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In its ongoing regulatory oversight of oil and natural gas development the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Monday launched an online tool focused on water quality.

The tool, which can be found on the agency’s web site at www.cogcc.state.co.us, features an interactive map of Colorado and allows the public to view water quality data taken from more than 450 sites throughout the state.

The data was compiled beginning in Jan. 2011, according to a COGCC news release.

“We’re glad to have this data now available for Colorado citizens who seek more information about oil and gas development in their communities,” said Matt Lepore, COGCC director, in the release. “We hope this data is helpful as we continue to work closely with local governments, industry and neighbors to balance production of important energy resource with protection of our precious water supplies.”

Additional data will continue to be added to the COGCC’s database beginning with information compiled by the Colorado Oil and Gas Association’s voluntary groundwater monitoring program.

Historic water quality samplings, including spring water data, will be migrated to the online database by the end of the year, the release states.

Once all of the available data has been migrated to the online database, and as new samples are collected and added, the COGCC interactive map will be among the most comprehensive water quality databases in the nation, the release states.

For more information, visit the COGCC web site and click on “Water Sampling Data Now Available” in the middle of the page.

Joe Moylan can be reached at 875-1794 or jmoylan@craigdailypress.com