Boulder Isn't Breathing Easy

My research on Boulder has put it in an iffy category regarding air pollution and my desire to consider relocation.  Many people think this is a hip, interesting, beautiful college town with relatively mild weather. Four seasons. Certainly, it's got advantages over Los Angeles. Yet, according to a recent study, certain air pollutants were worse in Boulder than well-known smoggy Denver. The reason, according to the study authors, is the formation of secondary pollutants from chemical reactions caused by sunlight. A greater number of toxins may be formed as pollutants are dispersed by wind and weather patterns along the Front Range. “Because Boulder County sits at the point where the heavily urbanized City of Denver and the rural wilderness of the Rocky Mountains meet, a complex air quality environment is created that can intensify organic trace gases,” said Pam Milmoe, BCPH Air Quality Coordinator. In 1999, www.scorecard.org rated Boulder County in the 10 % worst U.S. Counties for air pollution. The EPA is about to fund a new air pollution study in the area.  Stay tuned. Boulder is nestled in the foothills, where the rolling plains meet the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Centrally located within an hour of Denver, Denver International Airport, Eldora Ski Resort and Rocky Mountain National Park. A few hours from many of Colorado's world-famous ski resorts makes Boulder a popular Colorado destination. Denver/Boulder Metro area air emissions impact not only the air quality of the communities in which people live, but also the Rocky Mountain National Park. The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has expressed serious concern about visibility degradation, increasing ground-level ozone concentrations, and nitrogen/acidic deposition. The sources of these pollutants are cars and trucks, industrial activities, coal-fired power plants, and agricultural and livestock operations. Twenty years of sampling and monitoring data substantiates the loss of species diversity in mountain lakes and streams, a shift from alpine wildflowers to grasses, and other signs that the pollutant load in the park is greater than the wild ecosystems can sustain. Boulder is also experiencing difficulty with West Nile virus. Reported on Sept. 15th, 55 new cases in past six weeks. So people have to be extra careful at dawn and dusk, and wear bug repellent with DEET. The threat is greatest between mid-April and mid-October. Colorado destination. Age Demographic: 18-24 years 26.4% 25-44 36.9% 45-64 13.7% 65+ 7.9% Median 29 Elevation & Size: 5,430 feet (Denver is 5,280 feet); City of Boulder is 27.8 square miles. Population: 103,673 residents, including 29,000 students at the University of Colorado. Weather: Four distinct seasons and over 300 sunny days a year. (More than San Diego or Miami!) Average 83.3 inches of snowfall a year. Average temperature highs/lows: Spring (March-May) 63/35° F Summer (June-August) 83/55° F Fall (Sept.-Oct.) 72/45° F Winter (Nov.-February) 45/23° F Recreation: Recently rated the "#1 Sports Town in America" by Outside Magazine, offering countless year-round recreational activities. Take advantage of the 200 miles of public hiking and biking trails, approximately 30,000 acres of open space or the Boulder Creek Path, which runs through the middle of town. Arts & Culture: More than 30 art galleries, 4 local museums, 32 movie & stage theaters and many festivals, including the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and the Colorado Music Festival. Dining: More than 300 restaurants featuring local, regional and international cuisine. Accommodations: Approximately 2,000 guestrooms, ranging from rustic cabins to historic Victorian suites. Whether you are staying at one of the cozy Bed & Breakfasts or our largest conference hotel, mountain views and proximity to activities will ensure an unparalleled experience. Sister Cities: Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Jalapa, Nicaragua; Lhasa, Tibet; Mante, Mexico; Yamagata, Japan; Yateras, Cuba