Here's an article from the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel dealing with a new study of the impact of water produced from oil and gas wells on ground water supplies. From the article, "In thirsty Colorado, every drop matters ' even the 171 acre-feet of water brought to the surface as a byproduct from oil, gas and coal-bed methane wells across the state each day. State officials are working to determine the impact of those water depletions on groundwater levels, hoping to have preliminary results as early as this week. The report likely will show what impacts, if any, the rampant drilling activity in Colorado is having on groundwater users...Chesson said in comparison with Colorado's state supply of water, byproduct water from oil, gas and coal-bed methane wells equals 0.048 percent of the state's entire water supply. But no amount is too small to explore, said Lisa Sumi, research director for the Oil and Gas Accountability Project based in Durango...Currently, about 99.9 percent of water produced from oil, gas and coal-bed methane wells is either discharged into bodies of water, injected into deep disposal wells or placed in pits to evaporate. There are a few cases around the state where the byproduct water is used for cooling purposes, livestock irrigation and dust control, but state officials must deal with each case on an individual basis."
The allocation of water from the Colorado River may be reduced in three years, according to this article from the Las Vegas Sun. From the article, "The Bureau of Reclamation, which plays a key role in managing the river, is looking at the possibility that water allocations to the seven states along the Colorado will have to be reduced in three years. The second round of public comment on how to institute cuts will formally end Wednesday...Cumulatively, the seven states that share the river take 16.5 million acre-feet. The problem is that the river doesn't supply that much even under 'normal' conditions - which scientists now believe average about 15.1 million acre-feet annually - and for five consecutive years, drought cut annual flows to as much as half the average. While all users welcomed a heavy water year last year, there is significant concern among scientists and state and federal officials that the 2005 water year could have been a brief respite from a long-term drought. During two rounds of comment on ways to deal with feared shortages, about 175 people, organizations and government agencies provided the Bureau of Reclamation with feedback. Upper and lower basin states have protested elements of Nevada's program, particularly those that involve taking surface water and getting credits from ground water put into Lake Mead. But for the time being, that will stand as the states try to reach an agreement on how to share the pain of cuts, Pat Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said."
Category: Colorado Water
6:47:39 AM 
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