Flow alterations in rivers due to unconventional oil and gas development in the Ohio River basin

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) exploration and development in the Ohio River basin has been a controversial issue for the past decade. The process of extracting gas and oil from shale formations utilizes significant amounts of water with little to no recycling in the region. The environmental risks to date have largely focused on air and water quality, with some attention paid to noise pollution. This study examines the risk for excessive water withdrawals and potential for negative impacts of low streamflow, which have largely not been addressed, as basin-wide studies have indicated that UOG will not significantly alter flow at large scales. The smallest watersheds, however, are often not monitored and therefore no historical record of flow is present. Using modelled estimates of historic flow, the impacts of UOG-related water withdrawals in HUC12 watersheds (approximately 1st to 3rd order streams) across the eastern Ohio River basin were estimated. Modelling of the effect of well operations showed that >10 % and >20 % reductions in streamflow occurred at least episodically in 53 % and 42 % of the HUC12 watersheds analyzed, respectively, amounting to 8.8 % and 2.4 % of active days. Although such severe reductions were usually infrequent in a particular stream, they could have lasting negative impacts on the stream biota. These flow reductions have the potential to affect downstream users, including regionally-endangered species. The legal framework surrounding water withdrawal permitting should have a substantial impact on flow reduction, but a lack of sufficient monitoring and clear reporting of water withdrawal sources hinders effective monitoring and protection of stream and riparian habitats.