Did Fracking Cause Colorado’s Latest Earthquake?

Over 500 people in Dacono reported experiencing an earthquake on Friday, June 13. Registering at a 2.9 magnitude, the seismic event is unusual for Colorado. Residents from Firestone to Thornton told local TV stations that they felt their homes shake and heard a booming noise in the distance. Although it only had a magnitude of 2.9 on the Richter Scale, the quake was surprising for an area like the suburbs north of Denver. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake was just five miles deep. Its proximity to the surface was why so many residents felt the shake. 

Earthquakes are rare in Colorado. Only 12 earthquakes with a magnitude of three or higher have been recorded since the 1960s. Most earthquakes are the result of sudden movements of the earth’s crust along continental fault lines; however, in places like Colorado, which are not located near fault lines, seismic events can result from human activity. Fracking for oil is one such activity that has been linked to increased earthquake risk. 

Dr. Anne Sheehan, a professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder and a fellow at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, says it is very possible that the tremors were related to either wastewater removal or fracking activity. 

“It is pretty well demonstrated that both wastewater and fracking can lead to induced earthquakes,” Sheehan says. “It was originally thought that fracking did not play a role, but more recent studies have found that fracking is related to earthquake occurrence. It’s not as common as with wastewater disposal. A lot of earthquakes in Oklahoma, Texas, and Southern New Mexico were likely induced.”

Small tremors like the one in Dacono are consistent with earthquakes that can be linked to oil and gas activity, including fracking. However, Sheehan says that data on seismic activity in areas like Dacono and the North Denver area is somewhat tricky. The closest survey station is in Greeley, so it is difficult to determine the depth of quakes that are closer to Denver. Sheehan goes on to say that these types of quakes used to be more common around the Rocky Mountain Arsenal because the site was used for wastewater removal in the 1970s and 80s.

 Lawmakers in Weld County, where Dacono is located, have sought to limit restrictions on oil and gas, arguing that oil and gas are a key economic driver in their community. 

“Oil and gas development is a prime economic drier in Weld County, and it’s important that our permitting process evolves to encourage development while continuing to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the environment,” said Kevin Ross (R), the Chair of the Weld County Commission, last year in a statement lauding efforts to make it easier to install fracking outlets. Weld County produces more oil and gas than any other county in Colorado and is one of the leading oil-producing counties in the nation. 

Seismic events are not the only risk of increased fracking in Northern Colorado. Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, and Weld counties collectively had 1,459 spills in 2024. These spills only account for when a well is currently being operated, excluding instances of orphaned wells. Oil and gas leaks can contaminate drinking water and release methane, sulfides, benzene, and arsenic into the air. These leaks can damage nearby soil, harming plant life, local ecosystems, and nearby agriculture. Exposure to methane and other pollutants from oil and gas leaks can cause respiratory issues and exacerbate asthma. Benzene exposure increases the risk of leukemia and liver cancer.

Colorado’s oil and gas industry shows no signs of slowing down, especially in production-heavy regions like Weld County. But as development grows, it brings with it a growing list of side effects, including earthquakes, toxic spills, and long-term health risks. For many local leaders, the promise of jobs and revenue still outweighs the push for tighter regulation. Yet with every tremor and toxic leak, the need for stronger oversight becomes harder to ignore.