Dalles Watershed Bill Transfers 150 Acres of National Forest Land for Water Supply, Appropriates $1.5M for Restoration

This legislation, titled the Dalles Watershed Development Act, is essentially a two-part deal between the U.S. Forest Service and the City of The Dalles, Oregon. First, it authorizes a 10-year cooperative agreement for watershed restoration work on National Forest System land near the city. Second, and perhaps more significantly, it mandates the permanent transfer of approximately 150 acres of federal land to the city for its municipal water supply.

The $1.5 Million Cleanup Crew

Let's start with the restoration agreement (SEC. 1). This section authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to partner with the City of The Dalles to enhance and restore the municipal watershed located on federal land. The idea is to improve the health of the area that feeds the city’s water supply. The bill appropriates $1,500,000 from the Forest Service’s “Revegetation” account specifically for this project, to be spent between fiscal years 2024 and 2028. This is a targeted investment of taxpayer dollars into a specific local watershed.

However, this isn’t a free ride for the city. The agreement requires The Dalles to contribute funding, materials, or “in-kind services” to the project. This means the city has skin in the game, sharing the cost and effort. For the average person in The Dalles, this section is a good sign: it means federal money is being dedicated to securing and cleaning up the source of their drinking water for the next decade.

Handing Over the Keys to 150 Acres

The second part of the bill (SEC. 3) deals with a permanent land transfer, which is where things get interesting. The bill directs the Secretary to convey about 150 acres of land in the Mount Hood National Forest to the City of The Dalles. The city must request the land within one year of the law’s enactment, and if they do, the transfer happens via a quitclaim deed at no cost for the land itself.

This is a big win for the city, as they acquire valuable federal land for free. But there are serious strings attached that matter to taxpayers and local residents. While the city doesn't pay for the land, they must foot all administrative costs associated with the transfer, including the cost of the survey that defines the final boundaries. If you’ve ever bought property, you know those survey and administrative fees can add up fast.

The Water-Only Rule: Use It or Lose It

The most critical condition of this land transfer is the “reversion clause.” The City of The Dalles must use this 150-acre parcel exclusively for “public purposes, specifically for municipal water supply, related infrastructure, and expansions.” This is extremely specific. If the city ever tries to use this land for anything else—say, building a city park, a new road unrelated to the water system, or selling it to a private developer—full ownership automatically reverts back to the United States.

This clause is designed to protect the public interest, ensuring that the land removed from the National Forest system is used only for the essential public service of water. For someone living in The Dalles, this means the land is effectively locked down to protect their water source, removing the risk of the city later repurposing it for commercial development. For those who value keeping land in the National Forest system, however, this still means 150 acres are permanently removed from federal management, even if the intended purpose is positive.