1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose HR 655, the Dalles Watershed Development Act, which authorizes the transfer of approximately 150 acres of Mount Hood National Forest land to the City of The Dalles without adequate environmental review or consultation with downstream communities who depend on this watershed. This legislation bypasses critical environmental safeguards that normally apply to federal land transfers. The bill contains no requirement for environmental impact assessment, public comment periods, or consultation with communities downstream from The Dalles who rely on the watershed for drinking water, agriculture, and recreation. The one-year deadline for the City to request conveyance and the subsequent one-year transfer timeline create artificial urgency that prevents thorough evaluation of how development on this 150-acre parcel might affect water quality, forest connectivity, and public access. The quitclaim deed mechanism transfers federal land without monetary consideration, meaning taxpayers receive nothing in return for permanently losing public forest land. The bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to impose protective terms, but this discretionary authority provides no guarantee that environmental concerns or downstream impacts will be adequately addressed. Once the transfer is complete, there are no sunset provisions, making this permanent alienation of National Forest System land irreversible. Downstream communities deserve a voice in decisions affecting their watershed. The legislation should require consultation with affected municipalities, water districts, and tribal nations whose water resources could be impacted by development on this parcel. At minimum, the bill should mandate environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act to assess potential impacts on water quality, wildlife habitat, and public recreation before any transfer occurs. I ask you to oppose HR 655 in its current form and support amendments requiring comprehensive environmental review and meaningful consultation with downstream communities before any federal forest land is transferred for development purposes.