Winnebago Tribe opposes proposed Google data center in Salix, Iowa over water rights

The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska is actively fighting against a proposed Google data center slated for a 900-acre site in Salix, Iowa, situated near the Missouri River. Tribal leaders express significant concerns that the project could strain water resources, particularly from the Dakota Sandstone Aquifer and the Missouri River, which are vital sources for the Winnebago Reservation. They assert a legal right to these water sources, referencing a century-old Supreme Court ruling.

Margaret Scott, a member of the Winnebago Tribal Council, highlighted that the tribe's wells draw from these aquifers, essential for sustaining their community. The Winnebago Tribal Council has formally approved a resolution opposing hyperscale data centers on or near its reservation. While Google states it is still evaluating the Salix location and plans to consider local water resources, the tribe continues to make its opposition known.

Tribal leaders have participated in public meetings and submitted written comments as Woodbury County considers new regulations for data centers. Scott emphasized that their opposition transcends a mere objection to a local development, framing it as a critical issue of tribal sovereignty. She argued that when the U.S. government reserved land for an Indian Tribe, it implicitly reserved all necessary water to sustain the tribe indefinitely. Protecting these water resources is paramount for future generations, especially given global projections of increasing water stress.