2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
6/06/2017 | 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM | WATER STRESS FROM HIGH VOLUME HYDRAULIC FRACTURING THREATENS AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN ARKANSAS, U.S.A. | 305B
WATER STRESS FROM HIGH VOLUME HYDRAULIC FRACTURING THREATENS AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN ARKANSAS, U.S.A.
From 2004 to 2014, high-volume hydraulically fractured techniques were applied to approximately 5000 petroleum wells in Arkansas’(AR) Fayetteville Shale. Most fluid is freshwater withdrawn from sources near gas wells. High-volume water withdrawals could stress local freshwater resources and alter ecosystem services. We quantified the potential for HVHF withdrawals to create water stress for aquatic organisms and ecosystem services. To quantify HVHF withdrawals, we used permitted withdrawal locations and water volume used per well. Most withdrawal locations were small flowing and dammed streams. Daily peak permitted withdrawals exceeded expected median flows at 90% of withdrawal sites during dry months. Estimated withdrawals exceeded expected median and low flow thresholds at which biological impacts are predicted in up to 51% and 76% of the watersheds, respectively, during the driest month. Based on development projections, AR watersheds could continue to experience water stress. These watersheds support up to 18 aquatic species of conservation concern and provide drinking water for cities with up to 63,000 people. Our analysis highlights the need for daily maximum permitted withdrawal rates that change with the natural flow regime to minimize impacts to stream biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- C36 Water Resource Management
- C14 Hydroecology
- S01 Water Quantity and Quality Impacts of Unconventional Fossil Fuel Development on Our Freshwater Futures
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Presenters/Authors
Sally Entrekin
(), Virginia Tech, sallye@vt.edu;
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Anne Trainor
(), The Nature Conservancy, anne.trainor@tnc.org;
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James Saiers
(), Yale University, james.saiers@yale.edu;
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Lauren Patterson
(), Duke University, lauren.patterson@duke.edu;
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Kelly Maloney
(), U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) , kmaloney@usgs.gov;
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Joseph Fargione
(), The Nature Conservancy, jfargione@tnc.org;
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Joseph Kiesecker
(), The Nature Conservancy, jkiesecker@tnc.org;
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Sharon Baruch-Mordo
(), The Nature Conservancy, sbaruch-mordo@tnc.org;
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Kate Konschnik
(), Harvard University, kkonschnik@law.harvard.edu;
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Jean-Philippe Nicot
(), The University of Texas at Austin, jp.nicot@beg.utexas.edu;
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Hannah Wiseman
(), Florida State University, hwiseman@fsu.edu;
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Joseph Ryan
(), University of Colorado, joseph.ryan@colorado.edu;
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