BASIN-USGS-COB Boulder Creek Millenium Baseline
Boulder Creek Watershed
Total Hardness Data for 2000 - North Boulder Creek diversion to Lakewood

Preliminary Data - subject to revision


Information on Total Hardness:

Hardness generally refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium in water. In household use, these cations (ions with a charge greater than +1) can prevent soap from sudsing and leave behind a white scum in bathtubs. In the aquatic environment, calcium and magnesium help keep fish from absorbing metals, such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium, into their bloodstream through their gills. Therefore, the harder the water, the less easy it is for toxic metals to absorb onto gills. Water in the Boulder Creek watershed is generally soft because the water comes mainly from melting snow which is low in minerals and metals.

More general information about Total Hardness
Factors affecting Total Hardness
Standards regarding Total Hardness
Interpretation of Boulder Creek Total Hardness data
Data Source:
Point of Contact:
Collection and Analysis notes

Monitoring site information:
NBC-Lw Map
  • Location: North Boulder Creek diversion to Lakewood
  • Name: NBC-Lw
  • Type: Composite
  • Frequency: SemiAnnual
  • Longitude: 105 ° W 30'
  • Latitude: 39 ° N 59'
  • Elevation: 8240 feet asl
  • Site photo
Downstream Site: Middle Boulder Creek at PSCo Weir
Upstream Site: North Boulder Creek at Boulder Falls

Date Hard
mg/L as CaCO3
June, 2000 9.4
October, 2000 12.6
*value below detection limit:
Detection Limit (if available) 0.1

Preliminary Data - subject to revision

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

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Return to the BASIN environmental data catalog


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