Natalie K Day
Natalie is a Biologist with the Colorado Water Science Center (COWSC), Western Colorado Office, in Grand Junction, CO.
Natalie is a cross-disciplinary biologist working on the Colorado Plateau. She seeks to provide relevant information to land managers, policy makers, and the public. Some of her research interests include assessing the effects of land disturbance in drylands on regional hydrology, understanding controls on riverine algal blooms, and assessing long-term changes in streamflow and water quality. Natalie works to improve the sharing of information among different fields and conducts research that is collaborative and useful.
Professional Experience
Biologist, USGS-Colorado Water Science Center, Grand Junction, CO, Fall 2019-present
Biologist, USGS-Canyonland Research Station, Moab, UT, 2016-2019
Biological Field Technician, USGS-Canyonland Research Station, Moab, UT, 2010-2011
Research Assistant, Utah Water Research Lab/Utah State University Biogeochemistry Lab, Logan, UT, 2008-2010
Education and Certifications
Master of Science in Biogeochemistry, the University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 2015
Focus: Nitrogen cycling in headwater streams in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Advised by Robert O. Hall, Jr.Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR, 2008
Focus: Aquatic biogeochemistry
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Fish tissue mercury and selenium concentrations in Upper Colorado River Basin: 1962-2011 Fish tissue mercury and selenium concentrations in Upper Colorado River Basin: 1962-2011
These data were compiled to study mercury and selenium concentrations in fish species and assemblages in lotic waterbodies across the Upper Colorado River Basin. Data were compiled from State and Federal agencies. This data table contains raw concentration data, as well as standardized concentrations corrected for differences based on sample type (i.e., tissue type), species-specific
Filter Total Items: 17
Analysis of Escherichia coli, total recoverable iron, and dissolved selenium concentrations, loading, and identifying data gaps for selected 303(d) listed streams, Grand Valley, western Colorado, 1980–2018 Analysis of Escherichia coli, total recoverable iron, and dissolved selenium concentrations, loading, and identifying data gaps for selected 303(d) listed streams, Grand Valley, western Colorado, 1980–2018
Tributaries to the Colorado River in the Grand Valley in western Colorado (segment COLCLC13b) have been placed on the State of Colorado 303(d) list as impaired for Escherichia coli (E. coli), total recoverable iron, and dissolved selenium. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Quality Control Division is required to develop total maximum daily loads for these...
Authors
Lisa D. Miller, Rachel G. Gidley, Natalie K. Day, Judith C. Thomas
Assessment of streamflow and water quality in the Upper Yampa River Basin, Colorado, 1992–2018 Assessment of streamflow and water quality in the Upper Yampa River Basin, Colorado, 1992–2018
The Upper Yampa River Basin drains approximately 2,100 square miles west of the Continental Divide in north-western Colorado. There is a growing need to understand potential changes in the quantity and quality of water resources as the basin is undergoing increasing land and water development to support growing municipal, industrial, and recreational needs. The U.S. Geological Survey, in
Authors
Natalie K. Day
Mercury and selenium concentrations in fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin, southwestern United States: A retrospective assessment Mercury and selenium concentrations in fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin, southwestern United States: A retrospective assessment
Mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) are contaminants of concern for fish in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). We explored Hg and Se in fish tissues (2,324 individuals) collected over 50 years (1962–2011) from the UCRB. Samples include native and non-native fish collected from lotic waterbodies spanning 7 major tributaries to the Colorado River. There was little variation of total mercury...
Authors
Natalie K. Day, Travis S. Schmidt, James Roberts, Barbara C. Osmundson, James Willacker, Collin A. Eagles-Smith
Microsite enhancements for soil stabilization and rapid biocrust colonization in degraded drylands Microsite enhancements for soil stabilization and rapid biocrust colonization in degraded drylands
In dryland ecosystems, natural recovery of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) following disturbance may be slow or inhibited, necessitating active restoration practices. While biocrusts can be readily propagated under environmentally controlled conditions, rehabilitation in the field is complicated by environmental stresses which may be particularly acute in degraded, destabilized soils...
Authors
Stephen E. Fick, Natalie K. Day, Michael C. Duniway, Sean Lawrence Hoy-Skubik, Nichole N. Barger
Amendments fail to hasten biocrust recovery or soil stability at a disturbed dryland sandy site Amendments fail to hasten biocrust recovery or soil stability at a disturbed dryland sandy site
In most drylands, biological soil crusts (biocrusts), an assemblage of lichens, bryophytes, fungi, green algae, and cyanobacteria, are critical to healthy ecosystem function. However, they are extremely sensitive to disturbance and attempts to facilitate their recovery have had variable success. In this study, we applied soil amendments designed to improve soil surface stability and...
Authors
David G. Chandler, Natalie K. Day, Matthew D. Madsen, Jayne Belnap
Non-USGS Publications**
Jech, S.D., Dohrenwend, K., Day, N., Barger, N.N., Antoninka, A., Bowker, M.A., Reed, S., and Tucker, C., 2025, Developing biocrust field cultivation techniques for soil restoration: An assessment of bacterial communities: Applied Soil Ecology, v. 206, article 10586, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105861.
Antoninka, A., Rowe, H., Weser, J., Langenfeld, D., Brady, J., Sprague, T., Day, N., 2024. Comparing greenhouse and field biocrust cultivation methods in the Sonoran Desert. Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
Jech, S.D., Day, N., Barger, N.N., Antoninka, A., Bowker, M.A., Reed, S., Tucker, C., 2023. Cultivating Resilience in Dryland Soils: An Assisted Migration Approach to Biological Soil Crust Restoration. Microorganisms Special Issue New Horizons in Terrestrial Cyanobacteria: Advancing Fundamental Understanding of Physiology, Ecology and Genomics.
Tillman, Fred D, Natalie K. Day, Matthew P. Miller, Olivia L. Miller, Christine A. Rumsey, Daniel R. Wise, Patrick C. Longley, and Morgan C. McDonnell. 2022. "A Review of Current Capabilities and Science Gaps in Water Supply Data, Modeling, and Trends for Water Availability Assessments in the Upper Colorado River Basin" Water 14, no. 23: 3813. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14233813
Sutfin, N.A., Wohl, E., Fegel, T., Day, N., Lynch, L., 2021. Logjams and Channel Morphology Influence Sediment Storage, Transformation of Organic Matter, and Carbon Storage Within Mountain Stream Corridors. Water resources research. v. 57(5), https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR028046
Fick, S.E., Day, N., Duniway, M.C., Hoy‐Skubik, S. and Barger, N.N., 2019. Microsite enhancements for soil stabilization and rapid biocrust colonization in degraded drylands. Restoration Ecology.
Tucker, C., Antoninka, A., Day, N., Poff, B. and Reed, S., 2020. Biological soil crust salvage for dryland restoration: an opportunity for natural resource restoration. Restoration Ecology.
Amendments fail to hasten biocrust recovery or soil stability at a disturbed dryland sandy site
Day, N.K., Hall Jr, R.O. 2017. Ammonium uptake kinetics and nitrification in mountain streams. Freshwater Science v. 36.1, p. 41-54.
Day, N.K., Likens, G.E., Judd, K.E., 2006. Nitrogen cycling in streams: A comparison of the roles of debris dams and mosses. Institute of Ecosystem Studies.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Fish tissue mercury and selenium concentrations in Upper Colorado River Basin: 1962-2011 Fish tissue mercury and selenium concentrations in Upper Colorado River Basin: 1962-2011
These data were compiled to study mercury and selenium concentrations in fish species and assemblages in lotic waterbodies across the Upper Colorado River Basin. Data were compiled from State and Federal agencies. This data table contains raw concentration data, as well as standardized concentrations corrected for differences based on sample type (i.e., tissue type), species-specific
Filter Total Items: 17
Analysis of Escherichia coli, total recoverable iron, and dissolved selenium concentrations, loading, and identifying data gaps for selected 303(d) listed streams, Grand Valley, western Colorado, 1980–2018 Analysis of Escherichia coli, total recoverable iron, and dissolved selenium concentrations, loading, and identifying data gaps for selected 303(d) listed streams, Grand Valley, western Colorado, 1980–2018
Tributaries to the Colorado River in the Grand Valley in western Colorado (segment COLCLC13b) have been placed on the State of Colorado 303(d) list as impaired for Escherichia coli (E. coli), total recoverable iron, and dissolved selenium. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Quality Control Division is required to develop total maximum daily loads for these...
Authors
Lisa D. Miller, Rachel G. Gidley, Natalie K. Day, Judith C. Thomas
Assessment of streamflow and water quality in the Upper Yampa River Basin, Colorado, 1992–2018 Assessment of streamflow and water quality in the Upper Yampa River Basin, Colorado, 1992–2018
The Upper Yampa River Basin drains approximately 2,100 square miles west of the Continental Divide in north-western Colorado. There is a growing need to understand potential changes in the quantity and quality of water resources as the basin is undergoing increasing land and water development to support growing municipal, industrial, and recreational needs. The U.S. Geological Survey, in
Authors
Natalie K. Day
Mercury and selenium concentrations in fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin, southwestern United States: A retrospective assessment Mercury and selenium concentrations in fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin, southwestern United States: A retrospective assessment
Mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) are contaminants of concern for fish in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). We explored Hg and Se in fish tissues (2,324 individuals) collected over 50 years (1962–2011) from the UCRB. Samples include native and non-native fish collected from lotic waterbodies spanning 7 major tributaries to the Colorado River. There was little variation of total mercury...
Authors
Natalie K. Day, Travis S. Schmidt, James Roberts, Barbara C. Osmundson, James Willacker, Collin A. Eagles-Smith
Microsite enhancements for soil stabilization and rapid biocrust colonization in degraded drylands Microsite enhancements for soil stabilization and rapid biocrust colonization in degraded drylands
In dryland ecosystems, natural recovery of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) following disturbance may be slow or inhibited, necessitating active restoration practices. While biocrusts can be readily propagated under environmentally controlled conditions, rehabilitation in the field is complicated by environmental stresses which may be particularly acute in degraded, destabilized soils...
Authors
Stephen E. Fick, Natalie K. Day, Michael C. Duniway, Sean Lawrence Hoy-Skubik, Nichole N. Barger
Amendments fail to hasten biocrust recovery or soil stability at a disturbed dryland sandy site Amendments fail to hasten biocrust recovery or soil stability at a disturbed dryland sandy site
In most drylands, biological soil crusts (biocrusts), an assemblage of lichens, bryophytes, fungi, green algae, and cyanobacteria, are critical to healthy ecosystem function. However, they are extremely sensitive to disturbance and attempts to facilitate their recovery have had variable success. In this study, we applied soil amendments designed to improve soil surface stability and...
Authors
David G. Chandler, Natalie K. Day, Matthew D. Madsen, Jayne Belnap
Non-USGS Publications**
Jech, S.D., Dohrenwend, K., Day, N., Barger, N.N., Antoninka, A., Bowker, M.A., Reed, S., and Tucker, C., 2025, Developing biocrust field cultivation techniques for soil restoration: An assessment of bacterial communities: Applied Soil Ecology, v. 206, article 10586, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105861.
Antoninka, A., Rowe, H., Weser, J., Langenfeld, D., Brady, J., Sprague, T., Day, N., 2024. Comparing greenhouse and field biocrust cultivation methods in the Sonoran Desert. Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
Jech, S.D., Day, N., Barger, N.N., Antoninka, A., Bowker, M.A., Reed, S., Tucker, C., 2023. Cultivating Resilience in Dryland Soils: An Assisted Migration Approach to Biological Soil Crust Restoration. Microorganisms Special Issue New Horizons in Terrestrial Cyanobacteria: Advancing Fundamental Understanding of Physiology, Ecology and Genomics.
Tillman, Fred D, Natalie K. Day, Matthew P. Miller, Olivia L. Miller, Christine A. Rumsey, Daniel R. Wise, Patrick C. Longley, and Morgan C. McDonnell. 2022. "A Review of Current Capabilities and Science Gaps in Water Supply Data, Modeling, and Trends for Water Availability Assessments in the Upper Colorado River Basin" Water 14, no. 23: 3813. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14233813
Sutfin, N.A., Wohl, E., Fegel, T., Day, N., Lynch, L., 2021. Logjams and Channel Morphology Influence Sediment Storage, Transformation of Organic Matter, and Carbon Storage Within Mountain Stream Corridors. Water resources research. v. 57(5), https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR028046
Fick, S.E., Day, N., Duniway, M.C., Hoy‐Skubik, S. and Barger, N.N., 2019. Microsite enhancements for soil stabilization and rapid biocrust colonization in degraded drylands. Restoration Ecology.
Tucker, C., Antoninka, A., Day, N., Poff, B. and Reed, S., 2020. Biological soil crust salvage for dryland restoration: an opportunity for natural resource restoration. Restoration Ecology.
Amendments fail to hasten biocrust recovery or soil stability at a disturbed dryland sandy site
Day, N.K., Hall Jr, R.O. 2017. Ammonium uptake kinetics and nitrification in mountain streams. Freshwater Science v. 36.1, p. 41-54.
Day, N.K., Likens, G.E., Judd, K.E., 2006. Nitrogen cycling in streams: A comparison of the roles of debris dams and mosses. Institute of Ecosystem Studies.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.