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For Julia DeGraw, going out quietly is not an option.

That鈥檚 why she and a conservation group called Food and Water Watch are standing firm in their continued fight to block the construction of a 250,000-square-foot Nestle water bottling facility in Cascade Locks.

The group, along with multiple other local conservancy groups, charges that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife did not properly approve the transfer of water from one of its springs to the city of Cascade Locks, which would sell the water to Nestle if the facility were built. Additionally, the group thinks Nestle will not deliver on some of its promises, including providing 50 new jobs to town residents and mitigating any negative environmental impacts from the facility.

DeGraw, the northwest organizer for Food and Water Watch, claims that Nestle water bottling facilities built in other parts of the country have over-exacerbated water sources and created sink holes. Additionally, the company promised that those facilities would create jobs, but only a portion of those jobs ever came to fruition, DeGraw said.

Not everyone in Cascade Locks is convinced by DeGraw’s argument.聽 Like other rural parts of America, the small town has suffered as a result of the economic downtown. Because of funding cutbacks, the Hood River County School District had to shut down the town鈥檚 only high school.

New jobs would create a life line for the area, said Jess Groves, commission president of the Port of Cascade Locks, where Nestle is considering putting the facility.

鈥�(Food and Water Watch members) have the right to feel what they want, but they have to understand that people here are starving,鈥� Groves said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to get something to happen to support our people, but they鈥檙e holding everything up.鈥�

Groves said none of Food and Water Watch鈥檚 claims against Nestle has been substantiated since the town started working with the corporation three years ago.

A study completed in 2009 could shed some light on the issue. The study, completed by city officials of Black Diamond, a small town in rural Washington where Nestle once considered building a facility, compiles input from government officials of other cities where Nestle has done projects. Andy Williamson, economic development director for Black Diamond, said Nestle gave him a contact list to conduct the study. When Williamson called those contacts, he received mostly positive feedback. However, he admitted that he was unable to get any citizen perspectives on projects.

Nestle officials refute the claims by Food and Water Watch and say the corporation will make good on its promise to provide jobs to the area. They also are quick to point out that Nestle would not have any rights over the spring; the corporation is just buying the water from Cascade Locks, like a vendor.

鈥淧rivatization of water is a term (Food and Water Watch) likes to use, but an example of that would be if a big company came in and bought the water department in Cascade Locks,鈥� said Dave Palais, natural resources manager for Nestle. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not what we do. We鈥檙e just a company that wants to come in and buy water from the city.鈥�

A water transfer between Cascade Locks and the ODFW has to be approved by the Oregon Department of Water Resources in order for the project to move forward. Food and Water Watch has filed two legal protests against the transfer. Those protests have delayed the process to the point that it is uncertain when construction of the plant might start, according to Groves.

DeGraw and Food and Water Watch hope the project continues to remain in limbo. Although they sympathize with town residents, they believe Nestle is feeding them false information.

鈥淧retty much the town and everyone else are depending on research done by the company itself,鈥� DeGraw said. 鈥淭aking Nestle鈥檚 word for it makes me nervous.鈥�