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.