City of Boulder Storm Water Quality Program
Boulder Creek Watershed
Total Alkalinity Time Series for 1999
North Boulder Creek at Boulder Falls

Preliminary Data - subject to revision


Marker Indicates no data available
Marker Indicates data exceeds plot scale.

Information on Total Alkalinity:

Alkalinity refers to how well a water body can neutralize acids. Alkalinity measures the amount of alkaline compounds in water, such as carbonates (CO3 2-), bicarbonates (HCO3 -), and hydroxides (OH-). These compounds are natural buffers that can remove excess hydrogen ions that have been added from sources such as acid rain or acid mine drainage. Alkalinity mitigates or relieves metals toxicity by using available HCO3 - and CO3 2- to take metals out of solution, thus making it unavailable to fish. Alkalinity is affected by the geology of the watershed; watersheds containing limestone will have a higher alkalinity than watersheds where granite is predominant. The Boulder Creek Watershed is composed primarily of granite rocks, thus the water has a lower alkalinity content.

More general information about Total Alkalinity
Measurement of Total Alkalinity
Factors affecting Total Alkalinity
Standards regarding Total Alkalinity
Interpretation of Boulder Creek Total Alkalinity data
Data Source: City of Boulder Water Quality Monitoring
Point of Contact: Chris Rudkin
Collection and Analysis notes
Analysis method: SM 2320B

Monitoring site information:
NBC-FALLS Map
NBC-FALLS Photo
  • Location: North Boulder Creek at Boulder Falls
  • Name: NBC-FALLS
  • Type: Composite
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Longitude: 105 ° W 24'
  • Latitude: 40 ° N 35'
  • Elevation: 6880 feet asl
  • Site photo
Downstream Site: Boulder Creek at Orodell
Upstream Site: North Boulder Creek diversion to Lakewood

Plot Label Date Alk
mg/L as CaCO3
01 January, 1999 37.0
02 February, 1999 57.5
03 March, 1999 No Data
04 April, 1999 48.0
05 May, 1999 35.9
06 June, 1999 9.2
07 July, 1999 9.6
08 August, 1999 18.2
09 September, 1999 22.6
10 October, 1999 30.9
11 November, 1999 30.5
12 December, 1999 31.6
*value below detection limit:
Detection Limit (if available) 1.0

Preliminary Data - subject to revision

Select on the parameter name to view all Total Alkalinity time series plots on the basin map. Select on the table date to view stream Total Alkalinity profiles observed on that date. Select here to view all parameters at this site.

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