In 1929 the U.S. Congress deeded most of the land in the Silver Lake Watershed to the City of Boulder specifically for water supply purposes. The watershed contains 13 reservoirs and natural lakes that are fed by snowmelt and the melting of Arapahoe Glacier. This high-quality water supply was sufficient to meet all of Boulder’s water needs until the 1950s. Today about 40% of the city’s water supply is derived from the Boulder watershed basin. In the 1930s, the University of Colorado began sensitive ecological and climate research in the Green Lakes Valley within the watershed. In order to protect water quality and to preserve the fragile alpine environment, the Boulder Watershed is closed to public access.
Major Location Divisions in City of Boulder Watershed:
Green Lakes Valley (City of Boulder Watershed)
View UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, City Of Boulder Watershed in a larger map
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement #DEB-1637686. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necesarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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