Boulder Brook
Boulder Brook drains an area that includes Bradley, Trout, Cushman, and Heald Ponds. Boulder Brook crosses under Route 5 north of Center Lovell, and flows past the Boulder Brook Club before entering the east side of Boulder Brook at the swimming area. Water quality monitoring data have been collected since 2008 at multiple stations (BB-1, BB-2, BB-3, and BB-4) along Boulder Brook.Only BB-3 was sampled in 2017.
water quality
total phosphorus
Since 2008, total phosphorus in Boulder Brook has remained generally stable. Total phosphorus in 2016 was elevated despite dry summer conditions and hit record low in 2017.
ph
Minimal pH data are available for Boulder Brook, but pH fell within the range suitable for aquatic life up until 2015 when pH dropped below 6.0. pH has since recovered in 2017-22. Low pH (acidic) waters can threaten fish and other aquatic life.
dissolved oxygen
Dissolved oxygen at Boulder Brook generally remains above the Maine DEP standard of 7 ppm for Class A streams, with the exception of 2014-2015 and 2021. Note that dissolved oxygen readings are collected mid-day and do not represent the lowest oxygen readings for that day. Dissolved oxygen is typically lowest in early morning when decomposition and respiration processes dominate over photosynthesis.
e. coli
Since 2008, E. coli at Boulder Brook has largely met the Class A stream geometric mean of 64 col/100mL, though it exceeded it in 2012 and 2013.
water temperature
Water temperature increased at Boulder Brook from April to August and then steadily declined until retrieval in November, following closely with observed air temperature (hourly data obtained from Fryeburg weather station). Boulder Brook experienced some of the highest water temperatures compared to the other streams. July and August showed water temperatures above 24 °C, which may threaten cold-water fish species.
historical water temperature
Median annual water temperature (denoted by solid line in grey boxes below) at Boulder Brook has remained relatively consistent since 2014. Some years have more variability in water temperature than other years.