130/GES00695.1, 6 figures, 1 table.
DuRoss, C.B., de Polo, C.M., Koehler, R.D., Bowman, S.D., McDonald, G.N., and Shaw, L.M., 2011,
Immediate Scientific Response to the 2008 Wells, Nevada, Earthquake, In: de Polo, C.M. and
LaPointe, D.D., 2011, The 21 February 2008 Mw 6.0 Wells, Nevada Earthquake, Nevada Bureau of
Mines and Geology special Publication 36.
Koehler, R.D., 2010, Technical review of a trench across a potential fault scarp feature east of
Lower Talarik Creek, Lake Iliamna area, southwestern Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological &
Geophysical Surveys, Miscellaneous Publication 139.
Prentice, C., Mann, P., Crone, A.J., Gold, R.D., Hudnut, K.W., Briggs, R.W., Koehler, R.D., Jean, P.,
2010, Seismic hazard of the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault in Haiti inferred from paleoseismology,
Nature Geoscience, v. 3, p. 789–793.
Geo-Engineering Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER), 2010, Contributing Authors: Rathje, E.,
Bachhuber, J., Cox, B., French, J., Green, R., Olson, S., Rix, G., Wells, D., Suncar, O., Harp, E.,
Mann, P., and Koehler, R., Geotechnical Engineering Reconnaissance of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake,
version 1, Report of the National Science Foundation-Sponsored GEER team.
Turner, R., Koehler, R.D., Briggs, R.W., and Wesnousky, S.G., 2008, Paleoseismic and slip rate
observations along the Honey Lake Fault, northeastern California, Bulletin of the Seismological
Society of America, Vo. 98, No. 4.
Kelson, K.I., A.R. Streig, R.D. Koehler, and Keng-Hao Kang, 2006, Timing of Late Holocene
Paleoearthquakes on the Northern San Andreas Fault at the Fort Ross Orchard Site, Sonoma
County, California, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 96, p. 1012–1028.
Johnson, S.Y., A.R. Nelson, S.F. Personius, R.E. Wells, H.M. Kelsey, B.L. Sherrod, K. Okumura, R.
Koehler, III, R. Witter, L. Bradley, and D.J. Harding, 2004, Evidence for late Holocene earthquakes
on the Utsalady Point fault, northern Puget Lowland, Washington, Bulletin of the Seismological
Society of America, V. 94, No. 6.
Nelson, A.R., Johnson S.Y., Kelsey, H.M., Wells, R.E., Sherrod, B.L., Pezzopane, S.K., Bradley, L.A.,
Koehler, R.D., and Bucknam, R.C., 2003, Late Holocene Earthquakes on the Toe Jam Hill Fault,
Seattle Fault Zone, Bainbridge Island, Washinghton, Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 115,
no. 11, p. 1388–1403.Selected Geologic Maps
Faulds, J.E., Koehler, R.D., Dellerman, N.P., and Green, H., 2022, Geologic map of the Parran
quadrangle, Churchill County, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 2022-
02, scale 1:24,000, 4 p.
Reger, RD., Hubbard, T.D., and Koehler, R.D., 2021, Surficial geology and geohazards in the Alaska
Highway Corridor, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Professional Report
124, 149 p., 18 sheets, scale 1:63,360.
Faulds, J.E., Koehler, R.D., and Henry, C.D., 2021, Preliminary geologic map of the south half of the
Verdi quadrangle, Washoe County, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report
21-3, scale 1:24,000, 4 p.
Carlson, C.W., Koehler, R.D., and Henry, C.D., 2019, Preliminary geologic map of the Washoe City
quadrangle, Washoe County Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 19-4,
scale 1:24,000, 7 p.
Delattre, M.P. and Koehler, R.D., 2009, Geologic map of the Camp Meeker 7.5’ Quadrangle, Sonoma
County, California: A digital database, Version 1.0, California Geological Survey Preliminary Geologic
Delattre, M.P., and Koehler, R.D., 2008, Geologic Map of the Sebastopol 7.5’ quadrangle, Sonoma
County, California: A digital database: California Geological Survey Preliminary Geologic Map Witter, R.C., Knudsen, K.L., Sowers, J.M., Wentworth, C.M., Koehler, R.D., and Randolph C.E. with
digital database by Wentworth, C.M, Brooks, S.K., and Gans, K.D., 2006, Maps of Quaternary
Deposits and Liquefaction Susceptibility in the Central San Francisco Bay Region, California, U.S.
Geological Survey, Open-File Report 2006-1037, Version 1.1. Bezore, S.P., Koehler, R.D., and Witter, R.C., 2003, Geologic Map of the Two Rock 7.5’ Quadrangle
Sonoma County, California: A Digital Database, Version 1.0, California Geological Survey Preliminary
Geologic Map, scale 1:24,000.
Clahan, K.B., Bezore, S.P., Koehler, R.D., and Witter, R.C., 2003, Geologic Map of the Cotati 7.5’
Quadrangle Sonoma County, California: A Digital Database, Version 1.0, California Geological Survey
Preliminary Geologic Map, scale 1:24,000.
Tsunami inundation publications
Suleimani, E.N., Salisbury, J.B., Nicolsky, D.J., and Koehler, R.D., 2019, Regional tsunami hazard
assessment for selected communities on Kodiak Island, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and
Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigation 2019-6, 31 p., 7 sheets.
Suleimani, E.N., Salisbury, J.B., Nicolsky, D.J., and Koehler, R.D., 2019, Regional tsunami hazard
assessment for communities on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and
Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigation 2019-5, 20 p., 3 sheets.
Suleimani, E.N., Nicolsky, D.J., and Koehler, R.D., Salisbury, J.B., 2018, Regional tsunami hazards
assessment for Andreanof Islands, Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological and
Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation 2017-2, 19 p., 2 sheets.
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., and Koehler, R.D., 2017, Tsunami inundation maps for the city of
Sand Point, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigation
2017-3, 61 p., 4 sheets, scale 1:15,000.
Suleimani, E.N., Nicolsky, D.J., and Koehler, R.D., 2017, Updated tsunami inundation maps of the
Kodiak area, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigation
2017-8, 38 p., 10 sheets.
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., Koehler, R.D., and Salisbury, J.B. 2017, Tsunami inundation maps
for Juneau, Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation
2017-9, 66 p., 5 sheets.
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., and Koehler, R.D., 2016, Tsunami inundation map of the village of
Nikolski, Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation
2016-7, 34 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:25,000.
Suleimani, E.N., Nicolsky, D.J., Koehler, R.D., Freymueller, F.T., and Macpherson, A.E., 2016,
Tsunami inundation maps of King Cove and Cold Bay communities, Alaska, Alaska Division of
Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation 2016-1, 73 p., 2 sheets, scale 1:63,360.
Suleimani, E.N., Nicolsky, D.J., and Koehler, R.D., 2016, Tsunami inundation maps of Yakutat,
Alaska, Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation
2016-2, 47 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:10,000.
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., and Koehler, R.D., 2016, Tsunami inundation maps for the
communities of Chignik and Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical
Surveys Report of Investigation 2016-8, 48 p., 2 sheets, scale 1:12,500.
Newell, J.T., Maurits, S.A., Suleimani, E.N., Koehler, R.D., and Nicolsky, D.J., 2015, Tsunami
inundation maps for Alaska communities: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
Digital Data Series 10.
Suleimani, E.N., Nicolsky, D.J., and Koehler, R.D., 2015, Tsunami inundation maps of Elfin Cove,
Gustavus, and Hoonah, Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Report of
Investigation 2015-1.
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., Freymueller, J.T., and Koehler, R.D., 2015 Tsunami inundation maps
of Fox Islands communities, including Dutch Harbor and Akutan, Alaska, Alaska Division of
Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation 2015-5, 67 p., 2 sheets, scale 1:12,500.
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., and Koehler, R.D., 2014, Tsunami inundation maps of Cordova and
Tatitlek, Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation
2014-1.
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., and Koehler, R.D., 2014, Tsunami inundation maps of the village of
Chenega Bay and northern Sawmill Bay, Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical
Surveys, Report of Investigation 2014-3A.
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., Haeussler, P.J., Ryan, H.F., Koehler, R.D., Combellick, R.A., and
Hansen, R.A., 2013, Tsunami inundation maps of Port Valdez, Alaska, Alaska Division of Geological &
Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation 2013-1, 77 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:12,500.
Suleimani, E.N., Nicolsky, D.J., and Koehler, R.D., 2013, Tsunami inundation maps of Sitka, Alaska,
Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Report of Investigation 2013-3, 76 p.,
1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
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