Research


My research is focused on the geomorphology, hydrology, and climate of the Four Corners area.

At Fort Lewis College, I have built a student-centered research program wherein undergraduates get hands-on experience doing original research on a variety of topics with real, impactful applications. Active research themes include (but are not limited to):
-Mapping and interpreting ancient and new landslides in the San Juan Mountains
-Monitoring fluvial geomorphology in regional rivers, particularly the Animas, San Juan, and Dolores Rivers
-Reconstructing environmental change over the late Pleistocene and Holocene
-Using new satellite-based platforms for remote sensing of landscape change over human timescales

I am also interested in weather and climate of the Four Corners region
-real-time storm and hydroclimate monitoring
-tracking climate over decadal timescales
-GIS as applied to just about anything

Below are some recent conference presentations reflecting recent projects:

  • Harvey, J.E., 2026, New Landslide Inventory Mapping in the Southwestern San Juan Mountains, Colorado, Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 58, no. 5, 2026
  • Harvey, J.E., Sholtes, J., and Werren, S., 2025, Monitoring Channel Mobility and Complexity in the Dolores River below McPhee Dam, Southwest Colorado., Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 57, no. 6, 2025
  • Harvey, J. E., Palese, G., Denny, L., and Quirk, B., 2022, The Elk Creek, CO Rock Avalanche – a Catastrophic Valley Wall Collapse Triggered by Deglaciation? Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 54, 381359
  • Harvey, J. E., Kasprak, A., and Tingwall, J., 2022, Decadal-scale simplification of the Dolores River, SW Colorado, in response to flow regulation, Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 54, id.374350
  • Walker, B., Pratt-Sitaula, B., Harvey, J.E., Douglas, B., Charlevoix, D., 2022, Reversing the Cycle: Using Students as Active Participants in Diagramming the Reservoirs, Transport Pathways, and Role of Humans in the Water Cycle, v. 54, id. 383403
  • Smith, K., and Harvey, J.E., 2022, Mapping Mass Wasting Hazards on Annette Island Reserve, Alaska., Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 54, id.374181
  • Tresler, A., and Harvey, J.E., 2022, The Hermosa Cliffs of SW Colorado: An Analysis of Mass Wasting Mechanisms and Hazards, Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 54, id.381800
  • Tingwall, J., and Harvey, J.E., 2022, Channel Complexity on the Dolores River: Using Planet Labs Imagery to Measure Side Channel Length for Different Discharges during 2019 Release from Mcphee Reservoir, Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 54, id.374191
  • Hoffstatter, A., and Harvey, J.E., 2022, Using LIDAR Differencing to Better Understand Post-Fire Debris Flows Following the 416 Fire North of Durango, CO, Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 54, id.374199
  • Harvey, J.E., Gillam, M. L., Thomson, A., and Lingbloom, J.D., 2020, New constraints on the late Pleistocene incision history of the Animas-San Juan River System , Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 52, no. 6.
  • Harvey, J.E., Gillam, M. L., Thomson, A., and Lingbloom, J.D., 2020, Pleistocene incision history of the Animas-San Juan River system, Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 52, no. 3. (meeting cancelled due to COVID-19)
  • Lingbloom, J.D., Harvey, J. E., and Gillam, M.L., 2020, Geochronological constraints on the Perins Peak Landslide Complex near Durango, Colorado, Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 52, no. 3. (meeting cancelled due to COVID-19)
  • Thomson, A., Harvey, J.E., and Gillam, M.L., 2020, New Constraints on the late Pleistocene Incision History of the Animas River, Southwest Colorado, Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 52, no. 3. (meeting cancelled due to COVID-19)
  • Walker, B., Harvey, J.E., Sitaula, B. P., 2019, Eyes on the hydrosphere: The GETSI project’s water resources module for introductory undergraduate classrooms Geol. Soc of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 51, no. 5.












Dr. Jon Harvey
Associate Professor - Department of Geosciences
Fort Lewis College
1000 Rim Dr, Durango, CO, 81301
Please feel free to contact me via e-mail.