Boundary Creek Thermal Areas of Yellowstone National Park I: Thermal Activity and Geologic Setting

Abstract

Proposed geothermal leasing in the Island Park Geothermal Area (IPGA) in national forest and public lands adjacent to Yellowstone National Park has called attention to the moderate to high temperature springs of the Boundary Creek Thermal Areas. Up until late 1977 no description or geochemical inventory studies had been conducted in these areas. The thermal springs are scattered in four major groups along the Boundary Creek drainage within three to six km of the IPGA-park border. Observations and analyses of physical and chemical indicators suggest that the source is under the Madison Plateau and that the water agree generally similar in the lower three thermal units. These hot springs should be monitored so as to provide early warning of change in the vent that geothermal development in the IPGA causes withdrawal of groundwater from Yellowstone National Park.