BASIN-USGS-COB Boulder Creek Millenium Baseline
Boulder Creek Watershed
Total Alkalinity Data for 2000 - Middle Boulder Creek at PSCo Weir

Preliminary Data - subject to revision


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
Factors affecting Total Alkalinity
Standards regarding Total Alkalinity
Interpretation of Boulder Creek Total Alkalinity data
Data Source:
Point of Contact:
Collection and Analysis notes

Monitoring site information:
MBCaW Map
  • Location: Middle Boulder Creek at PSCo Weir
  • Name: MBCaW
  • Type: Composite
  • Frequency: SemiAnnual
  • Longitude: 105 ° W 30'
  • Latitude: 39 ° N 57'
  • Elevation: 8185 feet asl
  • Site photo
Downstream Site: Middle Boulder Creek @ Nederland WTP
Upstream Site: North Boulder Creek diversion to Lakewood

Date Alk
mg/L as CaCO3
June, 2000 8.3
October, 2000 17.0
*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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