Oil Shale Development Could Spur Water Shortages
Thirty million people who depend on the Colorado River for their water supply may face shortages if oil shale development increases in the Colorado River Basin alongside unchecked climate change, according to a report released by the U. S. National Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
"The Colorado River has become a house of cards as water use in recent years has exceeded what the basin provides," said Marty Schmitt, senior scientist with the NRDC.
"If oil shale development moves forward, it will compete with farms and cities in the West for limited water supplies that will become scarce because of climate change.
"The time is now," said Schmitt, "for the Bureau of Reclamation and Colorado River Basin states to tackle this challenge head on, through effective planning, water smart energy policies and dramatic investments in water use efficiency."