Article

Denny Capps - Geomorphologist

A man stands in a deep crack in a road.
Denny Capps is a geomorphologist and leads the national geohazards program of the NPS Geologic Resources Division.

Denny Capps, Ph.D.

National Terrestrial Geomorphologist
Geologic Resources Division
National Park Service
907-888-6869 (m)
Denny_Capps@nps.gov

Formerly

Park Geologist
Denali National Park and Preserve

Education

  • B.S. - Geology, Louisiana Tech University

  • M.S - Earth Science, Montana State University

  • Ph.D. - Earth Science, Simon Fraser University

Skills and Research Interests

  • Lead NPS geologist for $150+ million response to geohazard impacts on critical park resources

  • Crucial communicator with agency, contractor, academic, and congressional policymaking staff

  • Collaborative, solutions-focused expert on unprecedented land-management challenges

  • Team leader who has safely supervised 37 junior geologists in hazardous environments

Professional Experience

  • 2023-present - National Terrestrial Geomorphologist, Geologic Resources Division, National Park Service

  • 2011-2023 - Park Geologist, Denali National Park and Preserve

  • 2004-2011 - Sessional Instructor, Assistant Lecturer, and Research Assistant, Simon Fraser University

  • 2004 - Earth System Science Web Resource Developer, Montana State University

  • 2003 - Geologic Hazards Specialist, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

  • 2000-2003 - Teaching Assistant/Lead Teaching Assistant, Montana State University

  • 2000 - Backcountry Visitor Use Assistant, Glacier National Park and Preserve

  • 1999 - Geophysical technician, Gradient Geophysics

  • 1998 - Staff Geologist, Rust Environment & Infrastructure

Select, Recent Media

Publications

Capps, D. In Press. Degradation of Mountain Permafrost in Alaskan National Parks. In: SHRODER, J. J. & FONTANELLA, P. (eds.) Safeguarding Mountains: a Global Challenge. Tokyo: United Nations University.

Capps, D., C. Knight, P. Brease (posthumous), V. Santucci, and S. Hilburn. In Review. Denali National Park and Preserve Paleontological Resources Management Plan. Natural Resource Report. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Collins, B., C. Christiansen, S. Anderson, H. Brooks, D. Capps, and E. Garich. 2023. Using State-of-the-Art Technologies and Tools for Geotechnical Investigation and Design. Prepared for the 72nd Highway Geology Symposium, August 2023.

Stewart, D. G., P. S. Druckenmiller, G. M. Erickson,J. Benowitz, D. Capps, K. C. May, and P. J. McCarthy. 2023. Vertebrate ichnology and paleoenvironmental associations of Alaska’s largest known dinosaur tracksite in the Cretaceous Cantwell Formation (Maastrichtian) of Denali National Park and Preserve. Historical Biology.

Stanczyk, A., D. Capps, and D. A. Anderson. 2022. A geotechnical investigation of Pretty Rocks Landslide, mile 45.4, Denali Park Road, Denali National Park, Alaska. Natural Resource Report NPS/DENA/NRR—2022/2365. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Hults, C., T. Jones, B. Schroeder, D. Capps, D. Hansen, C. Miller, M. Hannam, and D. Kurtz. 2021. Mapping and monitoring landscape changes using structure from motion from aircraft. Alaska Park Science 20(1): 36-47.

Patton, A. I., S. L. Rathburn, D. Capps, D. McGrath, and R. A. Brown. 2021. Ongoing landslide deformation in thawing permafrost. Geophysical Research Letters 48: e2021GL092959.

Capps, D., S. C. McLane, and L. Chang. 2020. Denali National Park and Preserve Geology Road Guide (3rd Ed). Denali Park, Alaska, Denali National Park and Preserve.

Patton, A.I., S. R. Rathburn, D. Capps, R. A. Brown, and J. S. Singleton. 2020. Lithologic, geomorphic, and permafrost controls on recent landsliding in the Alaska Range. Geosphere 16(6): 1479-1494.

Capps, D., D. A. Anderson, and M. McKinley. 2019. Geohazard risk reduction along the Denali National Park Road. Alaska Park Science 18(1): 44-51.

Hults, C., D. Capps, and E. Bilderback. 2019. Geohazards in Alaska’s national parks. Alaska Park Science 18(1):1-5.

Capps, D.M., 2017. The role of glaciers and glacier research in the development of U.S. national parks. Earth Science History 36(2): 337-358.

Capps, D.M., Rosenberg, R.H., Collins, A.L., Anderson, D.A., Hooper, S., Rogers, H., Collins, B. and Bilderback, E., 2017. Geohazards risk assessment of the Denali National Park Road. In De Graff, J.V. and Shakoor, A. (eds.), Landslides: Putting Experience, Knowledge and Emerging Technologies into Practice, AEG Special Publication 27: 840-850.

Capps, D.M., McLane, S.C. and Chang, L., 2017. Denali National Park and Preserve Geology Road Guide (2nd Ed). Denali Park, Alaska, Denali National Park and Preserve.

Capps, D.M. and Clague, J.J., 2014. Evolution of glacier-dammed lakes through space and time; Brady Glacier, Alaska, USA. Geomorphology 210: 59-70.

Capps, D.M., Wiles, G.C., Clague, J.J. and Luckman, B.H., 2011. Tree-ring dating of the nineteenth-century advance of Brady Glacier and the evolution of two ice-marginal lakes, Alaska. Holocene 21(4): 641-649.

Capps, D.M., Rabus, B., Clague, J.J. and Shugar, D.H., 2010. Identification and characterization of alpine subglacial lakes using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR): Brady Glacier, Alaska, USA. Journal of Glaciology 56(199): 861-870.

Pelto, M., Capps, D.M., Clague, J.J. and Pelto, B., 2013. Rising ELA and expanding proglacial lakes indicate impending rapid retreat of Brady Glacier, Alaska. Hydrological Processes 27(21): 3075-3082.

Shugar, D. H., Rabus, B.T., Clague, J.J. and Capps, D.M., 2012. The response of Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska, to the Denali earthquake rock avalanches. Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface 117: 1-14.

Professional abstracts (bold when presenter)

Atwater, A.L. and Capps, D.M., 2013. Dinosaur track site prediction model in Denali National Park using remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), databases and suitability analyses. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Denver, CO. October 2013.

Bemis, S.P., Capps, D.M., Cole, R.B., Benowitz, J.A. and Fitzgerald, P.G., 2014. Dinos to Denali: the record of Mesozoic through Cenozoic tectonics, sedimentation, volcanism, and geomorphology in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Vancouver, BC. October 2014.

Capps, D.M., 2016. 100 Years of Denali Geology. Abstract with program from NPS Centennial Science and Stewardship Symposium, Fairbanks, AK. Also co-chair of this session 100+ years of park geology. October 2016.

Capps, D.M., 2015. Geologic Hazards Evaluation along Important Infrastructure Corridors. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America Cordilleran Section meeting, Anchorage, AK. May 2015.

Capps, D.M., 2014. Slip Slidin’ Away – Denali Park Road’s geotechnical assets on the move. Abstract with program from the 39th Northwest Geotech Workshop, Anchorage, AK. August 2014.

Capps, D.L., 2003. The West Creek glacial outburst flood - Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park – Skagway, Alaska. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Seattle, WA. November 2003.

Capps, D.L., 2003. The Quaternary history of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet fringe, Ashley Lake, Montana. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America Rocky Mountain Section meeting, Durango, CO. May 2003.

Capps, D.M., Rosenberg, R.H., Collins, A.L., Anderson, D.A., Hooper, S., Rogers, H., Collins, B. and Bilderback, E., 2017. Geohazards risk assessment of the Denali National Park Road. Proceedings of the North American Symposium on Landslides, Roanoke, VA. June 2017.

Capps, D.M., Rosenberg, R.H., Motschmann, A. and Collins, A.L., 2015. Denali’s thawing permafrost and slope instability. Abstract with programs from Science for Parks, Parks for Science: The Next Century, Berkeley, CA. March, 2015.

Capps, D.M., Rosenberg, R.H., Motschmann, A. and Collins, A.L., 2015. Permafrost Thawing and Landslides – Denali is Slip Slidin' Away. Abstract with program from the George Wright Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites, Oakland, CA. March-April 2015.

Capps, D.M., Burrows, R. and Schirokauer, D., 2014. Denali glaciology: Present. Future? Abstract with program from Northwest Glaciologists’ Meeting, Fairbanks, AK. October, 2014.

Capps, D.L., Wiles, G.C. and Clague, J.J., 2009. Dendrochronology to the beat of a different drummer: lakes dammed by a tidewater glacier out of phase with climate. Abstract with program from European Geophysical Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria. April 2009.

Capps, D.L., Rabus, B. and Clague, J.J., 2008. Identification and characterization of dynamic alpine subglacial lakes using a fusion of InSAR and GIS. Abstract with program from American Geophysical Union meeting, San Francisco, CA. December 2008.

Capps, D.L., Rabus, B., and Clague, J.J., 2007. Identification and characterization of dynamic alpine subglacial lakes using InSAR, radio-echo sounding, and crevasse interpretation. Abstract with program from American Geophysical Union meeting, San Francisco, CA. December 2007.

Capps, D.L., Kirk, K.B., Mogk, D.W., and Manduca, C.A., 2004. Web-based resources to support teaching and learning about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Denver, CO. November 2004.

Collins, A.L., Rosenberg, R.H. and Capps, D.M., 2015. Mass movements in the parks: Geocorps and geohazards at the top of North America. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Baltimore, MD. November 2015.

Druckenmiller, P.S., Erikson, G., Benowitz, J.A., Capps, D.M.,Knight, C., May, K. and Stewart, D. 2017. Deinonychosaurian trace fossils from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Cantwell Formation, Alaska: track maker inferences using coeval, interformational comparisons. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Denver, CO. October 2017.

Druckenmiller, P.S., Capps, D.M., May, K. and Knight, C., 2016. Denali dinosaurs: their significance in the bigger picture of global and Alaskan paleontology. Abstract with program from NPS Centennial Science and Stewardship Symposium, Fairbanks, AK. October 2016.

Hults, C., Capps, D.M., Turner, M., Knight, C. and Stromquist, L., 2016. Alaska NPS paleontological database: laying the groundwork for inventory, monitoring, and management. Abstract with program from NPS Centennial Science and Stewardship Symposium, Fairbanks, AK. October 2016.

Hults, C., Capps, D.M., Knight, C., Lanik, A. and Turner, M.M., 2016. Alaskan national parks paleontological databases: groundwork for inventory, monitoring, and management. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Denver, CO. September 2016.

Knight, C., Hults, C., Capps, D.M. and Turner, M., 2016. Structure from Motion (SfM) used to virtually share 3D models of fossils and artifacts. Abstract with program from NPS Centennial Science and Stewardship Symposium, Fairbanks, AK. October 2016.

Parker, N.E., Richards, M.E., Reitman, N.G. and Capps, D.M., 2011. Geocorps America 2011 paleontology inventory of the Late Cretaceous Lower Cantwell Formation in Denali National Park, Alaska. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Minneapolis, MN. October 2011.

Patton, A.I., Rathburn, S., Capps, D.M. and Ruleman, C.A., 2017. Preliminary surficial mapping of the Denali National Park and Preserve road corridor: implications for landslide hazards in a changing climate. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Denver, CO. October 2017.

Richards, M.E., Rathburn, S., Capps, D.M. and Booth, D., 2016. Braided river response to eight decades of human disturbance, Toklat River, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Abstract with program from NPS Centennial Science and Stewardship Symposium, Fairbanks, AK. October 2016.

Ruleman, C.A., Sorter, R., Goehring, B.M., Capps, D.M., Bemis, S.P., Frothingham, M.G., Patton, A.I. and Rathburn, S., 2017. New geologic mapping, classic concepts: gaining insight to the geomorphic evolution and associated hazards, Denali region, AK. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Denver, CO. October 2017.

Sarwas, R. and Capps, D.M., 2012. Determining topography change over 50 years in two Alaskan national parks using remote sensing. Abstract with program from Geological Society of America meeting, Charlotte, NC. November 2012.

Professional Activities and Memberships

Geological Society of America, long-time member
Mentor for Geoscientists-in-Parks
American Geophysical Union, long-time member

Certifications

  • Federal Agreements Technical Representative (2011-present)

  • Federal Contracting Officer’s Representative (2012-present)

  • Incident Command System

    • ICS-100 – Introduction

    • ICS-200 – Initial Response

    • IS-700 – National Incident Management System

    • IS-800 – National Response Framework

    • IS-907 – Active Shooter Response

  • Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 (commercial UAV/drone pilot)

  • Interagency Aviation Training

    • DOI UAS Remote Pilot - 2019 to present

      • Certified on 3DR Solo, DJI Mavic Pro, and DJI Matrice 600

    • Helicopter crewmember (2011-present)

    • Helicopter manager (2013-2018)

  • Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (120-hour, university accredited program)

  • Professional Association of Diving Instructors

    • Open-Water Diver

    • Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox)

  • Swiftwater Rescue

  • American Alpine Institute Crevasse Rescue

  • Commercial and motorcycle driver’s license

  • NPS ATV use

  • NPS shotgun use

  • DOI Resource Advisor (READ) – protects resources within an incident environment

Tags

Last updated: December 14, 2023