Under a memorandum of understanding approved by the Linn County Board of Supervisors, Google's sole role is to fund an independent water study up to an agreed amount.

County Retains Full Control of the Work

The company will have no part in determining the study's scope, directing its work, reviewing drafts, or approving the results. "Google will not review the results while the study is underway and will not see the results before the public," Linn County Planning & Development Director Charlie Nichols said.

"This was an important part of the agreement." Linn County, not Google, will select the consultant and set the scope. The work itself will be carried out by Black & Veatch, a third-party consulting firm.

What the Water Balance Study Will Examine

The study, known as a water balance study, is designed to provide Linn County with regional water data to support long-term water planning.

It will review current water resources and use, future water demand, drought risks, and gaps in available data, and will identify where additional monitoring or computer modeling may be needed.

The study will cover connected water sources including the Cedar River, the Cedar River alluvial aquifer, the Devonian-Silurian aquifer, and the Jordan aquifer. It will assess average conditions, dry years, and severe or extended drought conditions. Google will pay up to USD 242,323 for the first phase of the project, matching the estimate Black & Veatch submitted in its phase 1 proposal.

Timeline Tied to Advisory Committee Meeting

Linn County expects the study to be finished in March 2027, with results available ahead of the County's Data Center Advisory Committee meeting on water resources.

"The data from this study will help us make informed policy decisions for the whole county," Board of Supervisors Chair Kirsten Running-Marquardt said.

"Residents continue to tell us that water quality, water availability, and planning for floods and droughts are priorities. We want residents to know we are listening, and we will use the best information available while keeping residents' quality of life at the center of our decisions."

Study Sits Within 18-Month Data Center Moratorium

The water balance study forms part of Linn County's work during its data center moratorium for unincorporated areas. The County adopted an 18-month moratorium in July 2026 on new large-scale data centers, giving it time to review existing regulations and consider potential impacts on water resources, electrical infrastructure, transportation, long-range land use planning, emergency response, and other public services.

The temporary moratorium applies only to unincorporated areas of Linn County.

The MOU covers only the water balance study. It does not commit the County to supporting or opposing Google's proposed data center project near Palo. Once complete, the final report will help the County determine what future water monitoring or projects may be needed.

Public Access to the Agreement

The MOU and water balance study support Linn County's broader efforts to plan for future growth while weighing the needs of residents, neighboring communities, and existing infrastructure.

An unsigned version of the MOU is posted on Linn County's website for digital accessibility reasons, and residents may request a signed version by emailing the Board of Supervisors office.