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Data Centers, Energy, and Water: What Hunters and Anglers Need to Know
Exploring how digital infrastructure shapes the natural systems hunters and anglers depend on
The backbone of today’s digital world is not something most hunters and anglers think about when they log onto a mapping app, stream a video, or upload photos from the field. But behind every click sits a vast network of data centers – massive facilities filled with computer systems, servers, and cooling equipment that run 24/7 to power online services, cloud storage, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). You might have heard about one being built near you.
And like any form of infrastructure, these facilities come with costs. Chief among them are growing demands for electricity and water – resources that are also vital to sustaining the fish, wildlife, and habitats hunters and anglers depend on.
Growth and Scale
Across the U.S., between 3,000 and 5,400 data centers are already operating, with new facilities rapidly being built to meet the booming demand for cloud computing, AI, and digital services. The United States hosts more data centers than any other country, and projections show their electricity use could rise from 17 gigawatts in 2022 to as much as 130 gigawatts by 2030. For context, that’s more than 100 times the output of a single large nuclear power plant.
Water use is just as significant. Cooling massive banks of servers requires millions of gallons per day in some locations, while additional indirect water demand comes from the power plants that generate electricity for these facilities. In arid states like Utah and New Mexico, these demands are sparking debates over whether scarce water should support fast-growing tech hubs or be reserved for communities, agriculture, and wildlife habitat.
Why This Matters for Fish and Wildlife
The connection between digital infrastructure and conservation may not be obvious at first, but the ripple effects are real.
Data centers place demands on three linked resources:
- Electricity: Data centers require enormous amounts of power to operate and meeting this need puts pressure on local energy grids and drives the increased demand for new energy development, whether oil and gas, coal, wind, solar, or other sources, which in turn can lead to increased development and fragmentation on the landscape.
- Water: Water is used directly for cooling and indirectly in power generation. This dual use can be especially challenging in arid states where every drop counts.
- Habitat: Construction of new facilities, transmission lines, and cooling infrastructure often requires large footprints that can fragment or displace wildlife habitat.
One notable example comes from New Mexico, where Facebook secured a deal guaranteeing access to 4.5 million gallons of water per day for a new data center campus. While local officials welcomed the economic boost, the deal sparked questions about long-term water availability in a drought-prone region.
Balancing Growth and Conservation
The digital economy is here to stay, and the demand for data will only increase. But growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of fish, wildlife, and clean water.
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is committed to working with diverse stakeholders to support energy development approaches that avoid and minimize impacts to the nation’s fish and wildlife resources to align with its Energy Platform such as:
- Smarter Siting: Prioritizing development on already disturbed lands rather than intact habitats.
- Water Stewardship: Using non-potable water, closed-loop cooling, and transparent reporting to reduce stress on drought-prone watersheds.
- Wildlife Safeguards: Incorporating habitat data and migration mapping into planning decisions so that critical fish and wildlife resources are conserved.
Looking Ahead
The growth of data centers is part of a broader digital transformation that shows no sign of slowing. At the same time, water scarcity and energy demand are critical challenges in many parts of the country. As these facilities continue to expand, decisions about how they are sited, powered, and cooled will play an important role in balancing economic growth with long-term resource sustainability.
By understanding how data centers function and the pressures they create, hunters, anglers, and other conservation-minded citizens can better appreciate the connections between digital infrastructure and the natural systems we all rely on.
Learn more about TRCP’s work on energy development and critical minerals production, including how TRCP is working to ensure this growth avoids and minimizes impacts on hunter and angler access and opportunity. Click HERE.
In the Arena: David Brooks
TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who, as Theodore Roosevelt so famously said, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation.
David Brooks
Hometown: Missoula, Montana
Occupation: Executive Director, Montana Trout Unlimited
Conservation credentials: While David Brooks has been at the helm of Montana Trout Unlimited, the organization has supported partners with dam removals from critical spawning tributaries for native westslope cutthroat and bull trout, monitored and researched cold water species across Montana’s beloved trout rivers and streams, and helped educate future generations of anglers about the importance of conservation.
After a childhood in Indiana and a collegiate running career in Colorado, David Brooks understood that he wanted to remain in America’s West. Luckily for him, he moved to Missoula, Montana, and quickly found friends that were willing to share their knowledge and a few select places to hunt and fish. Since those early years, Brooks has hunted big game and birds across Montana and as far north as the Arctic Circle in Alaska. This intimate knowledge of place has helped inform his professional career as Executive Director of Montana Trout Unlimited.
Here is his story.
TRCP: How were you introduced to hunting, fishing, and the outdoors? Who introduced you?
David Brooks: The grace and generosity of friends introduced me to hunting, fishing, and most of my outdoor pursuits. When I moved from the Midwest to southern Colorado for my undergraduate studies, I did so mostly to run cross country and track for Coach Joe I. Vigil at Adams State College. Though I was mainly focused on running and school, I began to meet people who spent their falls stalking elk in the San Juan Mountains, their springs and summers casting flies for wild trout in tributaries that flowed out of those same public lands, and their winter weekends carving turns in the snow-covered flanks of the Colorado ranges. Hearing the stories of those outings from my non-runner friends planted seeds in the field of what my post-collegiate life might look like. When my wife and I moved to Missoula, Montana, in a pickup truck in 2000, I was fortunate to befriend a few people who had spent their lives hunting, fishing, floating rivers, backpacking, and generally reaping the bounty of the great outdoors. I slowly started acquiring the tools—a used Winchester .270, a hand-me-down Orvis rod, a third-hand raft. More importantly, these new friends shared their stories and let me tag along on a whitetail hunt, a trek to find native westslope cutthroat trout in a small stream, and on a 5-day river trip. The outings provided me with lessons on how to move in the woods, how to wield a flyrod, how to read water. The stories were of equal value in teaching me how to think as a hunter, angler, and lover of wild places.
TRCP: Tell us about one of your most memorable outdoor adventures.
David Brooks: In 2004, I was invited to float the Smith River, Montana’s only permitted multi-day float trip. Fortunately, one of my closest friends and mentors agreed to go and to let me bring my 15-month-old daughter. He provided all the gear. At the time, my wife and I had been modest backpackers, so didn’t own a raft, drybags, or any other river trip toys. This friend even let me try rowing a few times each of the five days we were on the river, while he kept one eye on my daughter and the other downstream. When I banged his boat off a rock, a bank, or cliff wall, he offered keen rowing advice rather than admonitions. He laughed rather than cursed and let me keep trying. After five days of staring up into the Smith River canyon and enjoying the special camaraderie that river trips bring, I returned home with an unshakable case to share with my wife about why we needed to start investing in river gear. And we did. Besides launching our love of river trips, which have been our summer family vacation ever since, that trip taught me about the value of stringing consecutive days of outdoor time together, especially hunting and fishing. The river taught me about immersion.
TRCP: If you could hunt or fish anywhere, where would it be and why?
David Brooks: With the exception of a glorious 10-day float-hunt in Alaska, most of my hunting and fishing has been in Montana. I have yet to tire of returning to the places I have started to know near home, nor have I tired of exploring new places within the state. Since turning 50-years-old, doing a DIY drop camp to hunt elk in a Wilderness Area in western Montana is probably my top priority. My clock is ticking for such a hunt. So I aim to spend some days in 2025 scouting camp and hunting spots for a 2026 trip. As for fishing, I have yet to catch a redband trout or a Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Montana in their native range, so those are both high priority goals. While I would love to hunt caribou in Alaska again or cast for a 100+ pound arapaima in the Amazon, the realities of my lifestyle increasingly point me in the direction of exploring a new section of a small western Montana trout stream each year, or learning a few more of the pinch points between elk feeding and resting grounds in the walk-in areas of public land I favor each fall near my home.
TRCP: How does conservation help enhance your outdoor life?
David Brooks: In general, working in and learning about conservation issues always adds a layer to my time outdoors. When a conservation measure like Hoot Owl restrictions are implemented on Montana rivers, it makes me think more keenly about how water quality, like temperature, affects trout health and behavior. It pushes me to learn more about where cold water refugia are in a stretch of river or stream, such as upwellings of groundwater, springs and, of course, cold tributaries and, hence, where fish will be moving and how they will be feeding. Conservation introduces me to new places. When MTU joined our National TU staff in pursuing the removal of an old dam from the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area, working on that effort drew me farther and deeper than I had ever been in a Wilderness Area that is essentially in my backyard and where I regularly recreate. Knowing the conservation challenges that our streams, rivers, and lands face increases the gratitude I feel for each close encounter I have with a native trout, elk, whitetail deer, or sharptail grouse.
TRCP: What are the major conservation challenges where you live?
David Brooks: It is hard not to wear my MTU hat when thinking about the biggest conservation challenge where I live. From that vantage, I think diminishing and changing patterns of flow in our streams and rivers has to be near the top of the worry list. Climate change is making year-round precipitation less certain and altering the timing. We are seeing more short, weak winters. Even when winter snowpack reaches historic norms, like this year across much of the state, that snow begins melting earlier and across a ‘longer spring’ so that we don’t see normal peak runoff. And then flows quickly fall to base or below baseflow. Low, increasingly warm water lasts longer into fall. More such drought years in a row without the reprieve of truly good water years in between is the biggest challenge to maintaining or recovering healthy native and wild trout populations statewide. Concurrently, I don’t know of a single diminishing demand on water.
TRCP: Why is it important to you to be involved in conservation?
David Brooks: I have a daughter. In conservation, we often talk about passing on the world to the next generation(s) in as good or better shape than we found it. Besides the innate value of ecosystems, what higher purpose for being in conservation is there?
TRCP: Why should conservation matter to the next generation of hunters and anglers?
David Brooks: While I have said that the highest reason to be involved in conservation is to pass on places in better shape to the next generation than we found them, those of us at a certain age and in our late careers in conservation need the next generation of hunters and anglers. We need their creativity and energy for the variety and complexity of conservation issues we face. And, more soberingly, if young hunters and anglers don’t care about conservation, chances are that many of the places they hunt or fish will be gone or greatly diminished within their lifetimes. There will be many places that they might discover as rich hunting and fishing grounds that will wither to a poor imitation of their current selves or disappear completely.
Photo credits: David Brooks
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
When an Iconic Southwestern River Runs Dry
What hunters, anglers, and conservationists stand to lose as the Rio Grande dries up
For the second time in just three years, the Rio Grande is running dry in many of its reaches throughout central and southern New Mexico. Barren riverbeds stand as stark reminders that drought and overuse threaten not only the river’s survival but also a way of life for those who depend on it. In areas where water is usually prevalent this time of year, fish are found stranded and drying up in shrinking, murky puddles. Wildlife across the region is losing a crucial water source amid relentless summer heat. At the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, we believe restoring reliable flows to this vital river system is essential to sustaining habitats and securing a resilient future for the Southwest.
It’s no wonder how the Rio Grande got its name. Stretching from its source in the Colorado mountains to the sea, the Rio Grande is the third longest river in the continental United States. It provides drinking water to millions of people across three states and two countries. This diverse river flows from high alpine mountains through deep canyon gorges to serene cottonwood groves and into harsh desert terrain. In an arid landscape, it’s a lifeline for fish and wildlife, Indigenous peoples, traditional agricultural communities, municipalities, as well as hunters, anglers, and other recreational users.
Water in the Rio Grande is shared by Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas under a legal agreement called the Rio Grande Compact; with each state entitled to a portion. For example, even though Texas is at the downstream end of the river, New Mexico is required to deliver a set amount of water to Texas every year through the compact agreement. As rising temperatures and prolonged drought reduce overall flows, there’s less water to go around. New Mexico is often left with little to no excess water to store in its own reservoirs after mandated deliveries to Texas, this leaves upstream sections vulnerable when natural flows taper off during the hottest part of the year. Additionally, less snowpack in the river’s Colorado headwaters coupled with higher spring temperatures has meant snowmelt-fed flows are smaller and come earlier, leaving just a trickle by the time summer rolls around. While southern sections of the river have historically gone dry later in the summer due to diversions for agriculture and other uses, this kind of early-season drying—especially this far north—is a troubling new pattern.
These challenges pose real consequences throughout the basin. As flows diminish, critical habitat for fish and wildlife disappears, water quality declines, and recreational opportunities for users including hunters and anglers become fewer. Communities that rely on the river for drinking water, sustenance, and cultural traditions are left facing harsh economic and environmental realities. Part of the TRCP’s work with local and national stakeholders in the basin is to identify and advocate for durable, science-backed solutions to keep water in the Rio Grande so we can safeguard this river system, together.
Despite its importance, the Rio Grande receives significantly less federal attention and funding for research, infrastructure management, ecological restoration, and conservation efforts than other similarly sized rivers in the country. As part of its ongoing efforts in the Rio Grande Basin, the TRCP continues working to elevate the river’s profile and advance projects and policies that protect sustainable flows and thriving habitats. In my role as the TRCP’s new Rio Grande Program Manager, I’m collaborating with a diverse set of conservation organizations such as American Rivers, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, HECHO (Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors) and others to advocate for the federal actions needed to ensure dry riverbeds don’t become the new normal.
The Rio Grande deserves more than to be treated as an afterthought. Theodore Roosevelt himself prioritized its protection with the creation of the Rio Grande National Forest in 1908, largely to safeguard the river’s headwaters and the resources it sustains. This extraordinary river merits attention, funding, and long-term planning across management areas so that it can continue to support fish and wildlife, cultural traditions, and hunting and angling opportunities for generations to come. By recognizing the Rio Grande’s importance, we are one step closer to helping restore reliable flows and resilience to this iconic river system.
Learn more about TRCP’s commitment to habitat and clean water HERE
Top photo courtesy of BLM Flickr
The Merits of Fly Fishing: A Conversation with Peter Kaminsky
The author, angler, and conservation advocate shares why fly fishing continues to inspire him—and why anglers must have a voice in conservation.
Few people can capture the magic of fly fishing like Peter Kaminsky. The celebrated author, journalist, and lifelong angler has spent decades chasing fish across the globe—and championing the waters and habitats they call home. In this exclusive TRCP conversation, Kaminsky shares the captivating story of how he fell in love with fly fishing, the ways it has shaped his life, and why anglers have a critical role to play in conservation. Whether you’re a seasoned fly fisher or just wondering if the sport might be for you, his reflections are as inspiring as they are insightful.
For more than three decades, Kaminsky contributed to the New York Times Outdoors column and has served as a contributing editor to Field & Stream, Sports Afield, and Outdoor Life. His books—including The Moon Pulled Up an Acre of Bass and The Catch of a Lifetime—blend storytelling, personal reflections, and a deep respect for the natural world. His newest release, The Zen of Flyfishing (2025), captures the joy and meaning he’s found in the sport through essays, quotes, and stunning imagery.
In our latest conversation, Kaminsky reflected on his journey into fly fishing, the restorative qualities of time on the water, and the role anglers play in sustaining healthy fisheries. He also shared some interesting history about Theodore Roosevelt’s uncle, another outdoorsman who inspired the future president’s conservation ethos.
Finding a Calling on the Water
Peter Kaminsky’s first encounter with fly fishing was clearly transformative. On a trip to Mexico in the 1970s, he watched veteran anglers casting in the surf and felt an instant connection—what he calls “the hour I first believed.” Back in New York, he sought instruction from legendary fly fisherman Doug Swisher and never looked back.
Since then, fly fishing has been a grounding force in both good times and bad. “It’s the thing I return to in the rough times,” he says, describing how the sport can suspend time and bring peace. Hear his account of how during a period of personal hardship, while fishing Idaho’s Silver Creek, he found both solace and perspective: “It showed me you don’t have to feel miserable all the time – there’s a sunny side.”
Conservation, Connection, and Responsibility
Kaminsky has fished around the world, from trout streams in the Rockies to bonefish flats in the Yucatán, but remains deeply connected to the waters near home—especially the striped bass fishery along the Atlantic Coast. He’s witnessed the boom-and-bust cycles of striper populations and warns that current challenges, from depleted menhaden stocks to degraded spawning habitat in the Chesapeake Bay, demand action.
For him, conservation isn’t about moral superiority; it’s about ensuring the future of the resource. And wherever you stand on the practice of catch and release fishing, you’ll want to hear his wisdom on the matter.
“Everything gets eaten in this world,” he says. “It’s just a question of who’s eating it and when.”
Passing It On
Kaminsky also takes inspiration from conservation history, noting the influence of Theodore Roosevelt’s uncle, Robert Barnhill Roosevelt, in shaping America’s fish and game management. He sees that legacy as a call to keep our lands and waters “green and bountiful” for the next generation.
For those curious about fly fishing for the first time, his advice is simple: get casting lessons. “Seek out someone with the patience to teach you,” he says. “The investment will pay off.”
Watch the full interview here.
All photos are from The Zen of Flyfishing by Peter Kaminsky (2025), published by Workman Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
TRCP has partnered with Afuera Coffee Co. to further our commitment to conservation. $4 from each bag is donated to the TRCP, to help continue our efforts of safeguarding critical habitats, productive hunting grounds, and favorite fishing holes for future generations.
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