A study investigates the effects of oil and gas (OG) development on nearby streams. Activities associated with shale OG development, which has expanded rapidly over the past decade, pose potential risks to stream ecosystems. Existing studies of the effects of OG development on environmental health have either been limited in their geographic scope or have not effectively integrated geochemical and biological markers of stream health. Adam Mumford and colleagues examined water chemistry, macroinvertebrate community health, and microbial community structure during the spring and fall over two consecutive years in 25 headwater streams in Pennsylvania State Forests with varying levels of OG development intensity. The authors observed significant seasonal differences in stream chemistry and microbial community structure. When the seasonal variations were accounted for, the authors did not find any significant associations between OG development intensity and various chemical tracers of produced water from OG development. The tracers included specific conductance, pH, sodium, calcium, lithium, strontium, barium, and chloride concentrations. Measures of microbial and macroinvertebrate community health, including species richness and diversity, also did not significantly vary with OG development intensity. The results highlight the importance of seasonal effects in determining ecosystem health and underscore the need for integrated studies when evaluating environmental impacts of OG development, according to the authors.
Article #19-11458: "Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania," by Adam C. Mumford et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Alex Demas, United States Geological Survey, Reston, VA; tel: 703-648-4421; e-mail: apdemas@usgs.gov
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Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences