1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose HR 655, legislation that would transfer 150 acres of public land in Mount Hood National Forest to benefit Google's data center operations in The Dalles. This bill would sacrifice critical environmental protections for endangered fish species and clean water while draining the Dog River to serve corporate interests. The U.S. EPA identified the Hood River as an "excellent" cold-water refuge for salmon migrating in the Columbia River in 2021. Five Endangered Species Act-listed runs of salmon and steelhead depend on the Hood River and Dog River. The EPA found that Hood River flows are already overallocated from 144 to 216 percent during June through September, and the lower Hood River already violates Oregon water quality standards for temperature. Removing cold water from the Dog River would further reduce Hood River flows and increase temperatures at a time when these endangered species need protection most. If The Dalles fully used the water diversion capacity this legislation seeks to support, it could completely de-water the Dog River during dry summer months, except for a minimal 0.5 cubic feet per second bypass flow at the pipeline intake. This would devastate a critical cold-water tributary that salmon and steelhead depend on for survival. Google's water demand in The Dalles increased by 316 percent from 2012 to 2024, despite the company having already received over $260 million in tax breaks for its facilities. Water utility rates for residential customers in The Dalles are estimated to increase by 99 percent by 2036 as a result. Transferring public lands to local control would eliminate meaningful federal environmental review and ensure costs fall on fish, wildlife, and Oregon families rather than a corporation that can afford to purchase water rights from private sources. I ask you to hold HR 655 in the Senate, prevent its inclusion in any reconciliation legislation, and stand with Oregonians who value our public lands, wild rivers, and endangered species over corporate giveaways.