Developement of oil and gas leases and the effect on the landscape in Colorado.

DE BEQUE, CO - JUNE 25: Existing gas and oil development near the Roan Plateau can be seen from an EcoFlight plane on June 25, 2018 near De Beque, Colorado. In April, five environmental organizations sued the Department of the Interior challenging the department's leases on more than 45,000 acres of land in Mesa County for natural gas production. The Bureau of Land Management in December rejected protests by the organizations, who contend that leasing the lands for hydraulic fracturing would threaten businesses and water and air quality, as well as damage the climate. Organizations say the agency leased the lands without adequate environmental analysis. Lease parcels at issue in this suit occupy the hillsides around the town of De Beque and a Wildlife Area across the river. EcoFlight educates and advocates for the protection of remaining wild lands and wildlife habitat using small aircraft. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images)