Contact Senators Wyden and Merkley to let them know you don’t support public land being stripped away from the Mt. Hood National Forest to supply water for data centers.
Controversy continues to grow over Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz’s bill HR 655, which would remove 150 acres of federal public land from the Mt. Hood National Forest around the Crow Creek Reservoir and transfer it to the City of the Dalles to, as reported by OPB, fuel the skyrocketing water needs of Google’s six-building data center campus there.
WaterWatch and our coalition of angling, land-use, and conservation organizations shared our letter of concern about HR 655 with Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley last month. Our coalition also met with Senator Wyden’s staff to discuss the matter further.
Senator Wyden serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which HR 655 has to pass out of before it goes to the full Senate. HR 655 already passed the House in December. Please email both Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley to let them know we don’t want our fish, water, or public lands given away to supply data center water to one of the largest corporations in the world.
HR 655 would particularly impact the South Fork of Mill Creek and the Dog River, an important tributary of the larger Hood River, and could ultimately reduce the volume of cold water that flows into the Hood — an EPA-recognized cold water refuge. Both the Hood and Dog rivers are used by at least five runs of salmon and steelhead listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Copy and paste the letter below into the portals for both Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley, modify it as you see fit, and remind them to vote NO on HR 655!
Dear Senators Wyden and Merkley,
HR 655 and the proposed transfer of 150 acres of federal public land from the Mt. Hood National Forest to the City of The Dalles is terrible policy that sets a terrible precedent.
This bill is an end-run around public engagement and oversight, and an attack on water, forests, public lands, and the protection of endangered species that puts the interests of a wealthy corporation and their political allies ahead of the interests of everyday Oregonians.
The backers of HR 655 seem to believe the rules that safeguard Oregon’s salmon, water, and outdoors are simply “red tape” to be eliminated in the name of expediency. This is unacceptable.
Senators Wyden and Merkley, we urge you to stand with Oregonians and the rules that protect our fish, water, conservation values, and the ability for the public to participate in decisions affecting public lands. These rules are vital to preserving the natural treasures that make Oregon a special place to live, work, and raise a family.
Please use every tool at your disposal to prevent passage of HR 655.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[ your name ]
Take action NOW to help WaterWatch and our allies advocate for the Mt. Hood National Forest and its rivers and fish. Submit your concerns about HR 655 to Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley today.
Banner photo of Mt. Hood and triptych photo of Cold Spring Creek (Dog River tributary) by Tommy Hough, salmon photo courtesy of Mark Hereford / Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Dog River trail sign photo courtesy of the Mt. Hood National Forest.
