Take Action — Tell Senators Wyden and Merkley to Vote NO on HR 655

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 is at a fever pitch over HR 655, a bill authored by U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz (OR-2) known as The Dalles Watershed Development Act, 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, home to a six-building Google data center campus with skyrocketing water and energy demands. Bentz’s bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 9th, 2025.

WaterWatch and our coalition of angling, land-use, and conservation organizations shared a letter of concern about HR 655 on Feb. 18th with Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and met with Senator Wyden’s staff shortly after to discuss the matter.

Senator Wyden serves on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which HR 655 has to pass out of before it goes to the full Senate. 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. The Dog is an important tributary of the larger Hood River — an EPA-recognized cold water refuge — and could ultimately reduce the volume of cold water that flows into the Hood. Both the Hood and Dog rivers are used by at least five runs of salmon and steelhead listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

We ask that you copy and paste the letter below in emails or letters to Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley. Modify the language as you see fit, add what you like, and be sure to 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 ]

Please 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. Contact details follow for their Washington, D.C. and Oregon offices:

Senator Ron Wyden
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/

Washington, D.C.
221 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5244

Bend
The Jamison Building
131 NW Hawthorne Ave., Suite 107
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 330-9142

Eugene
405 East 8th Ave., Suite 2020
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 431-0229

La Grande (temporarily closed)
SAC Annex Building
105 Fir St., Suite 201
La Grande, OR 97850
(541) 962-7691

Medford
310 West 6th St., Room 118
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 858-5122

Portland
911 NE 11th Ave., Suite 630
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 326-7525

Salem
707 13th St. SE, Suite 285
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 589-4555

Senator Jeff Merkley
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/

Washington, D.C.
531 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3753

Baker City
1705 Main Street, Suite 504
Baker City, OR 97814
(541) 278-1129

Bend
131 NW Hawthorne Ave., Suite 208
Bend, OR 97703
(541) 318-1298

Eugene
405 East 8th Ave., Suite 2010
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 465-6750

Medford
10 South Bartlett St., Suite 201
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 608-9102

Portland
121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1400
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 326-3386

Salem
500 Liberty Street SE, Suite 320
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 362-8102

Related media on HR 655 and data centers in Oregon:

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.