The Dalles Seeks Federal Land for Water Reservoir Expansion Amid Google’s Demand
The Dalles is seeking federal land from Mount Hood National Forest to expand its water reservoir capacity from 900 acre-feet to approximately 3,000 acre-feet by 2040, primarily to accommodate local growth and increased demand from Google, which consumes a significant portion of the city's water supply. The $70 million project has passed the House and is awaiting Senate review, but environmental groups express concerns about potential impacts on local ecosystems.

The Dalles plans to expand its water reservoir by acquiring federal land from Mount Hood National Forest, aiming to increase capacity from 900 acre-feet to about 3,000 acre-feet by 2040. City officials state the expansion is necessary for local growth, despite concerns it may primarily benefit Google, which currently uses one-third of the city's water supply.
Google's water consumption has increased significantly since it opened its data center in 2006, and the city’s master water plan projects a need of at least one million gallons per day for an unnamed industrial user. The expansion project is estimated to cost $70 million and has passed the House, now awaiting Senate review. Environmental groups worry this could negatively impact local ecosystems, particularly fish and wildlife.




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