143rd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society

September 08 - 14, 2013

Extraction from unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources, such as shale plays, is increasing with global energy demand.  More than 40% of the world’s recoverable energy comes from UOG and the U.S. alone supplies up to 19% of global gas demand.  As demand continues to increase, extraction of UOG will expand throughout the 29 U.S. shale basins and globally. Extraction from UOG requires 1) 2– 3 million gallons of pressurized fracturing fluids to break up shale to release gas or oil, 2) infrastructure: pipelines, roads, and pads, and 3) treatment and disposal of produced waste water. Infrastructure development during the extraction process increases land disturbance and could contaminate nearby surface waters with leaked or spilled hydraulic fracturing fluids. Further, water use could create temporary regional shortages in streams and groundwater.  We seek presentations that describe current research examining whether UOG development affects freshwater ecosystems. Study approaches may range from species-species specific toxicological investigations to regional comparisons.