In the recent past, Oil and gas activities (O&G) in Eastern Ohio altered the land use and the environment. This study focuses on the impacts of the O&G activities on soil and water in the Irish Creek Watershed (ICW) in Harrison County, OH, since 2007. O&G production has the potential to impact the soil and water due to the deforestation, production, and transportation of O&G from the different areas. Deforestation can increase runoff, soil erosion, and sediment transport. O & G activities also impact the nutrient movement from the agricultural lands adjacent to forested areas. It can also reduce the evapotranspiration from the watersheds. The production process of the O&G yields wastewater, and if it is not treated well, it may impact the soil as well as the water bodies and groundwater. Transportation of the O&G products can affect land use by constructing the conveying pipes and land transportation routes.

This current study utilizes HAWQS (Hydrologic and Water Quality System) and an impact index, Water Quantity & Quality IMpact InDEX (W-DoubleQ-Imdex), to estimate the hydrological impact of O&G activities in ICW, analyzing a decadal period from 2007-2017. HAWQS is used to analyze the impacts on hydrologic processes and nutrient and sediment movements using Hydrologic Response Units (HRUs).

W-DoubleQ-Imdex focuses on estimating the water quality and quantity with respect to oil and gas production. W-DoubleQ-Imdex is computed with the changes in water quantity, and quality indicators with their cause-action-effect relationships looked at Pressure-State-Response (PSR) levels. Water samples were also taken from the study area to be analyzed and aid in the current study.

Keywords: HQWS, Hydraulic Fracturing, Water Resources