If you want to see what life is like being an ecologist married to a rancher with two little kids, check out my blog Desert Survivor: Exploring the desert and what it takes for plants, animals, and people to survive (with a touch of humor).
I was previously a correspondent for the Sierra Nevada Ally and for the Nevada Travel Network.
Writing awards:
2017 Nevada Press Association for Best Writing on the Internet, Correspondents of the Nevadagram
Other published work:
I have an essay about slogging through a cave to conduct a bioinventory to look for new species published in Oh, Ranger: True Stories from Our National Parks, Edited by Mark J. Saferstein. Proceeds from the book will be donated to national park education programs and the Employee and Alumni Association of the National Park Service. Available from eparks.com.
Selected Scientific Reports and Publications:
Carter, O., B. Kropp, N. Noell, J. Hollinger, G. Baker, A. Tuttle, L. L. S. Clair, and S.D. Leavitt. 2019. A preliminary checklist of the lichens in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, USA. Evansia, 36(3):72-91.
Šebela, S., G. Baker, and B. Luke. 2019. Cave Temperature and Management Implications in Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, USA. Geoheritage, 11(3):1163-1175.
Taylor, S.J., G. Hoese, J. Knight, A. Beveridge, G. Baker, J. Jacoby, and C.C.R. District. 2018. Bioinventory of select caves of the Markagunt Plateau, Dixie National Forest, Utah.
Baker, G. M. 2015. Quantifying wildlife use of cave entrances using remote camera traps. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 77(3):200-210. Link
Baker, G. M., S. J. Taylor, S. Thomas, K. Lavoie, R. Olson, H. Barton, M. Denn, S. C. Thomas, R. Ohms. K. L. Helf, J. Despain, J. Kennedy, and D. Larson. 2015. Cave ecology inventory and monitoring framework. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/NRR—2015/948. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Link
Baker, G. M., N. Duncan, T. Gostomski, M. A. Horner, and D. Manski. 2014. The bioblitz: Good science, good outreach, good fun. Park Science 31(1):39-45,69. Link
Paul, Angela P., Carl E. Thodal, Gretchen M. Baker, Michael S. Lico, and David E. Prudic. 2014. Preliminary geochemical assessment of water in selected streams, springs, and caves in the Upper Baker and Snake Creek drainages in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, 2009. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5108, 33 p. Link
Schoettle, A.W., Jeff Connor, John Mack, Phyllis Pineda Bovin, Jen Beck, Gretchen M. Baker, R.A. Sniezko, K.S. Burns. 2014. Establishing the science foundation to sustain high-elevation five-needle pine forests threatened by novel interacting stresses in four western national parks. IN Weber, S. 2014. Protected Areas in a Changing World: Proceedings of the 2013 George Wright Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites, pp. 147-156. Link
Baker, Gretchen M., Geoff Moret, Christopher C. Caudill, and Nita Tallent-Halsell. 2012. Year-round hydrologic monitoring of subalpine lakes in Great Basin National Park, pages 32-36 IN Weber, Samantha, ed. 2012. Rethinking Protected Areas in a Changing World: Proceedings of the 2011 GWS Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. Hancock, Michigan: The George Wright Society. Link
Baker, G. M., S. J. Taylor, M. A. Horner, J. K. Krejca, M. E. Slay, and B. M. Roberts. 2012. Biodiversity in high- elevation caves in Great Basin National Park IN V. Stratford, Editor. 2012. Proceedings of the 20th National Cave & Karst Management Symposium. Midway, Utah: The National Cave & Karst Management Symposium. Link
Reinemann, Scott A., Nathan A. Patrick, Gretchen M. Baker, David F. Porinchu, Bryan G. Mark, and Jason E. Box. 2011. Climate change in Great Basin National Park: Lake sediment and sensor-based studies. ParkScience 28(2) :78–82. Link
Baker, Gretchen and Meg Horner. 2010. Climate change monitoring and installation of GLORIA at Great Basin National Park, pages 89-92 IN Weber, Samantha, ed. 2010. Rethinking Protected Areas in a Changing World: Proceedings of the 2009 GWS Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. Hancock, Michigan: The George Wright Society. Link
Horner, M. A., G. M. Baker, and D. L. Hughson. 2009. Baseline Water Quality Inventory of Great Basin National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/PWR/GRBA/NRTR—2009/201. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Link
Baker, G., N. Darby, T. Williams, and J. Wullschleger. 2008. Bonneville cutthroat trout restoration project—Great Basin National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/NRR—2008/055. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Link