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The Dalles is trying to acquire land surrounding its reservoir in the Mount Hood National Forest to boost its water supply.

City officials say The Dalles needs more water to support a growing population — and that Google’s growing footprint in town has nothing to do with it. OPB’s April Ehrlich investigates to lead off today’s newsletter.

In other news, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek hires the former senator who led the state’s longest legislative walkout.

Here’s your First Look at Thursday’s news.

—Bradley W. Parks

As Google’s water demands grow, The Dalles aims to pull more from Mount Hood forest

The Dalles is trying to expand its water reservoir — and it’s turning to Congress in a quest to acquire part of the Mount Hood National Forest to do so.

That’s prompting concerns from environmental groups and local residents. They’re worried about the ecological cost to fish and wildlife. They’re also worried about whether the extra water will really go to local homes and businesses — or if The Dalles wants to slake the tech industry’s growing thirst for data centers.

The city’s elected officials have repeatedly denied that they are seeking more water to serve Google. They say they need to expand The Dalles’ reservoir because the city in north-central Oregon is growing.

But The Dalles’ population hasn’t grown much this past decade.

Google’s size and water use have. (April Ehrlich)

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3 things to know this morning

• A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted the man who allegedly fled a U.S. Border Patrol traffic stop in Portland before being shot by one of the immigration officers. (Conrad Wilson)
• Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is appointing Tim Knopp, a Republican former state senator from Bend, to help improve the state’s business climate. (Dirk VanderHart)
• As overnight temperatures drop below freezing, and after at least 10 house fires around the state in the last two weeks, Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple is reminding people to use home heating sources safely. (OPB staff)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Portland Councilor Jamie Dunphy wins council president seat after deadlocked votes (Alex Zielinski)
• Oregon not required to give feds voter data, judge rules (Julia Shumway)
• Portland State agrees to reinstate laid off faculty (Tiffany Camhi)
• Oregon Democrats make clear pushing back on Trump’s immigration efforts will be key in short legislative session (Lauren Dake)
• In effort to boost enrollment, Portland Public Schools board votes to change boundaries for Jefferson High School (Elizabeth Miller)
• What Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said, and left unsaid, in his State of the State address (Jerry Cornfield)
• Low snowpack around Oregon leads to concern about dry conditions this summer (Zac Ziegler)
• Oregon lawmakers charge forward with disputed penalties for federal agent masking (Shaanth Nanguneri)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Exploring memory, longing and home with author Colm Tóibín

Mobile veterinary team helps Indigenous communities reduce overpopulation of stray dogs and cats

The lack of accessible and affordable veterinary services in low-income Indigenous communities makes it difficult for pet owners to care for their animals and prevent the birth of unwanted puppies and kittens.

With a routine spay or neuter operation costing around $600, not including pre-surgical exams or after care, the cost is often out of reach for those living on Native American reservations. Additionally, veterinary clinics are usually off the reservation, requiring travel and gas costs.

The nonprofit First Nations Veterinary offers many vital pet services from its mobile clinic, which stopped on the Warm Springs reservation last summer. (Jessie Sears)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/01/15/the-dalles-water-reservoir-google-first-look/